A&T Picked To Win MEAC, Cohen Named Preseason POTY

NORFOLK, Virginia – The North Carolina A&T football team went nine straight seasons (2004-12) without being predicted to finish in the top 5 of the MEAC standings.

On Friday at the annual MEAC Media Luncheon at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott, the Aggies were not only picked to win the league, but MEAC head coaches and sports information directors also selected A&T star junior running back Tarik Cohen (5-foot-6, 173, Bunn, N.C.) as the preseason offensive player of the year. Joining Cohen on the preseason first team are senior cornerback Tony McRae (5-9, 178, Laurinburg, N.C.), redshirt junior defensive tackle Marquis Ragland (6-3, 271, Fayetteville, N.C.) and junior place kicker Cody Jones (5-11, 141, Gastonia, N.C.).

Senior defensive tackle Michael Neal (5-11, 260, Greensboro, N.C.) , senior rover Landis Shoffner (6-0, 186, Greensboro, N.C.) and redshirt sophomore left tackle Brandon Parker (6-7, 279, Kannapolis, N.C.) were second-team selections, while junior offensive guard Wes Cole (6-6, 335, Norwood, N.C.) was selected to the third team.

A&T, who finished last season 9-3 overall and 6-2 in the MEAC, received nine out of 22 first-place votes and received 425 points, 17 more than S.C. State who was picked to finish second with four first-place votes. Bethune-Cookman (one first-place vote), N.C. Central (four first-place votes) and Morgan State, last season’s MEAC representative in the NCAA FCS playoffs, rounded out the top 5. The MEAC race finished in a five-way tie for first in 2014 with A&T, Morgan State, Bethune-Cookman, NCCU and S.C. State sharing the MEAC title.

“How about that?” said fifth-year head coach Rod Broadway about being picked to win the conference. Broadway is four wins shy of his 100th career victory.

“When we stated four years ago, no one thought we were in the position to compete for a championship after coming off 27 straight losses,” he continued. “Just getting to the point where we are expected to do well is a great accomplishment by our players and coaches.”

Cohen, the league’s co-offensive player of the year in 2014, is coming off of a season where he rushed for 1,340 yards and 15 touchdowns, the second most yards in a season in A&T history. Only Maurice Hicks (2,812) has rushed for more yards in a two-year period than Cohen (2,488) in program history. Cohen has led in the MEAC in rushing over his first two seasons at A&T, and also led the MEAC in scoring (96 points) and touchdowns (16).

Nationally, he ranked third in yards per carry (6.8), 11th in rushing yards per game (121.8) and 15th in rushing TDs.

“He’s just a special talent,” Broadway said. “I think what makes him special is his will to win and work ethic. He is one of our most talented players, and he has the heart of a champion. He has an excellent skill set with that work ethic, which makes him a great player.”

McRae serves two roles for the Aggies. He is their top corner and kickoff returner. He was a first-team defensive back and second-team kickoff returner in 2014 after making five interceptions, breaking up 11 more passes and earning 25.7 yards per kickoff return. He ranked 13th nationally in passes defended (1.3 per game) and 15th in INTs (0.4 per game) as the Aggies led the nation in turnovers gained and were second in INTs.

Ragland is coming off a career season in which he made 69 tackles (38 unassisted), 15.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks and he blocked three kicks. From his nose guard position, he was third in the MEAC in sacks and fifth in tackles for loss.

Jones was a first-team 2014 All-MEAC selection after connecting on 15 of 19 (.789) field goals and 45 of 47 (.957) extra points. His 90 points were second in the MEAC behind Cohen. He led the conference in field goal percentage and was second in extra point percentage. Jones also doubled as the Aggies punter last season, ranking seventh in the league in yards per punt.

A&T opens the season Sept. 5 at home against Shaw University at 6 p.m. The Aggies first conference game is Oct. 3 at Hampton at 1 p.m.

NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Morgan State has MEAC's attention

NORFOLK, Virginia -- (STATS) - Few, if any, foresaw Morgan State capturing a share of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title and its first-ever FCS playoff bid at the start of last season.

The Bears were getting acclimated to a first-year head coach, hadn't won the conference title in 35 years and were picked ninth in the conference's preseason poll.

They didn't touch first place in October and endured a 45-0 loss with two weeks left in the season (yeah, ouch).

Yet on the final Saturday of the regular season, everything that had to go right did, and Morgan State was one of five teams to earn a share of the title. The tie-breakers then fell the Bears' way in the form of the postseason bid.

It's all changed this year. Opponents aren't sleeping on these Bears, although on Friday at MEAC football media day in Norfolk, Virginia, they were selected ...

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Jackson City Council Honors Former Jackson State University Director of Bands, Dowell Taylor

JSU opponent preview: Arkansas-Pine Bluff

JACKSON, Mississippi -- There's some top line talent on Arkansas-Pine Bluff's defense, which features three players who were preseason All-SWAC first team.

It'll be up to that talent to produce some results now after the defense surrendered 39.2 points per game in 2014, and gave up at least 42 points on six occasions.

Golden Lions coach Monte Coleman apparently tried to address those defensive issues in this past recruiting cycle when he signed nine defensive backs, six linebackers and four defensive linemen.

Those newcomers and some of the returners from last season will look to build upon a defensive foundation set by defensive lineman Demarcus Berry, linebacker Willie Duncan and defensive back Kevin Rucker.

Berry was disruptive coming off the line of scrimmage and recorded eight sacks last season. Duncan was a strong downhill defender against the run and posted 100 tackles.

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Milestone moment: From Southern to Cooperstown

BATON ROUGE -- Arkansas native and Mer Rouge transplant Lou Brock became the 20th player in Major League Baseball history to enter the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

Brock, a former standout for the Southern University baseball team, walked-on in order to gain a collegiate scholarship to pay for school, but even he did not realize the magnitude to which his potential could climb. His ability became truly undeniable following his sophomore season, where he raised his batting average to .500; .300 points higher than his freshman campaign.

As a member of the Jaguars, Brock led Southern University to its first NAIA baseball championship and was named to the All-SWAC team in 1960, his second consecutive appearance.



Brock’s success on the diamond led to the United States baseball team selecting him to play in the Pan American games, where he performed so well that he was offered a $30,000 signing bonus by the Chicago Cubs. Brock accepted the offer, and spent only one year in the minor leagues before being called up to the MLB at the end of the ’61 season.

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Tuskegee receives permission to speak with Michigan's Dennis Norfleet about a transfer

ANN ARBOR, Michigan -- Dennis Norfleet's situation with the Michigan football program has been cloudy for roughly three months now.

But it appears he's at least strongly considering spending his final year of eligibility elsewhere.

A spokesman at Tuskegee University told MLive on Monday afternoon that the university received official permission to speak with Norfleet about a potential transfer to the school over the weekend.
Tuskegee is a Division II school in Alabama. If Norfleet transferred there, he'd be eligible to play immediately.

Michigan has declined to comment on Norfleet's status officially for three months now. In May, King High School coach Dale Harvel told MLive that the receiver/kick returner had been dismissed from the program by coach Jim Harbaugh.

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New AD Overton starts in August, contract worth $185,000 annually

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- New Florida A&M Athletic Director Milton Overton Jr. signed an employment offer sheet from university President Elmira Mangum in June, agreeing to a base annual salary of $185,000 with incentives.

The offer sheet mentions a one-time lump sum payment of $25,000, to be paid within 30 days of Overton's start date. Overton will receive a courtesy car and salary incentive bonuses for reaching milestones in "team, academic and departmental revenue performance."

Overton officially starts at FAMU on Aug. 3, two days before the university's next Board of Trustees meeting. FAMU CFO Dale Cassidy said during a committee meeting he and Overton were working on revising Florida A&M's athletic budget to increase potential revenue this year.

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2015 JCSU Football Media Guide Now Available Online

VIEW JCSU FOOTBALL MEDIA GUIDE

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — The 2015 Johnson C. Smith University football media guide is now available online.

The guide is filled with historical information regarding JCSU football, as well as 2014 statistics, the 2015 season preview and other information about the 2015 JCSU football team.

Fans can click here to view the guide.


AWAYS WATCH IN 1080p HD, WIDE SCREEN

COURTESY JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Prioleau, Thomas and '90 football team headed to CSU Hall of Fame

The 1990 Central State Football Team

WILBERFORCE, Ohio – Central State Athletic Director Jahan Culbreath has announced the department's Hall of Fame committee's 2015 inductees. Joining the CSU Hall of Fame this year will be Thelanious "Laney" Prioleau, Dr. Arthur E. Thomas, and the 1990 Central State football team.

"We are proud of the inductees and appreciate everything they have done for Central State," Culbreath said. "The induction ceremony is an opportunity for all the proud Central State alumni to come together to celebrate the accomplishments of Marauder athletics. The event serves as a platform to relive great memories and honor the tremendous achievements of our inductees."

In addition to this year's inductees, Central State's undefeated 1965 men's basketball team will be in attendance to celebrate their 50th anniversary. The '65 team won the school's first NAIA national basketball title with a flawless 30-0 record.

"It is a great privilege to have members of our '65 basketball team celebrate 50 years with us," Culbreath said. "This group set the bar for the CSU teams that followed them and established the great tradition of Marauder basketball."

The 2015 Hall of Fame Luncheon will be held at the Country Club of the North in Beavercreek on Friday, October 9, at 1 p.m. Tickets to the induction ceremony are available for $35 each and can be purchased online or by calling the CSU Athletic Office at 937-376-6289. All those planning to attend must RSVP prior to the event and purchase their ticket(s) on or before Monday, August 31.

Bio information on the 2015 inductees is as follows:

Thelanious "Laney" Prioleau

Thelanious "Laney" Prioleau solidified himself as one of the most versatile baseball players to ever play for Central State. Playing from 1983 for 1985, Prioleau posted a career batting average of .394 with 18 home runs, 80 runs batted in and 98 stolen bases. He also was a threat on the mound accumulating a 12-5 career record with 139 strikeouts.

A graduate of Mergenthaler Vocational Tech High School in Baltimore, MD, Prioleau arrived on the campus of Central State in the winter of 1983 poised to make an impact on the baseball diamond. As a freshman, Prioleau batted .319 and hit a team high 4 triples. As a pitcher, Prioleau quickly showed coaches his versatility as a dual threat by compiling team highs in wins (4), strikeouts (39), innings pitched (32) and a school record 14 strikeouts against rival Kentucky State. His 6.5 strikeout average was 5th in the nation in the 1983 statistical rankings. Following the 1983 season, Prioleau was labeled as the "mainstay" of the rotation by CSU Hall of Fame baseball coach Steve Kring.

Prioleau continued his improvement as a hitter as a sophomore, posting a .412 batting average which ranked in the top 30 in the nation. Prioleau led CSU in RBI (26), home runs (5), triples (4), doubles (7) and stolen bases (27). He continued his dominance on the mound, going 4-1 with team highs in strikeouts (45) and innings pitched (37). Prioleau also was the only CSU player to play all nine positions in a single game against Walsh University in May of 1984.

In his final season with CSU, Prioleau ranked 5th in the nation with a .452 batting average and once again led the team in RBIs (39), triples (5) and doubles (9). He also hit 10 home runs and led the nation with a school record 53 stolen bases. In 39 innings of work, Prioleau pitched to a 4-2 record, a career high 53 strikeouts and ranked 2nd in the nation in 1985 with 8.8 strikeouts per game.

Prioleau exemplified himself as a leader on and off the diamond. He earned the team's academic achievement award in all three years in which he wore the maroon and gold. He also served as the team captain in the '84 and '85 seasons.

After the 1985 season, Prioleau was drafted by the Detroit Tigers. He returned to Central State to complete his degree in 1989. Since graduating, Prioleau has established a 24-year career in the biotechnology industry. He currently resides in Baltimore, MD, with his wife of 25 years, Terry. His son, TJ, and daughter, Teniera, are also multi-sport athletes. TJ served as captain of the 2014 CSU basketball team and also ran track for the Marauders. He recently accepted the head women's coaching position at CCBC-Catonsville. Teneira is currently enrolled at Wilson College (PA) and plays on the basketball team and soccer team.

Dr. Arthur E. Thomas

Dr. Arthur E. Thomas has dedicated his entire adult life and career toward championing the cause of the poor, the oppressed, and the denied. He has, at great personal sacrifice, fought all forms of injustices at the local, state, and federal levels. A 1962 graduate of Central State University, Dr. Thomas has worked as an elementary and high school teacher, as well as, a football and track coach. He has also taught and directed advocacy programs. At the university level, he has served as Vice President and President at Central State University. He served on the Historically Black College and University Presidential Advisory Board of former Presidents George H.W. Bush and William J. Clinton. Dr. Thomas served for 12 consecutive years, never faltering in his advocacy for poor and denied people.

Dr. Thomas was selected by President Clinton to be an official U.S. repr
esentative to the first democratic elections in South Africa. During his tenure as President at Central State University, he awarded 123 full scholarships to African students from 23 African countries. Ten students were recipients from South Africa in fulfillment of a commitment to the Honorable Nelson Mandela.

During Dr. Thomas' presidency, Central State University had a record enrollment of more than 3,200 students; developed a four-year undergraduate International Water Resources Management Program; established a four-year fully accredited Manufacturing Engineering Program; re-established the Master's Degree in Education; an emphasized the African Studies Program; and developed a model Linguistics Program. In addition he directed the university's internationally renowned Convocation series which also was promoted the University through a PBS television series and book, "Like It Is." In the area of student development, Dr. Thomas was instrumental strengthening the award winning Invincible Marching Marauders and the Grammy nominated University Chorus and in the success of the athletic department. During his tenure, Central State won two football national NAIA championships, eight women's national NAIA track championships, two men's national NAIA track championship, and women's basketball teams also won eight district basketball championships and participated in the national NAIA Tournament eight times. In addition to numerous athletic honorees and award winners, Central State student-athletes also included participants in national and international competition including the Olympics, highlighted by Olympic Gold Medalist Deon Hemmings'1996 performance in the 400-meter hurdles.

Dr. Thomas is proud of his determined efforts to provide access to a college education to the poor as well as to those who have been victimized by racist and inadequate public school systems. He received the Carter G. Woodson Award from the National Education Association as well as awards from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, The Rainbow PUSH Coalition, and the National Council of Negro Women. Dr. Thomas earned his Master's in Education from Miami University (Ohio), and his doctoral degree in Education Administration from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Dr. Thomas has received honorary degrees from Shaw College, Capital University, and his Alma Mater, Central State University. Dr. Thomas recently received an outstanding Leadership Award from NAFEO (the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education) for his leadership and courage at Central State University and the Lifetime Achievement Award from Delta Zeta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. He also is a member of the CSU Alumni Hall of Fame and most recently was inducted into the 2012 National Black College Hall of Fame and received its Lifetime Achievement Award.

Additionally, Dr. Thomas served as the Director of the Kellogg Foundation-funded NAFEO Kellogg Leadership Fellows Program and as the Program Manager for the California State University San Bernardino Integrated Technology Transfer Network Program at Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD. More recently, he has served as the Senior Administrative Coordinator of the Ph.D. Program in Bioenvironmental Science, School of Computer, Mathematical, & Natural Sciences at Morgan State University. Currently, Dr. Thomas is serving as a NAFEO Presidential Fellow and working to developing programs and engaging in the resolution of problems confronting HBCUs. Dr. Thomas is also working to develop a HBCU Consortium to offer undergraduate degrees to incarcerated men and women of color during the period of their incarceration.

The 1990 Central State Football Team helped set the standard for CSU football. After establishing the program as a perennial NAIA powerhouse throughout the 1980s, Hall of Fame coach Billy Joe and the Marauders solidified their place in history by delivering the first national football title to CSU in 1990.

Entering the season with a high powered offense, a shutdown defense, and an electrifying special teams unit, the Marauders began the 90' campaign with blowout victories over Morgan State, St. Francis and Tennessee State. In week four, the Marauders suffered their only loss of the season in a 43-42 shootout against Northeast Missouri State.

According to the coaches and players, the loss sparked a new found motivation to finish the season off the right way. CSU dominated the remainder of the regular season and entered the NAIA playoffs with a 7-1 record.

After disposing Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas, with a 48-10 win in the first round; CSU's semifinal matchup pitted them against Carson-Newman College in Johnson City, Tennessee – the team that had ended CSU's postseason runs in '87, '88 and '89. With extra incentive to beat their rivals, the Marauders cruised to a 41-14 win to advance to the national title game against Mesa State University. If there ever was a way to make winning a national title look easy, the Marauders did just that with a dominate 38-16 win over Mesa State in Junction City, Colorado, to bring a title back to Wilberforce. Senior running back Ray Hill was named the game's Offensive MVP while junior linebacker Marvin Pope earned Defensive MVP.

On their march toward the title, the 1990 national champion Marauders set NAIA Div. I records by scoring 594 points (54.8 ppg) and averaging 492 yards of offense. The Marauders defeated opponents by an astounding average point margin of 37.5 per game.

The Central State players and coaching staff went on to earn many individual honors. OL Erik "Big E" Williams, QB Henderson Mosley, DB Marvin Coleman, Hill and Pope earned All-American honors that season.

1990 Results
Morgan State - W (63-13)
Saint Francis - W (39-6)
Tennessee State - W (35-14)
Northeast Missouri State - L (43-32)
Knoxville - W (70-44)
Bowie State - W (56-7)
Kentucky State - W (69-14)
West Virginia State - W (64-14)
Fort Hays State - W (48-10)*
Carson-Newman - W (41-14)*
Colorado-Mesa State - W (38-16)*
*-denotes NAIA Playoffs

Hotel Information
Holiday Inn - Fairborn
Address:2800 Presidential Dr, Fairborn, OH 45324
Phone:(937) 426-7800
Map

Venue Information
Country Club of the North
Address:1 Club N Dr, Xenia, OH 45385
Phone:(937) 374-5000
Map

Purchase your tickets online
or call 937 376 6289 to purchase tickets over the phone.

For more information on Marauder Athletics, please visit – www.maraudersports.com
 

**NOTICE TO 1990 FOOTBALL TEAM MEMBERS**
-Click here to fill out the 1990 football team RSVP form-

**NOTICE TO 1965 BASKETBALL TEAM MEMBERS**
-Click here to fill out the 1965 basketball team RSVP form-

Twitter: @GO_MARAUDERS | Facebook: CSUmarauders | Instagram: @GO_MARAUDERS
Youtube: Central State Athletics | Shop: Online Store | Tickets: Purchase Online

COURTESY CENTRAL STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Southern's Banks, Sam to take part in Euro Goodwill Tour

Courtesy: Southern U. Athletics

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Junior Trelun Banks and redshirt sophomore Jared Sam will compete in a three country goodwill tour sponsored by Global Sports Academy starting Aug. 6.

The nine day showcase features five scheduled games which begin with the tour opener Aug. 8 in Brussels. The teams will play games in Ghent, Bruges and Antwerp before traveling to Amsterdam to play in the tour finale.

After the finale, the team, comprised of players from several NCAA Division 1 institutions, will spend its final day sightseeing in London before returning home Aug. 14.

During 2014-15 season, Bank and Sam, who starred as teammates for Class 5A state champions Scotlandville High in 2013, helped lead Southern to the SWAC Tournament final.

Banks averaged 10.3 points per game last season and finished as the team's third leading scorer after being named the league's freshman of the year in 2014. Sam posted 5.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game in his first full season on the court after redhirting in 2014.

Banks and Sam are joined on the 2015 team with Plaisance Scott (UL Lafayette), Sidy Djite (Clemson), Locke Kayel (UNC Greensboro), Chris Cokley (UAB), Sterling Brown (SMU), Benjamin Moore (SMU), Brian Steele (South Carolina) and Joel Scudder (Mount St. Joseph)
Global Sports Academy (“GSA”) has been participating in domestic and international competition since 1991. It was initially established to provide athletes overseas playing opportunities in Ice Hockey and it has grown to support a total of 12 different sports that compete in 25 different countries.

In 1991, the organization was incorporated with its mission to create and arrange athletic competition between equally matched teams at all levels internationally. To "Promote International Goodwill" and a better understanding between nations through sports is the major goal.

For more information log on to GoJagSports.com for the latest news, scores and updates on Southern Jaguar athletics. Fans can also access the latest information on SU athletics through social media by following @SouthernUsports on Twitter and Instagram or liking the Facebook page at Facebook.com/SouthernUJaguars.

COURTESY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Washington Redskins to host former Saints outside linebacker Junior Galette (Stillman College) for visit

RICHMOND, Virginia -- The day after they signed Ryan Kerrigan to a lucrative contract extension, the Redskins will explore the possibility of further bolstering their pass rush by meeting with free agent outside linebacker Junior Galette, two people with knowledge of the situation confirmed.

Galette arrived in Richmond on Wednesday night and on Thursday was to meet with general manager Scot McCloughan, Redskins president Bruce Allen and other members of the organization, according to a person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak for the team. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers also have expressed interest in Galette, but it’s believed that

Washington ranks first on his list of destinations, another person familiar with Galette’s thinking said.

A fifth-year veteran out of Stillman College, the 6-foot-2, 258-pound Galette boasts great talent, having recorded a total of 22 sacks in 2013 and 2014 – his first two seasons as a starter.

His signing  would give Washington a dominant pass rusher to pair with Kerrigan, who last season recorded a career-high 13.5 sacks and on Wednesday signed a five-year, $57.5 million extension.

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FAMU Football Opens Training Camp August 3

TALLAHASSEE, Florida – The 2015 Florida A&M University Football team will open final preparations for the coming season Monday, August 3, as prospects for the team are slated to report to campus.

Head coach Alex Wood and his staff will conduct two days of orientation for the players on Tuesday and Wednesday, a time frame which will include physical exams and conditioning evaluations.

The Rattlers will hit the field for initial drills in helmets and shorts, Thursday through Saturday, then will open their full contact regimen on Monday, August 10, with two work sessions.

FAMU opens the 2015 regular season on Saturday, September 5 agains the University of South Florida (USF) at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Kickoff will be 7:00 p.m.

2015 FAMU FALL FOOTBALL CAMP SCHEDULE

Monday, August 3 ……………. Players Report

Tues-Wed, August 4-5 ……… Orientation Period

Thu-Sat, August 6-8 ………… Drills In Shorts and Shells

Monday, August 10 …………. First Day of Full Contact Drills

Two-A-Day Dates …………….. August 10, 12, 14, 17, 19, 21

Single Practice Dates ……….. August 6, 7, 8, 11, 13, 15, 18, 20, 22

Monday, August 24 ………….. First Day of Fall Classes

Saturday, September 5 ……… SEASON OPENER – BEAT USF!!!


2015 FAMU FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Sept. 5 #at University of South Florida (7:00) Tampa, Fla.

Sept. 12 at Samford University (2:00) Birmingham, Ala.

Sept. 17 +at South Carolina State* (7:30) Orangeburg, S.C.

SEPT. 26 TENNESSEE STATE (4:00) HOME

Oct. 3 at Savannah State* (7:00) Savannah, Ga.

OCT. 10 N.CAROLINA CENTRAL*(4:00) HOME

OCT. 17 DELAWARE STATE* (3:00) HOMECOMING

OCT. 31 NORTH CAROLINA A&T*(3:00) HOME

Nov. 7 at Hampton University* (1:00) Hampton, Va.

Nov. 14 at Morgan State University*(1:00) Baltimore, Md.

Nov. 21 Bethune-Cookman * (2:30) Orlando, Fla.

*-MEAC games; +-ESPNU Thursday Night game; #-ESPN3

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Russell Barbarino Hired as Head Strength & Conditioning Coach at Michigan



RUSSELL BARBARINO
HEAD STRENGTH & CONDITIONING
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
(Photo Courtesy: FAMU Athletics)

ANN ARBOR, Michigan --University of Michigan director of strength and conditioning Mike Favre announced Russell Barbarino Wednesday (July 29) as a head strength and conditioning coach for Olympic sports. He will direct strength and conditioning for women's basketball and field hockey during the 2015-16 athletic season.

Prior to Michigan, Barbarino spent five years as the Director of Strength and Conditioning at Florida A&M University. He was responsible for the supervision of more than 300 student-athletes from FAMU's 18 intercollegiate athletics teams and coordinating all strength and conditioning programs, including the direct supervision of three full-time assistants. During his time there, the football team won the 2010 MEAC Conference football championship. He also trained two NFL Draft selections and nine players selected to free agent NFL professional contracts. Additionally, he trained the 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011 MEAC Conference South Division volleyball champions, a team that was 38-2 in MEAC conference play and 44-6 including MEAC Tournament play from 2011-2014.

Prior to FAMU, he was a successful business owner and nationally certified fitness and athletic performance specialist in Tallahassee and surrounding areas, including owning and operating Anytime Fitness of Tallahassee Mahan Drive and Anytime Fitness of Crawfordville, Florida.

Barbarino previously served as the director of strength and conditioning at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, from 2005-2006. Due to the effects of Hurricane Katrina, he relocated to College Station, Texas, and set up a training schedule in conjunction with Texas A&M University officials. He coordinated strength and conditioning programs for all of Tulane's 16 men's and women's division I varsity sports programs, which were located at four different universities, including Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Louisiana Tech and Southern Methodist. Also, he worked together on a daily basis with the Texas A&M Strength & Conditioning Staff, assisting with the training of the Texas A&M football, men's basketball and a variety of Olympic sports programs.

Prior to Tulane, Barbarino served as the Director of Strength and Conditioning at the University of Delaware from 1999-2005. While at Delaware, he coordinated, designed and implemented strength and conditioning programs for all 23 men's and women's Division I varsity sports programs. The football team garnered its best record in school history, going 15-1 and winning the 2003 Division I-AA (FCS) national championship while also capturing the 2000, 2003 and 2004 Atlantic-10 Conference Football championships. On their way to winning the 2003 national championship, Delaware outscored its playoff opponents, 149-23, including a 40-0 victory in the championship game -- all current FCS records. The women's basketball program posted five 20-plus win seasons, participated in the WNIT in 2005, 2003 and 2002 and earned a trip to the 2001 NCAA Tournament. They also won the 2005 and 2003 Colonial Athletic Association regular-season championships and 2001 America East Conference championship. The men's basketball program also had a pair of 20-plus win seasons and an invitation to the 2000 NIT. He also trained the 2004 CAA field hockey champions and 2000 women's lacrosse team to the NCAA Championship tournament.

Prior to his stint at Delaware, Barbarino served as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning coach at Florida State University from 1995-1999. While Barbarino was at Florida State, the program won the 1999 NCAA FBS championship, had two national runner-up finishes and won five Atlantic Coast Conference football titles. Barbarino assisted with the development of 11 first-round NFL draft picks and 38 athletes drafted or signed to free-agent contracts by NFL teams.

Barbarino is no stranger himself to the iron game. As a competitive powerlifter, he has become a two-time world, four-time national and nine-time state powerlifting champion who has held world and national records in both the bench press and deadlift while competing in the WNPF, ADFPA, WPA and APA organizations.

Barbarino also has experience working as a volunteer/intern with the following NFL professional organizations including: New Orleans Saints (2005), Baltimore Ravens (2004) and Philadelphia Eagles (2002).

Barbarino is Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified (SCCC) by the Collegiate Strength & Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCa). He is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and a member of the U.S. Weightlifting Federation (USAW) as a coach.

A former football letterwinner at Kean University in New Jersey, Barbarino earned a bachelor's degree in exercise science from the school in 1995 and added a master's degree in sports administration from Florida State in 1997. He and his wife, the former Jennifer Engelbrecht, have three boys named Kyle, Bryce and Ryan.

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Spirit is high around N.C. Central football

DURHAM, North Carolina -- Jerry Mack has many reasons to be excited about the upcoming football season.

First, North Carolina Central is the co-MEAC defending champion from Mack’s inaugural season.

Second, the Eagles return 15 starters (seven on offense, eight on defense), including starting quarterback Malcolm Bell who passed for 1,982 yards and 15 touchdowns against just five interceptions, and rushed for another 416 yards and five TDs.

Third, NCCU was voted as having the No. 1 HBCU recruiting program by Box To Row, a sports talk radio program.

And fourth, with the exception of one replacement, Mack’s staff remains intact for another season. Ask any head coach how important that is.

CONTINUE READING 

JSU Tigers Report for Fall Camp on August 5

JACKSON, Mississippi -- With the official kickoff of the 2015 football season just around the corner for Jackson State, the Tigers football team is set to report for fall camp on Wednesday, August 5. Returning players and newcomers are set to check in at noon.

The Tigers will hit the field for the first day of practice on August 6. Below is the 2015 JSU fall camp practice schedule. JSU opens the 2015 season on Saturday, September 5 when the Tigers travel to Murfreesboro, Tennessee to take on Middle Tennessee State.

2015 JSU Football Fall Training Camp Schedule
(Practices are scheduled to last approx. two hours, locations are subject to change)
(Practice sessions are scheduled to be at the T.B. Ellis Annex practice field)

Thursday, Aug. 6 – Practice (helmets), 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 7 – Practice (helmets), 3:45 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 8 – Practice (shells), 3:45 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 9 – Practice (shells), 3:45 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 10 – Practice 1 (full pads), 8:45 a.m., Practice 2 (full pads), 3:45 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 11 – Practice (full pads), 3:45 a.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 12 - Practice 1 (full pads), 8:45 a.m., Practice 2 (full pads), 3:45 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 13 – Practice 3:45 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 14 - Practice 1 (full pads), 8:45 a.m., Practice 2 (full pads), 3:45 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 15 – Scrimmage, 10 a.m.
Sunday, Aug. 16 - Practice (full pads), 3:45 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 17 - Practice 1 (full pads), 8:45 a.m., Practice 2 (full pads), 3:45 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 18 - Practice, 3:45 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 19 - Practice 1 (full pads), 8:45 a.m., Practice 2 (full pads), 3:45 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 20 - Practice, 3:45 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 21 - Practice 1 (full pads), 8:45 a.m., Practice 2 (full pads), 3:45 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 22 - Scrimmage, 10 a.m.
Sunday, Aug. 23 - Practice (full pads), 3:45 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 24 – No Practice
Tuesday, Aug. 25 – Practice, 3:15 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 26 – Practice, 3:15 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 27 - Practice, 3:15 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 28 - Practice, 3:15 p.m.

COURTESY JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS

Alexander Completes North Carolina A&T Recruiting Class

GREENSBORO, North Carolina --  North Carolina A&T men’s basketball coach announced the completion of his recruiting class Tuesday. Aggie fans will be introduced to four new players next season including two Division I graduate transfers, a junior college transfer and one true freshman.

The Aggies class includes Ede Egharevba (6-6, 210, Queens, N.Y., Albany University), Joshea Singleton (6-4, 211, Kinston, N.C., Bucknell University), Mike Owona (6-9, 250, Bel Air, Md., Northwest Kansas Technical College) and Deion James (6-8, 205, Tucson, Ariz., Empire).

Fourth-year head coach Cy Alexander also had two players sitting out last year in Division I transfer and Greensboro Dudley High School graduate Sam Hunt (6-2, 175, Greensboro, N.C., Jacksonville University) and Jamin Lackey (6-8, 200, Los Angeles, Calif., California Community College), who missed the 2014-15 season because of a shoulder injury.

“I don’t think we ever fully recovered from losing seven seniors at one time,” said Alexander referring to the 2013 MEAC championship team that featured seven seniors.

“Two guys from the class we signed transferred, and then (Richaud) Pack transferred before last season. He was a guy we felt could score close to 20 per game for us. During our (men’s basketball) staff meetings we expressed the need to bring in guys that can help us right away because of some of the setbacks we’ve had. I think my staff did an excellent job of doing that.”

The Aggies lost Pack to the graduate transfer rule. Pack, an A&T graduate, transferred to the University of Maryland to complete his eligibility. By rule, he was allowed to play the 2014-15 season with the Terrapins after playing the 2013-14 season with the Aggies because he already had his undergraduate degree.

Instead of getting upset, Alexander decided to utilize the rule himself. The Aggies signed Egharevba and Singleton with the intention of the two graduate students starting the 2015-16 season as starters.

“Ede is a highly-intelligent young man who graduated college in three years,” said Alexander.

“We’re looking for him to be a double-digit scorer and a fierce defender because of his length on the wings. He brings a lot to the table including maturity in the locker room.”

Over a two-year period, Egharevba played in 18 games with one start for the Great Danes. He initially singed with Wichita State out of Evelyn Mack Academy (N.C.). He took a redshirt season before transferring to Midland where he averaged 5.9 points and 3.2 rebounds before transferring to Albany. He was a 2010 All-New York City performer out of Edison High School, and was the leading scorer at Mack Academy in 2011.

Singleton will team with fellow Kinstonian Denzel Keyes in 2015-16 after graduating from Bucknell. Singleton played in 46 games with 24 starts over a four-year period at Bucknell. He was the 2011 valedictorian at Kestrel Heights School in Durham, N.C. He averaged 14.6 points as a junior and 16.0 points as a senior at Kestrel Heights.

“He is a high intense and high character guy,” said Alexander. “He is going to bring a lot of energy to our team. He played in the Princeton offense, so he is also going to bring some offensive discipline with him as well.”

A&T’s lack of success over the past two seasons is due in part to a lack of physicality, according to Alexander. He hopes to solve that problem with the addition of Owona. Owona played one year each at Farleigh Dickinson and NW Kansas Tech. He played in 30 games as a freshman at FDU where he averaged 1.2 points and 2.3 rebounds as a reserve. He played in 28 games with 26 starts at NW Kansas Tech and posted 4.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.

“He is a bruiser and banger with a big body,” said Alexander. “He is not a fine-tuned offensive player but an excellent rebounder. He gives us a presence and toughness in the paint, which is something we need.”

The only true freshman in the class is James. But he is talented enough to come in and play major minutes immediately. He had numerous offers from mid to high mid-majors before choosing A&T and its engineering program.

He can play small forward, power forward and shooting guard. He will likely play shooting guard to start the season. He played in 103 games for Empire and averaged 16.0 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. James averaged better than 20 points and averaged a double-double in each of his final two seasons in high school.

“Once he learns how hard you have to work on the collegiate level, I think he has the potential to be an outstanding player for us,” said Alexander. “He certainly has the speed and the intensity to play on this level. And when you look at the schools who were pursuing him, it tells me we signed a pretty good player.”

With the addition of three veteran players and a talented true freshman along with Hunt and Lackey entering the fold, the Aggies will have a new look in 2015-16. But not all is brand new. The Aggies also have 12 returning players, which makes them one of the deepest teams in the MEAC.

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Benedict Will Host Livingstone In Palmetto Capital City Classic

COLUMBIA, South Carolina -- A week-long schedule of events will lead up to the 14^th annual Palmetto Capital City Classic on Sept. 5, classic organizers announced on Tuesday.

The Palmetto Capital City Classic will feature Benedict College, in its season opener under new head coach Mike White, taking on Livingstone College from Salisbury, N.C. A game time change was also announced, as kickoff will now be at 4:30 p.m., a half hour earlier than originally planned in order to accommodate the soldiers and staff from Fort Jackson who will be attending the game.

The other big announcement was the Friday night PCCC Old School Funk Party and R&B Show at the Township Auditorium. This year's musical lineup will feature Cameo, Brick and Lakeside. Tickets for this event will go on sale Monday.

Events kick off on Monday, Aug. 31, with the Sponsors Kick-Off Reception and PCCC Alumni Mixer at the First Citizens Café & Outdoor Center on Main Street at 5:30 p.m. The Media and Sponsor Luncheon and crowning of Miss PCCC is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 1. Wednesday, Sept. 2, will feature the PCCC Battle of the Drumline Show at Charlie W. Johnson Stadium starting at 5:30 p.m. This will showcase drumlines from high school bands from Columbia and surrounding areas. Thursday will have the PCCC annual Game Day Rally and Fan Celebration at EdVenture/Coble Plaza starting at 5:30 p.m. The annual PCCC Garnell McDonald Memorial Golf Tournament is scheduled for Friday, starting at 9 a.m. at Oak Hills Golf Club. The Old School Funk Party is Friday night at Township Auditorium, with the first band taking the stage at 8 p.m.

Saturday's pre-game festivities start at noon with the PCCC Alumni Old School Music Festival and Tailgate Party on the football practice field. The game kicks off at 4:30 p.m. with a special halftime show featuring the Benedict College Marching Tiger Band of Distinction and the Livingstone College Marching Blue Bear Band.

Benedict is coming off a 4-6 season, but Tiger fans are optimistic that coach White will turn things around. White told media and supporters at Tuesday's press conference that the team will be young with a lot of new faces.

Livingstone went 5-5 in 2014, winning their first four games. The Blue Bears averaged 32.7 points per game and return quarterback Drew Powell and wide receiver Jalen Hendricks, who were both first-team All-CIAA selections last year. Hendricks was named the CIAA's Offensive Player of the Year after 71 receptions for 1,070 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Tickets for the PCCC game are available at the Benedict College athletic office, 2317 Laurel Street.

COURTESY BENEDICT COLLEGE TIGERS SPORTS INFORMATION

Grambling's Broderick Fobbs to receive the Eddie Robinson Award

COURTESY GRAMBLING STATE ATHLETICS

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana -- Broderick Fobbs, the head football coach at Grambling State University, will be recognized as the 2014-15 recipient of the Eddie Robinson Award when the Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame holds its annual awards banquet on Saturday, August 8 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Greater New Orleans Sports Awards Committee is sponsored by the Allstate Sugar Bowl.

The award is presented annually to an athlete, coach, team or athletic administrator in Louisiana who demonstrates the qualities most associated with Grambling legend Eddie Robinson: outstanding achievement in athletics, academics, sportsmanship and citizenship by maximizing the use of limited resources.

Fobbs is being honored after taking over the reins of the award's namesake's program and lifting it up from depths to which it had never fallen in history - a combined record of 2-21 during the 2012-2013 seasons. Things sunk so low that the 2013 season was most memorable due to a player revolt related to dissatisfaction with athletic facilities and travel accommodations. The week-long boycott forced cancellation of a road game against Jackson State.

CONTINUE READING

Hopson takes Alcorn to top of SWAC mountain

VICKSBURG, Mississippi -- The achievements of Jay Hopson range from being a four-time letterman and academic All-Southeastern Conference honor roll selection at Ole Miss, to being the first white head coach in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

Hopson spoke to the Port City Kiwanis Club last week and reminisced on his time spent at Alcorn State. He inherited a meager football program when he took the position in 2012 and has turned it into the defending conference champion. The Braves were also picked to win the SWAC at this year’s league media day.

“I don’t know if you remember my first year at Alcorn, we were a really bad football team. Ain’t no way to put it,” Hopson said. “I know my dad came to practice and he left after 30 minutes. He said ‘God bless you son, it’s going to be a long haul.’”

The Vicksburg native coached at 10 universities including Tulane, LSU, Southern Miss, Ole Miss and Michigan before taking the Alcorn position. He’s been a part of several conference championship teams and had records ranging from 15 wins to one.

CONTINUE READING

Berry’s rise at ASU from unknown to undeniable

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- He’s here. He’s there.

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.”

CONTINUE READING

Brandon Reeves Named Chicago State Volleyball Head Coach

 BRANDON REEVES
HEAD VOLLEYBALL COACH
CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITY

CHICAGO, Illinois – Chicago State University Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Denisha Hendricks announced today the hiring of Brandon Reeves as the university's new head volleyball coach.

"We're very excited to have Coach Reeves join the CSU Athletics family. We're looking forward to an exciting volleyball season coming up and are ready to welcome our team to campus in a couple of weeks," stated Hendricks.

Reeves comes to CSU after serving the last two seasons as head volleyball coach at Concordia University in Selma, Ala., where he tallied a 25-8 record last season, was ranked No. 1 in the USCAA power rankings and advanced to the Elite Eight of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) National Tournament. In addition, he was also a finalist for the USCAA National Coach of the Year accolades.

Reeves also served as an assistant coach for the Concordia women's basketball team that advanced to the semifinals of the USCAA Division I Tournament last year with a 24-4 season record.

Before his stint at Concordia, Reeves spent six seasons as head coach at Rust College, an NCAA Division III institution from Holly Spring, Miss. During his tenure at Rust, the Lady Bearcats posted an 81-55 record under Reeves while advancing to the NCAA South Region Tournament in addition to producing a third-team All-American and two all-region performers.

Reeves also served as head coach of the Rust men's volleyball team, who became the first southern Historically Black College/University (HBCU) to field a collegiate men's program. The 2013 squad posted an 18-6 record and ranked 11th nationally in the NCAA D-III poll. He also coached men's and women's track & field at Rust.

 "I would like to express my appreciation to Chicago State University, Dr. Hendricks and the rest of the executive administration for the opportunity to take the helm of the Cougars volleyball program," said Reeves. "From our very first conversation, it was very clear that Dr. Hendricks and I share many core values that I believe are essential in building not only a very successful volleyball program, but a very successful athletics department."

Reeves has also gained experience coaching several clubs in Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi in addition to serving as an instructor for six years at the Nike Camp hosted by the University of Mississippi.

Reeves graduated from Lane College in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics, where he also competed on the school's men's tennis and traveling club volleyball teams. He also obtained a Masters in Arts in Education with a concentration in Sports Administration from Tennessee State University and is currently finishing up requirements for his doctorate in Sports Management at Northcentral University.

COURTESY CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Morgan State Football Media/Photo Day is set for August 6



COURTESY MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS


BALTIMORE, Maryland – Morgan State University will hold its Annual Media/Photo Day on Thursday, August 6 beginning at 10 a.m. at Hughes Stadium.

Photo/media day will include the taking of an official team photo, headshots, group photos of the coaches and the various support staff units, groups of player photos by position.

Head coach Lee Hull, staff and players will be available for interviews from noon to 1 p.m.

The Bears begin preseason practice from 7-9:30 p.m. as they prepare for the 2015 season opener on the road against the Air Force Falcons on September 5. The Bears home-opener at Hughes Stadium will be on September 19 against Virginia-Lynchburg.

For further information, please contact Leonard Haynes at (443) 885-3831.

Game Tickets: Season tickets for all five contests at Hughes Stadium plus are on sale now. For Morgan State football ticket information click here.

Click here for the 2015 Football Schedule

Follow Morgan State Athletics on Twitter (@MorganStBears) and Facebook (Facebook.com/MorganStateBears), in addition to www.MorganStateBears.com. The Morgan State Bears mobile application is also available for free download from the App Store and Android Market.

COURTESY MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Big Easy Blastoff will open 2015 XU volleyball schedule

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana will open its 2015 women's volleyball schedule with a six-team, two-day home tournament.
    
Third-year coach Hannah Lawing announced Monday the schedule, which consists of 24 regular-season matches, 11 at home.
    
Joining the Gold Nuggets in the Big East Blastoff Aug. 28-29 will be four NAIA members — city rival Loyola, Faulkner, Mobile and Wayland Baptist — plus NCAA Division I's Mississippi Valley State. Xavier will play all but Loyola that weekend.
    
Xavier and Mississippi Valley will meet at 9 a.m. in the first of five matches Aug. 28. The Gold Nuggets and Mobile will close the day with a 5 p.m. match.
    
Xavier will travel to Brunswick, Ga., for the Mariner Invitational the second weekend and play Bethel (Ind.), Bryan, Coastal Georgia and Martin Methodist.
    

Wayland Baptist — a second-day opponent in the Big Easy Blastoff — and Coastal Georgia were NAIA National Championship qualifiers in 2014.
      
The Gold Nuggets will be at home for their first Gulf Coast Athletic Conference match, 7 p.m. Sept. 7 against Talladega. Xavier is the four-time defending GCAC regular-season and tournament champion and is 59-0 the past four seasons against GCAC opponents. Xavier is one of 12 schools to qualify for the NAIA National Championship each of the last four seasons.
    
Still undecided is the site of the GCAC Tournament Nov. 13-14. The tournament winner will receive an automatic bid to the NAIA National Championship, which will begin Nov. 21.
    
Xavier will play three road matches in New Orleans: SUNO on Sept. 25 and Dillard on Nov. 9 in the GCAC and Loyola on Oct. 29. The visit to Dillard will be the Gold Nuggets' regular-season finale.
    
Xavier's final home match of the regular season will be Oct. 31 against SUNO. It will include a Senior Day ceremony for six Gold Nuggets: Darian Harris, Claudia Haywood, Jodi Hill, Franziska Pirkl, Taylor Reuther and CeCe Williams. All but Hill have been All-GCAC selections. Reuther was the 2012 GCAC Player of the Year, and Reuther (2011), Haywood (2013) and Williams were GCAC Tournament MVPs.
 
Match times and dates are subject to change.
    
Xavier was 20-6 in 2014, 14-0 in the GCAC.

Xavier University of Louisiana
2015 Women's Volleyball Schedule

Aug. 28 (Fri.):  MISSISSIPPI VALLEY, 9 a.m. (Big Easy Blastoff)
Aug. 28 (Fri.):  MOBILE, 5 p.m. (Big Easy Blastoff)
Aug. 29 (Sat.):  WAYLAND BAPTIST, 9 a.m. (Big Easy Blastoff)
Aug. 29 (Sat.):  FAULKNER, 3 p.m. (Big Easy Blastoff)
Sept. 4 (Fri.):  Martin Methodist, 11 a.m. EDT (Mariner Invitational, Brunswick, Ga.)
Sept. 4 (Fri.):  Bryan, 3 p.m. EDT (Mariner Invitational, Brunswick, Ga.)
Sept. 5 (Sat.):  at Coastal Georgia, 11 a.m. EDT (Mariner Invitational, Brunswick, Ga.)
Sept. 5 (Sat.):  Bethel (Ind.), 3 p.m. EDT (Mariner Invitational, Brunswick, Ga.)
Sept. 7 (Mon.):  •  TALLADEGA, 7 p.m.
Sept. 11 (Fri.)  •  at Edward Waters, 6 p.m. EDT
Sept. 19 (Sat.):  •  TOUGALOO, 2:30 p.m.
Sept. 22 (Tue.):  •  DILLARD, 7 p.m.
Sept. 25 (Fri.)  •  at SUNO, 6 p.m.
Oct. 2 (Fri.)  at Mobile, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 3 (Sat.)  at Spring Hill, 1 p.m.
Oct. 6 (Tue.):  BELHAVEN, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 8 (Thu.):  •  EDWARD WATERS, 7 p.m.
Oct. 10 (Sat.):  •  PHILANDER SMITH, 1 p.m.
Oct. 17 (Sat.)  •  at Talladega, 1 p.m.
Oct. 24 (Sat.)  •  at Tougaloo, 1 p.m.
Oct. 29 (Thu.)  at Loyola, 6 p.m.
Oct. 31 (Sat.):  •  SUNO, 1 p.m.
Nov. 2 (Mon.)  •  at Philander Smith, 6 p.m.
Nov. 9 (Mon.)  •  at Dillard, 7 p.m.
Nov. 13-14 (Fri.-Sat.):  Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament, site TBA

Home matches in BOLD CAPITAL LETTERS
All times are Central except where noted
Schedules are subject to change

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

MEAC Football Press Luncheon Kicks Off Friday, July 31

COURTESY MEAC MEDIA RELATIONS

NORFOLK, Virginia -- The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) will host the annual Football Press Luncheon, Friday, July 31 at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott Hotel (235 E. Main Street, Norfolk, VA 23510/ (757) 627-4200). MEAC head football coaches and two student-athletes from each team will be on hand to offer an inside view on the upcoming 2015 football season.

A limited number of tickets are available to the public for the press luncheon and can be purchased by calling Jane Vega at (757) 951-2055 or jvega@themeac.com. Tickets are $30 per seat or $300 per table (10 persons).

Media members may obtain a credential for the luncheon and/or one-on-one interviews by completing an application found on www.MEACSports.com. One-on-one interviews will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m.

The 2015 MEAC football season kicks off on Saturday, September 5 featuring nine MEAC institutions in non-conference action.

South Carolina State will compete against Arkansas at Pine Bluff in the 11th annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge also on Labor Day Weekend, Sunday, September 6. Details and ticket information can be found on www.meacswacchallenge.com.

For more information about the MEAC, logo on to www.MEACsports.com.

COURTESY MEAC MEDIA RELATIONS

Shaw U. hires Jolisa Williams as Sports Information Director

JOLISA WILLIAMS
SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTOR
SHAW UNIVERSITY

RALEIGH, North Carolina – Jolisa Williams has joined Shaw University Athletics as its Sports Information Director, Marcus Clarke, the Director of Athletics announced Monday afternoon. In this capacity she will be the primary media relations contact for the Bear's 11 varsity sports.

After serving a one-year stint as Director of Sports Information and Marketing at Richard Bland College, Williams brings with her experience and knowledge in the athletic media relations field.

During her time at Richard Bland, Williams was the media relations contact for all nine athletic varsity teams including the men’s basketball program, who not only captured their respective 2015 Region 10 Conference title, but also the 2015 NJCAA National Championship for DII men’s basketball. She was also responsible for the 2015 Region 10 regular-season champion softball team and five track and field national qualifiers. Atop of her sport responsibilities, Williams was a key ingredient to launching and enhancing the Statesmen social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

No stranger to the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), Williams’ roots in the field came way of CIAA Conference foe, Virginia State University where worked as a Life Skills Coordinator and Sports Information Assistant for the 2013-14 athletic year. While working with the Trojans, she aided the Office of Athletic Communications in various areas. Along with assisting in the publicity for men’s basketball, football, and baseball, she served as the primary contact for women’s basketball, volleyball, women’s tennis and softball. Williams also played a role in growing VSU athletics’ social media platforms.

Prior to her role as an assistant, Williams interned with the Trojans’ Office of Athletics for one year where she contributed to all aspects and needs to the department. In addition to day-to-day and game-day tasks, Williams was also a full-time graduate student at Virginia State.

A 2012 Magna Cum Laude graduate of Saint Augustine’s University, Williams earned her Bachelors of Science in sport management. A three-year letterwinner for the Lady Falcons women’s basketball team, Williams served as the starting point guard and contributed to the CIAA Western Division title in 2009-10 and three CIAA Team Highest GPA Award (2008, 2011, 2012) for women’s basketball during her tenure. Williams received her master’s degree from Virginia State University in 2014.

A native of Charles City, Va., Williams was All-District First Team recipient for four years at Charles City High School, where she ranks second on the all-time scoring list and current assist leader. She averaged 21.1 points, 4.2 assist, and 7.3 rebounds per game.

Williams is a member of CoSIDA and BC-SIDA.

COURTESY SHAW UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION