Phylicia Rashad delivers Tuskegee University's summer commencement address; Receives TU Honorary Degree

TUSKEGEE, Alabama -- Many may know Howard University's alumna Phylicia Rashad as the iconic “Cosby Show” mother Claire Huxtable, but to Tuskegee University summer 2015 graduates, the award-winning actress and advocate for African Americans is much more than a television character.

“I want to take this opportunity to introduce one of my sheroes,” Tuskegee University President Brian Johnson said Friday morning, as he introduced the actress. “Ms. Rashad, I say this with the most humblest spirit and the deepest appreciation for your work: We love you … We welcome you to the Tuskegee family.”

Rashad took the podium, discussing the historic campus’ legacy and her hopes for the graduates’ futures.


“I feel – I think I have been waiting all my life to be here,” she told graduates and guests, sharing childhood memories of the inspiration Tuskegee scientist George Washington Carver brought her. “It was his intention to learn at any cost, and at that time, learning was very dangerous for people like me, people like you. But he did it anyway.”

She said Tuskegee University was built on the “power of intention” – and that intention compelled figures such as Booker T. Washington and Carver to ensure the success of African Americans at Tuskegee.
 

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FAMU and UFF Reach Tentative Agreement on Collective Bargaining

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The Administration of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) reached a tentative agreement today on the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the United Faculty of Florida (UFF).

The FAMU and UFF agreement provides for a 1.5 percent across the board wage increase to the base salary, retroactive to August 1, 2014. The agreement also provides for a $250 one-time bonus payment to all members employed on August 1, 2014, and a 1 percent, one-time bonus payment to all UFF bargaining members who have been continuously employed at FAMU for 10 years, obtained the rank of full professor, and are employed as of the date of ratification. The wage increases will take place within 60 days after full ratification.

The agreement also provides for the creation of a committee to develop a University-wide evaluation process. The FAMU Administration will determine the composition of the committee with the option to invite faculty to participate, subject to the approval of the UFF. A draft of the evaluation process will be submitted by the Administration to the UFF no later than November 16, 2015 for negotiation purposes.

Commenting on today’s agreement, President Elmira Mangum said, “Our faculty are the cornerstone of this University. I look forward to working with them along with the entire University family to address improving the outcomes of our performance metrics and the concerns that challenge our long-term viability as an 1890 land-grant university. Today’s agreement with the UFF is a positive step in that direction.”

UFF President Elizabeth Davenport, Ph.D., echoed President Mangum’s sentiment when she said, “The UFF members are optimistic that this agreement will be the start of a strengthened relationship with the FAMU Administration and the start of a renewed focus on enhancing the educational experience for our students in today’s environment.”

She added, “The members of the UFF are committed to working with the Administration and the FAMU community in promoting the well-being of our members and preparing our students to compete in the 21st century global economy.”

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS

SSU Football Announces Preseason Practice Schedule

COURTESY SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

SAVANNAH, Georgia  --  Savannah State head football coach Earnest Wilson III has released the Tigers preseason practice schedule.

SSU has scheduled 29 practices prior to the team's first official game week that will include three scrimmages.

The team will report to campus on July 29. During the first four days, new and returning players will move into the residence halls, pick up equipment, have team meetings, get physicals, meeting with athletic and university administrative and academic leaders, do sickle cell testing, and perform physical testing such as the 40-yard dash, shuttle run, 12-minute run, bench press and the broad jump.

The first official practice is scheduled for August 1 and the team will practice in full gear on August 7.

The first day of classes is Aug 10.

Scrimmages are scheduled for Aug. 8, 15 and 22.

Savannah State will open the 2015 season September 5 at Colorado State.

SSU TIGERS 2015 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Date	Opponent	Event	Location	Home / Away	Time
9/5/2015	Colorado State University		Fort Collins, CO	A	2 p.m. (MT)
9/12/2015	Open			N	Open
9/19/2015	University of Akron		Akron, OH	A	TBA
9/26/2015	Bethune-Cookman University		Daytona Beach, FL	A	4 p.m.
10/3/2015	Florida A&M University	"The Pink Game/Parents Weekend"	Savannah, Ga. - Ted Wright Stadium	H	7 p.m.
10/10/2015	Morgan State University		Baltimore, MD	A	4 p.m.
10/17/2015	North Carolina Central University	"Homecoming"	Savannah, Ga. - Ted Wright Stadium	H	2 p.m.
10/24/2015	Open			N	Open
10/31/2015	Howard University		Washington, DC	A	1 p.m.
11/7/2015	Norfolk State University		Norfolk, VA	A	2 p.m.
11/14/2015	Hampton University	"Community & Future All Stars Day"	Savannah, Ga. - Ted Wright Stadium	H	1 p.m.
11/21/2015	South Carolina State University	"Greek Day/High School Band Day"	Savannah, Ga. - Ted Wright Stadium	H	1 p.m.

COURTESY SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION     

Boyd, Williams Lead Howard U. Football All-MEAC Selections

COURTESY HOWARD UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

Norfolk, Virginia -- At the 2015 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Football Press Luncheon this afternoon, several Howard University student-athletes were named to the three All-MEAC teams, with Toree Boyd and Myles Williams leading the way as 2015 Preseason All-MEAC First Team honorees.

A 6-4, 315-pound junior offensive tackle from Miami, FL, Boyd has been one of the dominant offensive linemen in the MEAC. A two-year starter, Boyd was an All-MEAC selection last season and helped the Bison rank among the league's best in total offense for the second straight year.

Williams was one of Howard's surprise players of 2014. The 6-4, 200-pound red-shirt senior tight end from Perris, CA, caught a career-high 14 passes for 175 yards and two TDs. His reception total led the MEAC.

Senior linebacker Devin Rollins Kenneth Russ and John Fleck were named to the Second team while Matt Colvin and John Smith were selected to the Third team.

Rollins emerged last season as one of the top linebackers in the conference. The 5-11, 240 native of Miami, FL, led the MEAC in tackles with a whopping 122 to go along with 9 tackles for losses, 3 sacks and a forced fumble.

Russ, a 6-0, 185-pound red-shirt junior cornerback from Farmington, MI, also came on strong last season, registering a career-best 65 tackles, two tackles for losses, two interceptions and a team-leading five pass breakups.

Fleck is on the verge of becoming one of the top punter/placekickers in school history. A 6-2, 215-pound senior from Indianapolis, IN, Fleck was third on the team in scoring with 49 points.  As a punter, he had his best season, averaging 41 yards per punt, boasting 11 of 50 or more yards and 17 that landed inside the 20-yard line. As a placekicker, he converted on 6 of 12 field goals and 31 of 34 PATs.

Colvin, a 6-1, 175-pound senior wide receiver from Greensboro, NC, had his most productive season as a Bison, grabbing a team-high 41 passes for 611 yards and a TD.  He ranked among the MEAC tops in receptions per game.

Smith has showed marked progress each season. The 6-7, 300-pound red-shirt senior offensive tackle from Atlanta, GA, has played a key role in the success of the Bison offense that ranked among the conference best in total offense for the second straight season.

Howard was picked to finish ninth in the pre-season poll with 146 points, The Bison finished 5-7 last season, 3-5 in the MEAC for seventh place.  Howard opens the regular season with a road game at Appalachian State on September 6 at 3:30 pm.  The game will be broadcast on ESPN3.

COURTESY HOWARD UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION 

DSU Motivated by 10th Place Showing in 2015 MEAC Poll

Norfolk, Virginia -- Delaware State players attending the annual Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football kickoff  affair hope to prove voters wrong in their prediction for the Hornets in the 2015 conference race. DSU has been picked to finish 10^th in the 2015 conference standings, according to a poll of league head coaches and sports information directors announced during the MEAC Kickoff Luncheon at the Norfolk Waterside Marriot today.

Delaware State first-year head coach Kenneth Carter was joined by senior receiver Morris Frasier and junior defense end Gabe Sherrod at the event.

North Carolina A&T, one of five teams to share the 2014 MEAC title, is the choice of voters to capture the crown this season. The Aggies collected nine of 22 first place votes and 425 total points in the balloting.

South Carolina State is a close second with four first place votes and 408 points. The Bulldogs also owned a share of the 2014 MEAC title.

Bethune-Cookman (387 points), North Carolina Central (334) and Morgan State (318) round out the top five in the MEAC preseason poll.  The Wildcats, Eagles and Bears also captured a share of the league championship last season.

Morgan State was awarded the MEAC’s automatic bid for the 2014 NCAA FCS playoffs in a tie-breaker among five teams.

“Polls are great for the fans and generating conversation, but games and championships are won on the field,” said Carter, who is in his first head coaching job after more than two decades as an assistant. “Our players and coaches are working extremely hard to put a great product on the field. I like our team and our chances to have a successful MEAC season.”
  
The MEAC also announced its preseason all-conference teams and players-of-the-year.

Hornet defensive back Terrick Colston (sr.; Lakeland, Fla.) was named to the Preseason All-MEAC First Team, while Sherrod (Perryville, Md.) and center Ernest Mengoni (jr.; Eynan, Pa.) were third team picks.

Colston was tied for fourth in the MEAC with four interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, last season. He set a DSU record with interceptions in four consecutive games and earned MEAC Defensive Player-of-the-Week and Special Teams Player-of-the-Week honors during the 2014 season. Colston was an All-MEAC Second Team selection in 2012 and a third team pick the last two years.

Sherrod was seventh on the Hornets with 46 total tackles in his first season at defensive end in 2014. He was second on the team with 7.5 tackles-for-loss and five sacks. Sherrod was also credited with an interception, three quarterback hurries, forced fumble and recovery and a blocked kick last season.
Mengoni, the Hornets’ 2014 team MVP, is entering his third season as the team’s starting center.
North Carolina A&T running back Tarik Cohen is the voters’ choice as the 2015 MEAC Preseason Offensive Player-of-the-Year, while South Carolina State senior end Javon Hargrave has been selected as the league’s preseason defensive player-of-the-year.

The Hornets kick off the 2015 season Sep. 5 at Liberty University. Game time is 7 p.m. in Lynchburg, Va.

Delaware State will play its 2015 home opener on Sep. 19 against Chowan. The DSU Hall-of-Fame contest is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Alumni Stadium. The Hornets will host Morgan State in their MEAC opener on Oct. 3.

DSU players report to campus Aug. 5 for preseason camp.

This year’s MEAC champion will also have the honor of representing the conference against the champ of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) in the inaugural Celebration Bowl on Dec. 19 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

	Football - MEAC Media Day Interview: Gabe Sherrod
	Football - MEAC Media Day Interview: Morris Frasier

  COURTESY DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

VIDEO: 2015 MEAC Football Preseason Predicted Order of Finish countdown

Click here to watch the 2015 Football Preseason Predicted Order of Finish countdown

In quarterback race at NSU, then there were two

NORFOLK, Virginia  -- The competition at quarterback remains open at Norfolk State.

First-year coach Latrell Scott said Friday that sophomore Terrance Ervin, who started nine games as a true freshman, will have to stave off newcomer Greg Hankerson to keep the job. Hankerson, a junior transfer, appeared in 16 games over two seasons at Florida Atlantic.

Asked whether he had a quarterback controversy on his hands, Scott didn't hesitate.

"I think there's a controversy in everything," he said, speaking before the MEAC's annual media luncheon in downtown Norfolk. "It's not so much controversy, it's competition."

Ervin, a Richmond native, completed 54.3 percent of his passes last season for 1,310 yards, eight touchdowns and nine interceptions. Hankerson passed for 647 yards and four scores in two seasons at FAU.



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Jay Gruden: Redskins decision-makers deemed Junior Galette worthy of a second chance

RICHMOND, Virginia – Jay Gruden said an impressive body of work, plus the contrite and grateful attitude that he observed in Junior Galette, sold him on the free agent linebacker.

Galette, released Monday by the New Orleans Saints after he fell out of favor with the organization in the past year, met with Gruden on Thursday and told the coach he was eager to redeem himself and repay the Redskins for believing in him.

“Talking to Junior, he’s very thankful for the opportunity New Orleans had given him, very remorseful about what happened, just being in the situation he was in,” Gruden said on Friday, relaying his conversations with Galette, who spent the first five seasons of his career with the Saints.


The Washingotn Redskins signed Galette to a one year contract worth $745,000.  He played his final college season at Stillman, after being dropped by Temple. 

“And he was really excited about a second chance. … He said he’d do everything in his power to make sure we wouldn’t regret it.”

The 6-foot-2, 258-pound Galette posted 22 sacks in the past two seasons. His pass-rushing expertise will help a Redskins defense that struggled to get to the quarterback while plagued by injury last season.

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T.J. Wisham earns Southern, Nicholls State, Grambling offers, ties Episcopal weight-lifting record

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -- A scholarship offer Friday evening from Southern marked just the latest development in an impressive summer for T.J. Wisham.

The highlights for the standout Episcopal 2016 running back include three scholarship offers — from Nicholls State, Grambling State and Southern — as well as tying a school weight-lifting record.

"I feel really good about the (summer)," he said. "My main goals were to get better and help my team get better, and I did both. I went to a few camps and felt they were very productive. I've picked up a lot of interest, and things going into my senior year are looking well.

 

"(I'm) really excited about the season with the way the team has grown the last two months. We've been working hard, spending a lot of time together and are really a solid family. I think we have a special season in front of us."

 

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New Mexico State, Harvard, Southern latest offers for Zachary quarterback Lindsey Scott

ZACHARY, Louisiana -- Lindsey Scott reported scholarship offers from four SWAC programs in a span of eight minutes Friday afternoon via Twitter.

The rapid-fire announcement of Grambling State, Alcorn State, Texas Southern and Southern University was enough for former NFL wide receiver JJ McCleskey to jokingly ask if the Zachary quarterback had just attended the conference's media day.

Southern offered Scott on Friday, just weeks after Harvard, but the other three SWAC schools did so earlier in the growing list on the under-recruited standout's phone.



Under-recruited for now, anyway.

New Mexico State offered Scott a scholarship as he discussed the SWAC schools with NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune, and other notable programs may not be far behind.

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Southern football training camp preview: After sitting out spring practice, Jaguars have extra work to do

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- The start of preseason football practice is supposed to be an opportunity for a team to pick up where it left off at the end of spring practice and for the coaches to start figuring out who’s going to assume roles vacated by the previous season’s seniors.

But when Southern reports Sunday and practices for the first time Monday, those challenges will be greater than normal.

The Jaguars didn’t have spring practice; they were banned from the workouts, finishing the final sanction from NCAA punishment relating to subpar academic progress rates. Additionally, 11 players who had remaining eligibility after last season are no longer on the active roster.

Six of those players are academically ineligible: defensive backs Bryan Anderson and Justin Bethancourt, offensive linemen Brandon Thibodeaux and Neako Jones, linebacker Jordan Taylor and punter Paul Randle Soden. Some of the academic casualties have appealed and could be reinstated, but Southern officials won’t say who falls into that category.

Four others left the team: running backs Jamarcus Jarvis and Tyre Bracken, offensive lineman Clayton Sylve and defensive lineman Gerald Brent. Also, kicker Kyle Yonke was dismissed.

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Soaring with the SeaHawks: Former Southern U. standout working his dream job, mixing football and people, with NFL team

Maurice “Mo” Kelly
Courtesy: Seattle Seahawks

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- It’s not every day that you run into someone who loves his job and cares about the people with whom he works.

Well, if you see Orangeburg, South Carolina native Maurice “Mo” Kelly the next time he is visiting family in the Garden City, you will quickly realize he is one of those people.

Kelly -- a former Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School football player who later played in the Canadian Football League and the NFL – has been promoted by the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks to the position of vice president of player engagement.

Although Kelly says the title is mostly all that’s changing from his former position as senior director for player development, he appreciates the executive level of the title that Coach Pete Carroll and General Manager John Schneider decided he deserves. And it’s a bit more executive-like than the nickname he carried during his professional playing days as a defensive back/linebacker: “Crash Kelly.”

“It’s really a title of a job to go along with ...

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HU coach Connell Maynor senses greater comfort level in second year

NORFOLK, Virginia — Connell Maynor knows his players better, and they have a firmer grasp on his goals and schemes as Maynor enters his second year as Hampton University’s football coach.  There aren’t any more unknown feelings — Maynor knows what to expect out of the Pirates this season.

“The biggest adjustment has just been showing patience,” Maynor said at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s annual media day Friday. “I had to understand that I didn’t have all of my players. I have to have a couple recruiting classes to get my players in there and get them to understand our system and to learn what championships are all about. That’s a process.

“Hopefully, we’ll get a little bit better next year. This was our first full year of recruiting. That’s going to help us out tremendously. We got the guys from last year to understand what we’re looking for, and hopefully that makes us a lot better.”

HU (3-9 in 2014) returns seven starters on offense and eight on defense. The defense, which ranked 10th in the MEAC in scoring defense and ninth in total defense, went through some changes with new coordinator Mike Ketchum, formerly of Delaware State.

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NCCU aims to claim MEAC title of its own

NORFOLK, Virginia — As he prepared for the MEAC media luncheon Friday, N.C. Central junior Mike Jones put on a sharp gray suit and navy collared shirt.

He fastened his watch and tied his shoes.

Then, he picked up a flashy maroon and silver ring and slid it on his right ring finger for the first time since he got it.

Jones usually leaves it sitting in its original box on his desk, buried under papers and other trinkets that always seem to collect on dorm room desks.

Every member of last year’s 7-5 team has this ring, symbolizing the school’s conference championship. But, after a five-way tie for the title last season, four other teams also claimed shares of the championship and have rings celebrating their share of the MEAC.

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Norfolk State Spartan Football Picked 7th in MEAC Preseason Poll

MEAC Preseason Predictions

NORFOLK, Virginia – The Norfolk State football team was predicted to finish seventh in the preseason poll of MEAC head coaches and sports information directors, and seven Spartans were named to the preseason All-MEAC teams as the league held its annual media day and luncheon on Friday.

Senior linebacker Deon King and senior receiver Isaac White were both named to the preseason All-MEAC first team. Senior defensive lineman Shawn Fauntleroy Jr. was voted to the second team, while the quartet of senior defensive lineman Kevin Williams, senior linebacker Lamar Neal, junior safety Brandon Walker and junior kicker Cameron Marouf were all voted to the third team.

North Carolina A&T, one of last season's five MEAC co-champions, was narrowly voted as the favorite to win the conference. The Aggies were followed in the preseason poll by the other four co-champions from last year: South Carolina State was predicted second, Bethune-Cookman third, North Carolina Central fourth and Morgan State fifth. Hampton was tabbed sixth and NSU seventh.

Rounding out the poll in eighth through 11^th places were Florida A&M, Howard, Delaware State and Savannah State, respectively. FAMU, Howard and SSU are ineligible for the MEAC championship this year.

King added to his list of preseason accolades Friday. He has already been named to the STATS FCS Preseason All-America second team and is a member of the STATS Defensive Player of the Year Watch List. King tallied 106 tackles, 18 for loss, and 7.5 sacks as part of the nation's No. 2 ranked defense last season on his way to All-MEAC first-team honors. King also recovered three fumbles, forced two and intercepted a pass.

White was a second-team All-MEAC selection last year, when he led all conference players with 664 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. He made 48 receptions as a junior in 2014.

Fauntleroy has helped plug the middle of the NSU defense from his nose guard position the last three seasons. He is coming off a 2014 season in which he made 33 tackles, two for loss.

Williams started just twice in 12 games last season, but came on strong toward the end of the year. Williams had 19 tackles, 2.5 for loss, with one sack, two pass deflections and a forced fumble. He figures to move into an even larger role this season.

Neal ranked fourth on the team and tied for 16th in the MEAC in tackles, with 85. He made 3.5 tackles for loss and one sack while starting 11 of the Spartans' 12 games at inside linebacker.

Walker started 10 times last season at strong safety and enjoyed a breakout year. Walker made 43 tackles, 3.5 for loss, and broke up eight passes to help the Spartans finish second in the nation (FCS) in pass defense.

Marouf was a third-team All-MEAC selection after last year, when he made 10 of the 15 field goals he attempted. Marouf connected on seven field goals of at least 40 yards in length, including a 51-yarder against Delaware State.

N.C. A&T running back Tarik Cohen was named the MEAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, and South Carolina State defensive lineman Javon Hargrave was voted the MEAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

The Spartan players report for preseason training camp this Thursday before holding their first practice at 3 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 7. NSU's first two practices (Aug. 7-8) will be held at Norview High School in Norfolk due to the AAU Junior Olympics track and field meet being held on the NSU campus.



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

Ten SCSU Bulldogs Named To All-MEAC Preseason Team, SC State Picked Second

PHOTO COURTESY: SCSU ATHLETICS

NORFOLK, Virginia —Ten (10) SC State University Bulldogs were named to the preseason all-conference team, while SC State was picked to finish second behind, the defending Co-champion North Carolina A&T State in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) as voted by the league's head football coaches and sports information directors.

This is the third straight year the Bulldogs were picked second in the preseason conference poll. The announcements were made at the MEAC's Annual Football Press Luncheon held Friday afternoon at the Norfolk Marriott Waterside Hotel in Virginia.

South Carolina State, received four first-place votes, behind North Carolina A&T State with nine first-place votes to receive the first place ranking in the conference's preseason poll for 2015 MEAC Football Season. All five teams that earned a share of conference title last year rounded out the first five spots of this year's preseason predicted order of finish.

All-American defensive lineman and last year's MEAC Defensive Player of the Year Javon Hargrave was this year's favorite to win the award again, along with redshirt sophomore and the 2014 Rookie of the Year Darius Leonard earning First Team All-MEAC honors.

Hargrave also garnered postseason honors last year, leading the MEAC and ranking second in the nation in sacks with 16 for a loss of 199 yards and fourth in the FCS in tackles for loss with 23.5. He finished the season recording 55 total tackles, three forced fumbles, one recovered fumble (61 yards), eight quarterback hurries and two breakups. He was listed on the Sports Networks' Buck Buchanan Award List for much of last year and earned national and conference Defensive Player of the Week honors after tying a conference and FCS-best record of six (6) sacks in a single game in a win over ranked Bethune-Cookman. Hargrave is currently on the award list for The Sports Networks' STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year honor.

Senior running back Jalen Simmons, tight end Temarrick Hemingway and redshirt junior offensive lineman Javarius Leamon, all earned All-MEAC Second Team honors on offense. On defense it was senior defensive end Reggie Owens, and defensive back/return specialist Antonio Hamilton.

Meanwhile, redshirt senior defensive lineman James Settles and senior defensive back Chris Pauling were named to the All-MEAC Third Team respectively.

The Bulldogs open the 2015 season on Sept. 6 in the 11th Annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge against SWAC foe Arkansas Pine-Bluff in Orlando, Fla. Kick-off is 3 p.m. and will be televised live on ESPNU/ESPN3. Season tickets to SC State's five home games are still available for more information go online to www.scsuathletics.com or contact the SC State Ticket Office at 803-536-8579 or 1-800-298-9157.

Listed below are the 2015 MEAC Preseason Predicted Order of Finish and Preseason All-MEAC teams:

2015 Predicted Order of Finish (First Place Votes in Parenthesis)
1. North Carolina A&T State University (9)
2. South Carolina State University (4)
3. Bethune-Cookman University (1)
4. North Carolina Central University (4)
5. Morgan State University
6. Hampton University (2)
7. Norfolk State University
8. Florida A&M University**
9. Howard University**
10. Delaware State University (1)
11. Savannah State University** (1)
** Florida A&M, Howard and Savannah State is not eligible
for post season competition**

BULLDOG ALL-MEAC HONORS
First Team All-Defense
Pos. Player
DL Javon Hargrave
LB Darius Leonard

Second Team All-Offense
Pos. Player
RB Jalen Simmons
TE Temarrick Hemingway
OL Javarius Leamon

Second Team All-Defense
Pos. Player
DL Reggie Owens
DB Antonio Hamilton
RS Antonio Hamilton

Third Team All-Defense
Pos. Player
DL James Settles
DB Chris Pauling

COURTESY SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION        

S.C. State picked second in MEAC behind N.C. A&T

NORFOLK, Virginia -- South Carolina State was picked to finish second Friday in the annual Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football poll of head coaches and sports information directors. North Carolina A&T was picked first.

S.C. State received four first-place votes with North Carolina A&T State getting nine. All five teams that earned a share of the MEAC title last year rounded were in the top five spots in the preseason poll, including No. 3 Bethune-Cookman, No. 4 N.C. Central and No. 5 Morgan State.

All-American senior defensive lineman Javon Hargrave of S.C. State was named preseason Defensive Player of the Year. He earned first-team All-MEAC honors, along with sophomore linebacker Darius Leonard.

Running back Jalen Simmons, tight end Temarrick Hemingway and offensive lineman Javarius Leamon, defensive end Reggie Owens and defensive back/return specialist Antonio Hamilton were picked to the All-MEAC second team.

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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