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BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- What a difference a year has made for Southern redshirt junior Lenard Tillery. Throughout fall camp in 2014, the majority of the questions directed his way were inquiries about all of the new running backs that would likely move ahead of him on the depth chart. Transfers like the hard-running Malcom Crockett, shifty Tyre Bracken and versatile Jamarcus Jarvis.
Now just five days into 2015 fall camp, there’s no question that Tillery is the man in the running back room. When injury set in with the rest of the backfield and SWAC play began last year, Tillery took the lead and never gave it back.
The McKinley product rushed for 1,267 yards and nine touchdowns. He was far and away the team leader in those categories as well as carries, proving how reliable he could be when the offense needed him to take the weight of the game off of their young quarterbacks.
NORFOLK, Virginia -- Thursday Norfolk State head coach Latrell Scott announced rising sophomore quarterback Terrance Ervin, an L.C. Bird graduate, has decided to leave the football program for personal reasons.
In press release from the school, Latrell Scott wished Ervin the best in the Richmond natives next chapter.
“We’re sorry that Terrance has decided to leave the program, but we understand that he has other matters to tend to that are more important than football,” Scott said. “We wish him nothing but the best of luck and thank him for his contributions to the program.”
Ervin started nine games for the Spartans, appearing in all 12 games of the 2014 season as true freshman under center.
ANN ARBOR, Michigan -- Former Prairie View A&M volleyball standout Bruna Menezes has taken her talents from the volleyball courts to the world of engineering as she's pursuing her doctorate in chemical engineering at the University of Michigan.
A native of Carapicuiba, Brazil, Menezes was a two-year letterwinner for the Lady Panthers as she played during the 2011 and 2012 campaigns after transferring from San Jacinto College. As a Lady Panther student-athlete, Menezes helped PVAMU win back-to-back SWAC Western Division Championships while earning multiple SWAC Weekly Honors ranging from SWAC Offensive Player and Newcomer of the Weeks.
Once her playing career came to a close, Menezes became heavily involved with the Roy G. Perry College of Engineering on the PVAMU campus. Menezes served as an undergraduate researcher in department as she handled water and ethanol soluble extractives while also doing research on fermentation. During the past two summers, she expanded her horizons further as an undergraduate researcher at Indiana University in 2013 and a process engineering intern at the engineering firm Stoller Africa in 2014. In the summer of 2015, Menezes added to her travels as she spent six weeks in China at the Xi'an International Studies University with the PVAMU Honors College. While in China, Menezes studied the language of Mandarin Chinese in addition to classes in Calligraphy (Chinese Art) and Taiji, which is an ancient Chinese philosophy about the natural world and is one of the central elements of traditional Chinese culture.
Menezes recently completed her studies at PVAMU in the spring of 2015 as a Summa cum laude (4.0 GPA) graduate in chemical engineering. She was also active in the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society in addition to serving as secretary of PVAMU's American Institute of Chemical Engineers chapter. She was also named the Most Outstanding Student of the Roy G. Perry College of Engineering this past academic year.
COURTESY PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Seven former Tennessee State football players are starting NFL Camps including 2015 draftees Robert Myers and Anthony Morris.
Myers opens camp with the Baltimore Ravens after being selected with the 176th pick by the Baltimore Ravens. Myers will be joined in Ravens camp by former Tiger Anthony Levine who is entering his sixth season in the NFL.
Morris, the 218th selection by the Oakland Raiders, enters his first camp following his career with the Big Blue. Morris, like Myers, is looked upon by their teams to compete for a spot on the active rosters and potential playing time.
The 2015 draft marked the second consecutive year two Tigers were taken in the draft. In 2014, Kadeem Edwards and Demetrius Rhaney were selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the St. Louis Rams, respectively. The duo will battle for spots on their respected offensive lines.
De’Ante “Pop” Saunders will be joining the 2015 draftees heading to their first camps. Saunders was a two-time All-American for the Tigers and signed a free-agent contract with the Cleveland Browns.
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie begins his second season with the New York Giants and his eighth in the NFL. DRC was a First Round pick, 16th overall, for the Arizona Cardinals in the 2008 draft.
In addition to the seven players in the NFL, six other Tigers are currently competing in professional football. A.C. Leonard (B.C. Lions) and Devin Wilson (Saskatchewan Roughriders) are in their first seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL), while four others are in the Arena Football League (AFL).
Cornelius Lewis and Joe Hills are members of the Jacksonville Sharks, Sherman Carter is with the Arizona Rattlers and Rodney Fritz is a part of the San Jose Sabercats.
COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Second year Howard swimming & diving head coach Nicholas Askew has announced the signing of 11 new recruits for the 2015-16 season. These incoming freshmen will look to fill the void of the 10 seniors the program lost last year.
"Overall, this is an extremely strong class of student-athletes," Askew said of the newcomers. "Each one of them come in accomplished academically and athletically so I'm excited to see their transition to the collegiate ranks. They say 'the reward for hard work is more hard work' - we've embraced this in our program and this group is ready to elevate the program to new heights."
Below is a list of the 11 recruits, along with a highlight of their recruitment to Howard:
BISON RECRUITS (6)
- ALEXANDER BARNES / Rockledge, FL / Rockledge HS / Brevard Virtual Secondary School
The Florida native originally wanted to stay in the Sunshine State but decided on Howard after a relative spoke highly on Howard's academic reputation
- FARION COOPER / Nassau, Bahamas / Queens College
One of two Caribbean recruits in this class; choose Howard because of team chemistry and leadership
- MENSA EGGLESTON / Greenbelt, MD / Eleanor Roosevelt HS
Name means "one who follows the sage;" bonded quickly with upperclassmen swimmers during the process
- NICHOLAS HAUGHTON / Kingston, Jamaica / Campion College
One of two Caribbean recruits in the class; looks forward to having an immediate impact on the up-and-coming,Howard team
- JONATHAN HILL / Vero Beach, FL / Sebastian River HS
Looking forward to becoming a part of a strong, close-knit family
- MARK MCCLUSKEY / Hope, ME / Camden Hills Regional HS
Is appreciative for the chance to swim on the Division I level
LADY BISON RECRUITS (5)
- AKEYLA HOLLEY / Fort Washington, MD / Elizabeth Seton HS
Pursuing her collegiate swimming career after considering not doing so and being pushed by her high school coach
- KASANDRA KAPLAN / Detroit, MI / Lakeview HS
Her comfortable level with and the positive atmosphere around the Howard program helped her choose the Bison
- MARINA MARKOUS / Stevensville, MD / Kent Island HS
Instantly felt connected to the program upon meeting the upperclassmen; is a fluent Russian speaker
- LATROYA PINA / Seekonk, MA / Seekonk HS
Feels confident that swimming at Howard sets her up to achieve her academic and athletic goals
- SUSANNA REESE / Flossmoor, IL / Homewood-Flossmoor HS
Decided on Howard after noticing the team dynamic resembled her club team in Chicago
Howard Swimming's new recruits and the returning Bison embark on the 2015-16 season on October 17 against George Washington at home in the Burr Gymnasium Pool.
Before official competitions begin, the program will host a pair of exhibition events - the Bison Swim-A-Thon on September 12 at 1 p.m. and the Swimming Alumni Meet on October 2 beginning at 6 p.m. - all are invited to attend.
ABOUT THE CCSA (www.TheCCSA.com)
Founded in 2007, the Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association (CCSA) was originally developed by four regional Division I conferences -- the Atlantic Sun Conference, Big South Conference, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC)and the Southern Conference, to create a centralized home for their members with swimming and diving programs. Now in its ninth season, the CCSA boasts a total a 11 members from six states and the District of Columbia, becoming one of the largest Division I conferences in the country sponsoring swimming and diving. CCSA members represent the District of Columbia (Howard University), Florida (Florida Atlantic, North Florida, Florida Gulf Coast), Georiga (Georgia Southern), Maryland (UMBC), New Jersey (NJIT), North Carolina (Campbell, Gardner-Webb, UNC Asheville, North Carolina A&T), Texas (Incarnate Word) and Virginia (Liberty, Old Dominion, VMI).
COURTESY HOWARD UNIVERSITY BISON SPORTS INFORMATION
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
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 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….."
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
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- What a difference a year has made for Southern redshirt junior Lenard Tillery. Throughout fall camp in 2014, the majority of the questions directed his way were inquiries about all of the new running backs that would likely move ahead of him on the depth chart. Transfers like the hard-running Malcom Crockett, shifty Tyre Bracken and versatile Jamarcus Jarvis.
