Spring Hill College Volleyball earns AVCA Team Academic Award

SHC Volleyball shines on the court and in the classroom

LEXINGTON, Kentucky - The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) has announced that the Spring Hill College volleyball team was an AVCA Team Academic Award winner for the 2014-2015 season.

The award was initiated in the 1992-93 academic year to honor collegiate and high school volleyball teams that displayed excellence in the classroom during the school year by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative team grade-point average on a 4.0 scale or a 4.10 cumulative team GPA on a 5.0 scale. This year 752 teams have earned the award, breaking the previous year's total of 676 and sets a new all-time high for this award.

"A hearty congratulations to all the volleyball coaches whose teams won the AVCA Team Academic Award," said AVCA Executive Director Kathy DeBoer. "Teams do not succeed in the classroom by accident any more so than they do on the court. The same coach who taught them volleyball skills cared enough about their academic achievement to gather their grades, calculate their GPA, and submit a nomination on their behalf. In doing so, these coaches sent a clear message that classroom success is just as important as volleyball success. All involved should celebrate this award!"

The AVCA Team Academic Award has become one of the AVCA's fastest growing awards programs, seeing an impressive surge in teams honored over the past several years. Since the 2000-2001 season, the number of recipients have increased every single year but one, while amassing a 476 team increase over the span of the last decade. Since the award's inception in 1993, the amount of award winners has increased from 62 to its current number of 752. Complete list of NCAA Division II winners

Girls high school led the way with the number of recipients with 237. NCAA Division I recorded their highest-ever total number of recipients, honoring 146 programs while NCAA Division II also set a new record by reaching a total of 113 honorees. NCAA Division III continues to set new records after 140 schools take home the honor with the Two-Year College category also surpassing their previous high of 22 with 24. The high school boys notched a record in their category with 29.


Jim Stennett
SPRING HILL COLLEGE BADGERS SPORTS INFORMATION

La Tanja Batiste Joins ECSU Athletics as Assistant Athletics Director for Sports Medicine

La Tanja Batiste

ELIZABETH CITY, North Carolina -- The Elizabeth City State University Athletic Department is proud to announce La Tanja Batiste as the new Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine.

As the Head Athletic Trainer for the Vikings, “LT” is responsible for managing the daily operations of the Sports Medicine Department and providing medical coverage for the 10 Division II NCAA sports teams and the D’Lytes Cheerleading squad.

Batiste brings over 15 years of experience to the ECSU Athletic Department. She comes to ECSU after an 11-year stint as the Head Athletic Trainer at Queens University of Charlotte. Prior to that, she served as the Assistant Athletic Trainer at Benedict College in Columbia, SC for one year.

During her time at Queens, Batiste also held the title of Senior Woman Administrator for five years. The Royals, a 17-sport plus cheer program at the start of her tenure, expanded to include men’s and women’s swim in 2011 and as of this fall their quantity will increase by one to include 20 sports with the addition of field hockey.

With the growth of the Athletic Department at Queens came the additional responsibility of supervising a Sports Medicine staff that evolved from one to five individuals. Additionally she handled the task of designing and furnishing two additional fully functioning sports medicine facilities.

LT credits her position of Assistant Athletic Trainer at Benedict College with preparing her for the aspects of athletic training that cannot be learned in the classroom. At Benedict she was one of two certified athletic trainers responsible for providing medical coverage, injury prevention and care for 13 Division II NCAA sports, including football.

Batiste’s athletic training career began as an undergraduate athletic training student at Georgia Southern University where she received her Bachelor's Degree in Kinesiology in 2000. At Georgia Southern she worked with an Eagles’ team that went on to capture the 1999 Division I-AA National Football Championship. She earned her Master’s Degree in Sports Medicine from Georgia State University in 2003 while working as a graduate assistant athletic trainer at Walton High School in Marietta, GA.

A native of Augusta, GA, La Tanja is a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. and is also a 2011 graduate and active member of the NCAA's Leadership Institute.

COURTESY ELIZABETH CITY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Brianna Liebold Takes Over the Reins at Cheyney University

Brianna Liebold has been named Interim Head Coach of the Men's and Women's
Cross Country and Track and Field programs for the Cheyney Wolves.

CHEYNEY, Pennsylvania -- "I first and foremost wanted to thank our President Dr. Pogue, Vice President Dr. Harpe, and our Athletic Director Mr. Bell for giving me an opportunity to be a leader on this campus. I am extremely excited for the opportunity to take the reins here at Cheyney University as the Interim Head Cross Country & Track and Field Coach. Cheyney gave me my first opportunity as a collegiate assistant coach and is now giving me my first opportunity as a head coach and I could not be more honored to represent the University at which I stand," commented Liebold.

For the past four years Liebold has served as Assistant Coach under James Williams. A former stand-out on the track herself, Liebold has deep roots within the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. As a student-athlete she competed for IUP in the long jump. She distinguished herself as a jumper and garnered All-American and Regional Athlete of the Year accolades.

A Dean's List honoree all four years at IUP, Liebold excelled in the classroom as well as in the triple and long jump. She holds the IUP indoor triple jump record as well as the PSAC record. She earned All-American Indoor status with a third and sixth place finish in the long jump in 2010 & 2011. As well as an Outdoor All-American accolades with an eighth place finish in 2011. In 2011 she was a three time PSAC Champion (outdoor long jump and triple jump and indoor long jump). In 2010 & 2011 she was also the PSAC Indoor Triple Jump Champion. In those years she was also named PSAC Indoor Field Athlete of the Year and Indoor Field MVP. In 2010 she was named Overall Indoor MVP.

Liebold has also acted the Supervisor to SAAC, Student Athlete Advisory Committee.

She went on to say……"I am very determined to get this program back up on its feet and fitting a more competitive role not only in the PSAC but nationally at the Division II level. These student athletes here at Cheyney are amazing individuals, especially on the track and field team. They show aspiration, heart, and passion for what they do and are excited for the opportunity to help grow the program. They are willing to learn and become better at their craft and I am beyond willing to teach and help guide them to becoming successful not only on the track but in life. To me the education they learn in the classroom is just as important as the education on the track. I want all of these kids to feel success and to know that hard work is how you achieve that. Dedication is the key to achieving life's dreams! WE BLEED BLUE #WOLFNATION….."

COURTESY CHEYNEY UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Former BSU Lady Bulldogs Basketball Player Donia Naylor Signs Pro Contract

Donia Naylor

BOWIE, Maryland -- Former Bowie State women's basketball standout Donia Naylor has signed a deal to begin her professional career in Europe. Naylor signed with BCT Alexandria of the Romania Liga National League, a top-tier team. TEAM INFORMATION

"I am very happy for and proud of Donia as she transitions into a pro career", said Bowie State Interim Head Coach Shadae Swan. "She worked really hard on her game and I'm positive she's going to do a terrific job for her team!"

The Washington, D.C. native played a key role during her two seasons (2013-2014 and 2014-2015) with the Lady Bulldogs' program and averaged 13.2 point per game and 10.5 rebounds per game. Over her career, Naylor accounted for 23 double-doubles and played in 41 games (starting 32).

Preseason games begin August 17th and the regular season gets underway September 27th.

COURTESY BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Middleton named Coppin State bowling coach

BALTIMORE, Maryland --  Coppin State University has named Shaunita Middleton as its head bowling coach.

Middleton currently competes in United States Bowling Congress (USBC) national tournaments as well as amateur bowling tournaments and holds various amateur tournament titles.  She's excited to pass on her knowledge and passion for bowling while coaching and mentoring student-athletes.

"Rome wasn't built in a day," Middleton said. "I'm excited for the journey that lies ahead with Coppin State University's bowling program.  I take pride in having any opportunity to support and bring the passion and knowledge that I possess for the sport of bowling to my alma mater."

During her time at Coppin State, Middleton was the SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee) president and winner of the distinguished President's Eagle Award in 2006. Middleton holds a bachelor's degree in computer science with a minor in mathematics.

Coppin State returns its top three bowlers from last season's team in seniors Kristen Sharpe and Kache Woods along with sophomore Jasmine Newman. Also returning will be junior Brionca Beard and sophomore Shawdae Frederick. The Eagles also had three bowlers named to the MEAC Commissioners All-Academic team.

Sharpe led Coppin State with 7,736 pins and a 161.2 average. She topped 200 three times during the MEAC Northern Division Meet Feb. 28m including a season-best 234 against Hampton. She rolled 221 and 214 against Howard and Morgan State, respectively. Sharpe bowled over 200 six times this season and had 14 matches with 170 or more pins.

Woods averaged a 166.1 pinfall for the Eagles and totaled 7,141 pins. She topped 200 three times at the Red Flash Invitational Jan. 31, including a career-high 241 against Cheyney, 229 against Farleigh Dickinson and 222 against Pitt-Bradford. Her performance placed her second overall and she was named to the all-tournament team. She bowled 170 or better 15 times this season.

Newman finished with the second-best total on the team with 7,525 pins and a 156.7 pinfall. On Dec. 6, she rolled a career-high and school-record 266 against Delaware State at the second MEAC Northern Division Meet. Her performance placed her seventh overall in the

"I always jump at the opportunity to provide our student-athletes with the knowledge I have acquired through experiences and teachings," Middleton said. "I believe that with hard work and dedication, we'll be able to grow as a program and become one that consistently competes with the best teams in our conference."
tournament. For her career, Newman bested 200 three times.

COURTESY COPPIN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Alabama A&M Bulldogs 'compete well' in first day in pads

 HUNTSVILLE, Alabama – Alabama A&M head football coach James Spady said he was wanting to see how his team would compete Wednesday in the first day in full pads.

After the workout, he wasn't disappointed.

"I was looking to see who will compete," he said. "We competed well today."

He said preseason All-SWAC defensive lineman Anthony Lanier "showed out" as well as junior quarterback "Tootie" Ballard.

"I felt the offensive line is starting to make strides," Spady said. "The defense as a whole was flying around.

"I was glad to see that."

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Morale, season outlook improved for JSU

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Bitterness was the prevailing taste of Jackson State’s 2014 season after the Tigers posted just their second losing record since 2006.

Consecutive wins against Texas Southern and Alcorn State added a sprinkle of sweetness to last season, though.

JSU players have said they used those wins to build a foundation for this fall. The victories served as an infrastructure that will renew construction at 7:30 p.m. Thursday when the Tigers kick off the first practice of their fall camp.

Those triumphs also contributed to a better sense of team morale, which will be one of many storylines to keep an eye on during camp.

Same core, different attitude

The nucleus of last season’s team is back for JSU. On offense, quarterback LaMontiez Ivy returns, as do a deep receiving crew spearheaded by 1,000-yard receiver Daniel Williams, and All-SWAC lineman Markus Cook is back.

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S.C. State Bulldogs Prepare for Preseason Drills

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- SC State will begin preparing for the 2015 football season Thursday (Aug.6) when players report to the campus for orientation, team seminars, and physicals. The Bulldogs will conduct their first two practices in helmets Friday (Aug.7) and Saturday (Aug.8) —at 9:30 a.m.

SC State will also conduct, single workouts in shorts and helmets on Sunday (Aug. 9) and Monday (Aug.10) at 9:30 a.m. First workout in full pads begin Tuesday (Aug.11) at 9:30 a.m., with two-a-day practices, on an alternating basis, beginning Wednesday (Aug.12), with the morning workout set for 9:30 a.m. and an evening session beginning at 7:10 p.m., on Friday (Aug. 14) as well.

Coach Buddy Pough's team will hold its annual "Press and Picture Day" Saturday (Aug. 15), beginning at 9 a.m. at the O.C. Dawson Stadium before conducting its first preseason scrimmage at 3:10 p.m. The team will take Sunday off before resuming practice Monday (Aug.17) at 9:30 a.m., followed by evening practice at 7:10.

The team's annual "Meet the Players Day", sponsored by The STATE Club, will be held August 22th at 3:30 p.m. and will be preceded by the second preseason scrimmage at 1 p.m.

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.

Pough's team was picked to finish second in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference for the third straight season in a preseason poll of head coaches and sports information directors.

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.

2015 Bulldog Preseason Football Information
Thursday Aug. 6-Players report/Orientation/Seminars/Physicals/Team Meeting/Sports Information-6:30 p.m.
Friday Aug. 7- 9:30 a.m. (Helmet) #1
Saturday Aug. 8-9:30 a.m. (Helmet) #2
Sunday Aug. 9-9:30 a.m. (Shells) # 3
Monday Aug. 10-9:30 a.m. (Shells) # 4
Tuesday Aug. 11-9:30 a.m. (Full) #5
Wednesday Aug. 12-9:30 a.m. (Full) #6 and 7:10 p.m. (Shells) #7
Thursday Aug.13-9:30 a.m. (Full) # 8
Friday Aug. 14-9:30 a.m. (Full) #9 and 7:10 p.m. (Shells) # 10
Saturday Aug. 15- Picture/Media Day
Scrimmage # 1-3:10 p.m. # 11
Sunday Aug. 16- OFF
Monday Aug. 17-9:30 a.m. (Full) # 12 and 7:10 p.m. (Shells) #13
Tuesday Aug. 18-OFF (Classes Begin)
Wednesday Aug. 19-7 a.m. (Full) #14
Thursday Aug. 20-7 a.m. (Full) #15
Friday Aug. 21- 7 a.m. (Full) # 16
Saturday Aug. 22- Scrimmage # 2- (Full) 1 p.m. #17
MEET THE PLAYERS DAY-3:30 p.m.
Sunday Aug. 23-OFF

COURTESY SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

WSSU Rams Boulware surprised about top billing in CIAA

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina --After losing close to 35 players off last year’s football team, Coach Kienus Boulware didn’t know what to expect when the CIAA’s preseason coaches’ poll came out.

“I was surprised,” Boulware said about the Rams being selected to win the conference title.

The Rams, the four-time defending Southern Division champions, lost to Virginia State in the CIAA championship game last season. The Rams finished 9-2 and missed the playoffs for the first time in three seasons but will enter this season with a 28-game regular-season win streak against conference opponents.

“I guess the biggest surprise was that Virginia State wasn’t picked to repeat, but they did have a coaching change, so I guess that’s why,” Boulware said.



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Universities Weighing Impact of Football on Finances

EXCERPT: Football 1, University Budgets 0

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Of the 128 Division I football programs, only seven finish debt-free year after year, according to the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics.

“At the nation’s most prominent universities, intercollegiate athletics have always played a dual role in campus life,” according to a Knight Commission report. “On the one hand, they are managed for the benefit of student-athletes. On the other, they inspire the interest and passions of thousands, if not millions, of fans. For most teams at most institutions, these roles can be reconciled. But in high-profile sports, tensions often surface between the core mission of universities and commercial values.”

Smith says that, in many cases, athletics drive the bus at schools classified for their research and scholarship.

But Dr. William Broussard, who has served as an athletics administrator for two small Division I schools, Northwestern State University and, most recently, Southern University, says the allure of playing at the Division I level is one that keeps teams trying to step up to the plate.

“NCAA distributions, allocated to support gender equity and academic support initiatives, translate into hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of student-athlete success,” says Broussard. For Southern and other historically Black colleges in the Mideastern Atlantic Conference (MEAC) and Southwestern Atlantic Conference (SWAC), the numbers are even greater. On top of the broad NCAA distributions for which these schools are eligible, he adds, there are additional competitive grant programs for extra support for which 80 percent of the teams are eligible.

Revenue vs. profit

Broussard acknowledges that “many decry the HBCU pursuit of NCAA Division I excellence because of funding disparities which create competitive gulfs between them and PWIs,” but said “there are notable benefits to [the] continued pursuit” of competition at the Division I level.

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Norfolk State schedules football games with JMU, Richmond and W&M

NORFOLK, Virginia -- Norfolk State has scheduled football games against three Colonial Athletic Association teams, including the school’s first ever against James Madison University and the University of Richmond, according to contracts obtained from NSU by The Virginian-Pilot under The Freedom of Information Act.

The Spartans have home-and-home contracts with JMU and William and Mary and have added a single game at Richmond. The Spartans will play at Richmond and William and Mary in 2016, host the Tribe and travel to JMU in 2017, then host the Dukes in 2018.

JMU has played two previous games in Norfolk, losing the 1985 Oyster Bowl game to Georgia Southern and losing at ODU, 23-20, in 2012 before the Monarchs moved up to the Football Bowl Subdivision.

JMU has a sizable local alumni base and drew a large number of followers for the game at ODU. JMU was 9-4 last season and is picked to finish second in the CAA.

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Syracuse Transfer Funderburk Signs with NSU Football

NORFOLK, Virginia --  Norfolk State head football coach Latrell Scott bolstered his receiving corps with the addition of transfer wideout Quinta Funderburk, who has signed a grant-in-aid to play for the Spartans.

The 6-3, 200-pound Funderburk, who last played at Syracuse University, has one year of eligibility remaining.

Funderburk, a native of Chesapeake, Va. and former star at Oscar Smith High School, has spent the last three years at Syracuse. He originally signed with Arkansas after his high school career.

"Quinta gives us another big, athletic target in our passing game," Scott said. "We're glad he has the opportunity to come home and finish his college career."



Funderburk enrolled at Arkansas in the spring of 2011 but did not play for the Razorbacks during the 2011 season. He then transferred to Syracuse, where he sat out the 2012-13 year per NCAA transfer rules. Funderburk played in 12 games over the last two seasons for the Orange, catching three passes for 50 yards.

Funderburk earned his bachelor's degree in child and family studies from Syracuse earlier this summer.

At Oscar Smith, Funderburk made 65 catches for 1,464 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior in 2010. He was named to the VirginiaPreps.com all-state first team and was an All-Tidewater first-team pick by the Virginian-Pilot, as well. Funderburk was part of Oscar Smith's VHSL Group 6A state championship team as a sophomore in 2008, and made 62 catches for 1,150 yards and 12 scores while helping the Tigers reach the state semifinals as a junior in 2009.

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

ODU adds Hampton, VMI and Buffalo to football schedules

COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

NORFOLK, Virginia -- Old Dominion has added Hampton University, VMI and the University of Buffalo to its future football schedules, the school will announce this morning, said sources who asked not to be identified.

Hampton will play at ODU next season on a date to be announced, but the deal includes more than just football. ODU also has agreed in principle to play the Pirates home-and-home in men's and women's basketball, though it hasn't been determined which season they'll play.

That marks a scheduling coup for Hampton because Conference USA teams generally don't go on the road to play opponents from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

VMI, which has a large alumni base in Hampton Roads, will play at ODU in 2018, the same year the Monarchs host Virginia Tech for the first time.

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Southern University: William Broussard won’t return as athletic director, Roman Banks to remain on interim basis

Dr. William Broussard

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- William Broussard will not be returning as Southern athletic director.

His four-month reassignment as an assistant to the president for institutional advancement became permanent Monday.

The permanent assignment wasn’t surprising after the SU Board of Supervisors abruptly and without explanation reassigned Broussard in March for the period from April 1-Aug. 1.

Broussard, though, said late last week he was prepared to resume his duties as athletic director Monday morning. But he reported Monday morning to the office of Southern President Ray Belton, and the SU system issued a brief statement Monday afternoon.

“The SU System received a request, July 31, 2015, from Dr. William Broussard that he continues in the role as assistant to the president for institutional advancement,” the statement began. “The University supports the request.

“Head SUBR men’s basketball coach Roman Banks will continue to also serve as interim SUBR director of athletics until further notice.”

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Dwight Floyd Commentary: The FAMU Community Must Move On



TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- I had written an article that I never published entitled FAMU is Not Ready for Change.  It was going to chronicle some of the mishaps by the new President, the Board of Trustees, and many in the FAMU community. I find that I am one of those angry black men caught up in the fray. No, not one of those who wants to lynch the president or trash the Board of Trustees. Rather, I am just sick and tired of all the drama, misperception, rumors, and lack of cohesion from within the FAMU community.

There is a lot to fix at FAMU.

 Regardless of who has been in leadership, financial aid has always been a point of contention as far back as I can remember. Unqualified individuals holding jobs by favor and in some cases collecting pay checks without doing the work; the lack of courtesy and professionalism among peers; adjunct professors waiting months to get their paychecks; buying your cap and gown in anticipation of the graduation ceremony only to receive word in the middle of the semester that you need to complete another class—forgive me while I digress; a Board of Governors that views diversity as a race issue rather than an issue of economics; a list of things small and large, administrative and budget, these should be the focus instead of personalities.

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Bayou Classic Signs Extension with NBC Sports Group

NEW ORLEANS – The Bayou Classic team announced today that the 42nd Annual Bayou Classic will once again be broadcast on NBC, but this year will move to the broadcast company’s cable network – NBC Sports Network. The agreement between The Bayou Classic and NBC Sports Group extends the broadcast of the Bayou Classic on NBC Sports Network for another year.

NBC Sports Group has been the home of The Bayou Classic since 1991.

“The landscape of television sports is changing and it is important to us that the Bayou Classic continue to be an integral part of that landscape,” said Dottie Belletto, President of New Orleans Convention Company, Inc. (NOCCI), the management firm of the 42nd Annual Bayou Classic. “Coming off one of Bayou Classic’s best and most dramatic seasons in decades, we could not be more proud to extend this historic partnership and are excited that this extension offers enhanced opportunities that allow us to bring Bayou Classic to fans on more platforms than ever before.”



Also new for 2015, the kickoff time for the Annual Bayou Classic has been moved from its traditional 1:30 pm CST to a new kickoff time of 4:00 pm CST. This is also a change from earlier dissemination of a 2:00 pm CST kickoff.

“This later kickoff time makes this the first time the Bayou Classic will see a prime-time matchup both in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and on broadcast,” added Belletto. “While our relationship with NBC Sports is longstanding, this new relationship opens up additional avenues to expand the breadth of Bayou Classic-related sports programming both in the game broadcast and in advance promotions and marketing efforts.”

About The Bayou Classic
The Bayou Classic ( www.mybayouclassic.com) features one of America's greatest college sports rivalries, bringing the fans and alumni of Southern University and Grambling State University to New Orleans for a celebration of football, family and the traditions and pageantry surrounding Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Proceeds from the annual series of Bayou Classic events provide support to the campuses’ athletic programs and fund scholarships through the SU System Foundation and the GSU Foundation. The 42nd Annual Bayou Classic will be played on Saturday, November 28, 2015.

Cumulus Media set to host SU Sports Radio Network

COURTESY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Southern University Athletics and Cumulus Media have agreed to terms on a deal which includes the broadcasting of more than 20 sporting events on the SU Sports Radio Network during the 2015-16 season.

The Jaguars 2015 season opener against Louisiana Tech on Sept. 5 in Ruston will serves as the first official broadcast between the two parties since 2012.

As a part of a new two-year agreement, Cumulus Radio Baton Rouge, will provide full broadcast coverage of all Southern University football games on KQXL 106.5 F.M. in Baton Rouge. Six home Southwestern Athletic Conference men's basketball games, four women's home conference basketball games and four home SWAC baseball games will air live on WXOK 1460 A.M.

WXOK will also serve as the home of the SU Coaches Radio show.

"We at Cumulus Radio Corporation are ecstatic to be the official home of Southern University Athletics," said Pat Galloway, Vice President Market Manager for Cumulus Radio Baton Rouge.

"Southern University has been providing students with an outstanding education since 1880 and is an extremely important part of the Baton Rouge community. Nearly half of our staff attended Southern University and, simply put, we love the Jaguar nation, and can’t wait to broadcast Southern University sporting events to over 263,100 listeners."

Listener who reside outside of the SU Sports Radio Network are urged to tune in to the live audio stream of the game broadcast carried exclusively on GoJagSports.com. Jaguar fans will have access to the audio stream by logging on to GoJagSports.com from their personal computer or laptop and on their mobile device or tablet through the GoJagSports.com app, which is scheduled to launch this fall.

"Southern University, along with SU athletics, has been closely associated with the Cumulus Baton Rouge family and I am excited to be apart of renewing this partnership," said Roman Banks, SU interim athletics director. "The Cumulus Media brand is well established as an industry leader in the Baton Rouge Community and has served Southern University greatly for many years. With football returning to KQXL and basketball and baseball finding a home on WXOK, I am extremely confident that the Jaguar Nation will be pleased with the direction this relationship is heading in."

When the Jaguar football team takes the field in Joe Aillet Stadium Sept. 5, veteran broadcaster Chris Powers will deliver the play-by-play account with former SU head coach and Shreveport native Gerald Kimble providing the color commentary. Former All-SWAC quarterback and the 1992 SWAC freshman of the year, Eric Randall completes the three-man broadcast team as the sideline reporter offering field-level game insights. Henry Batiste returns to lead the group as the executive producer with statistician Elliot Darensburg and audio engineer Matt Gilmore.

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 SPORTS INFORMATION

JSU Sports Hall of Fame member Karen Taylor dies; Mother of Stanley Johnson, Detroit Pistons' rookie forward

Taylor was inducted into JSU's Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan – Stanley Johnson's No. 1 fan won't be around to watch him make his NBA debut for the Detroit Pistons this fall.

Johnson's mother, Karen Taylor, was a professional basketball player herself who played a major role in her son becoming the Pistons first-round pick (eighth overall) in this year's NBA draft.

But Johnson will make his NBA debut with a heavy heart after confirming in a tweet that his mother has died.



Karen Taylor played college basketball at Jackson State University, is a member of the school's Hall of Fame, and played professionally in Europe for five years before focusing on her son's development.

She mentored Johnson as a youngster to the point that Stanley and his friends referred to her as "Coach K."

According to a story by Sports Illustrated, Taylor formed an AAU team when Johnson was 5 years old – the So Cal Tigers – and he played with the group until he was 14. Johnson's mother was his first coach and she granted her son no favors.

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GSU camp countdown: No. 3 on Top 5 position battles to watch

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- The 2015 football season is in full swing for Grambling this week when players report Wednesday for the first practice of fall camp Aug. 7

During the next five days, The News-Star is counting down the top five positions battles and storylines to watch for.

Grambling, which is coming off a 7-5, has been picked to win the Southwestern Athletic Conference West Division title. The Tigers open the season Sept. 5 at California.

Biggest question to answer: Who will replace Tyree Hollins and LeAndre Vallot in the secondary?

Who’s in the mix: Dwight Amphy (5-10, 175); Jameel Jackson (6-1, 200); Tyler Oliver (5-9, 182); Jordan Stargell (6-1, 190); Guy Stallworth (6-3, 215); Deion Bonner (6-0, 180); Abu Conteh (6-2, 205).

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Within 24 hours: Poor APR hinders ASU practice time

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Brian Jenkins won't have as much practice time as a head coach would prefer for his first season at Alabama State.

Due to poor Academic Progress Rate reports sustained under former coach Reggie Barlow, the Hornets will have just 16 hours a week to practice during the season. Schools usually have 20 hours a week to practice.

This should go into effect when ASU starts school Aug. 19. Daily and weekly practice restrictions do not apply during preseason practice prior to the first day o
f class or the first game, whichever comes first.

ASU starts practice Wednesday. So the Hornets can have normal practice time for two weeks. Then it'll be limited, which will make it more challenging to prepare for a schedule that starts off tough.

The Hornets open ...

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Kellenberger: Hopson, Alcorn Braves riding high with Gibbs

LORMAN, Mississippi -- Does anyone in the SWAC have it better than Jay Hopson these days?

The fourth-year Alcorn State coach has done wonders in his time in charge of the program, making everyone forget the storyline (when he was hired in May 2012) about being a white head coach in the historically black SWAC. Now he’s just a good coach that won a SWAC championship in 2014, and comes into August with 16 returning starters.

Of those guys returning, none is as important to the program — not just getting it to this point, but in its efforts to repeat as SWAC champs in 2015 — as quarterback John Gibbs Jr. He enters his senior season with 33 career starts, which has to be near the top of any list of returning quarterbacks nationally.

Hopson wanted to ...

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North Carolina A&T Aggies Set To Start Camp

GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- North Carolina A&T, who is picked to win the MEAC football championship in 2015, will open camp 4 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 6 on the practice field behind the Aggie Stadium facility.

The football players will report to camp on Aug. 5 at noon. The Aggies are coming off a 9-3 season in which they posted a 6-2 conference record that helped them win a share of the MEAC title, their first in 11 years. The Aggies also earned their first national ranking in 10 years when they entered the STATS FCS poll at No. 24 following their 34-0 win over Savannah State on Nov. 15.

“I’m looking forward to getting started,” said fifth-year head coach Rod Broadway. “I still love this game and I still love competing. And I think we have a chance to be a pretty good football team. But this is a funny business. One injury could change everything.”

The Aggies have three two-a-days on their camp schedule, Wednesday, Aug. 12, Friday, Aug. 14 and Monday, Aug. 17. Camp breaks on Aug. 18 and classes begin on Aug. 19. A&T’s annual Fun Fest is Aug. 22 at 2 p.m.

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

New FAMU AD Overton hits the ground running, football team reports for camp

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- While Florida A&M’s football team reported for the first day of fall football camp, Milton Overton Jr., the university’s new athletic director, settled into his new office.

Overton officially started his tenure Monday. He’ll be meeting with coaches and members of the athletic department throughout the week, and Thursday he’ll provide an update to FAMU’s Board of Trustees.

Baseball coach Jamey Shouppe, who was a member of the committee that interviewed the top three AD candidates in June, said he’ll have his one-on-one meeting with Overton on Tuesday, though he – and a few other coaches – had a couple of minutes with the new AD on Monday.

“We’re just excited,” Shouppe said.

“There’s so much room for growth and (Overton) is just a good guy. It starts with the character of a man and he just has a good aura about him. I’m looking forward to seeing where FAMU can go with him and President (Elmira) Mangum at the helm.”

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MEAC Announces the 2015 Football Television Schedule

NORFOLK, Virginia  --  The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) announced its 2015 football schedule featuring eight regular season matchups scheduled to be televised on ESPN, ESPNU, and ESPN Classic, as well as carried on ESPN3. The nationally televised games are a part of the MEAC's ongoing partnership with ESPN.

"We are excited about the 2015 football television schedule that offers our fans many ways to stay tuned in to their favorite MEAC football team," said MEAC Commissioner Dennis Thomas.  "Our television partnership with ESPN continues to showcase our talented student-athletes, coaches and institutions through multiple ESPN platforms and further illustrates this tremendous partnership we have built over the years with the Worldwide Leader in Sports."

The 2015 television schedule kicks off with the 11^th annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney featuring South Carolina State and the Southwestern Athletic Conference's Arkansas Pine Bluff.  The game will be televised live on Sunday, September 6 beginning at 3:30 p.m.  ET on ESPN.

The ESPNU Thursday night lineup includes matchups featuring Florida A&M at South Carolina State on Sept. 17 and South Carolina State at Bethune-Cookman on Oct. 8^th.  Both games are slated to start at 7:30 p.m. and will air live on ESPNU and WatchESPN. .

A unique Friday night ESPNU telecast will feature Hampton and Howard at RFK Stadium. , as a part of the Nation's Football Game Classic, on September 18.

The Saturday slate begins with the Chicago Football Classic, featuring Morgan State and Howard on Saturday, Sept. 26 beginning at 3:30 p.m. CT.  Bethune-Cookman will host North Carolina Central in Daytona Beach on Oct. 3 beginning at 4 p.m. and Delaware State will travel to North Carolina A&T State on November 14 beginning at 4 p.m. All games will air live on ESPN3 and taped delayed on ESPNU.

The 2015 MEAC schedule wraps up with the Florida Classic featuring Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M.  The game will air live on ESPN Classic and ESPN3and re-air on ESPNU at a later time.

The MEAC will participate in the Inaugural Celebration Bowl this year pitting the champion of the conference against the champion of the SWAC in a post season bowl game on Saturday, December 19 in Atlanta, Georgia.  The matchup will be televised live at Noon on ABC.

All games will also be available for viewing on computers, smartphones, tablets, Xbox and Apple TV via the WatchESPN application.

2015 MEAC Football Television Schedule

Date	Game	Network	Time
SUNDAY Sept. 6	MEAC/SWAC Challenge South Carolina State v. Arkansas Pine-Bluff	ESPN/WatchESPN	3:30 PM
THURSDAY Sept. 17	Florida A&M at South Carolina State	ESPNU/WatchESPN	7:30 PM
FRIDAY Sept. 18	Hampton v. Howard	ESPNU/WatchESPN	7:30 PM
SATURDAY Sept. 26	Morgan State v. Howard	Live on ESPN3/ESPNU TD	3:30 PM
SATURDAY Oct. 3	Bethune-Cookman  v. North Carolina Central	Live on ESPN3/ESPNU TD	4:00 PM
THURSDAY Oct. 8	South Carolina State at Bethune-Cookman	ESPNU/WatchESPN	7:30 PM
SATURDAY Nov. 14	Delaware State at North Carolina A&T State	Live on ESPN3/ESPNU TD	1:00 PM
SATURDAY Nov. 21	Bethune-Cookman v. Florida A&M	Live on ESPN Classic & ESPN3/ESPNU TD	2:30 PM

 
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JSU opponent preview: Mississippi Valley State

JACKSON, Mississippi -- This matchup wasn't short on emotions last year when Mississippi Valley State coach Rick Comegy, who coached at Jackson State the previous eight seasons, made his return to Jackson.

It also produced a stunning outcome, too, as the Delta Devils claimed their first victory against JSU since 1994.

It was only the sixth time MVSU had beaten the Tigers in 62 meetings between the two programs. The loss was one of the lowest points of JSU's 5-7 season, which was the first under coach Harold Jackson.

Emotions will likely be running high once again this fall, but both teams are different now. The core of JSU's team is another year older and Comegy is still trying to install a winning culture at MVSU.

The Tigers will likely keep all eyes on Delta Devils quarterback Quantavius Peterson, who showed some promise in 2014.

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