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ALBANY, Georgia -- The Albany State football team hit the field for its first practice of the 2015 season on Monday. Familiar faces like Jarvis Small and Tavarius Washington were on the field, along with a new face in first-year head coach Dan Land.
There are lofty expectations on this year’s squad with the team predicted to win the SIAC East Division, and Small and Washington named the SIAC Preseason Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively. However, the first-year head coach is reminding his team that there’s an entire season to play.
“Like I told my team when I first came out, I told them I'm old school, meaning that, look, everything on paper, don't believe it. You've got to go out and perform that,” Land said. “If we had scheduled on paper with at the end of the year, we'd be the number one team, we're the number one offense, number one defense, that's fine, but that is end of the year. Right now, we're nothing. We haven't won a game. We ain't played a game. So right now, it's just paper.”
NASHVILLE, Tennessee - Scholarship is one of the core values of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Department of Athletics, and no team exemplifies that more than women’s bowling. Recently, the National Tenpins Coaches Association (NTCA) named the program one of its top academic programs as well, honoring 21 teams who posted a combined 3.2 grade point average (GPA) for the 2014-15 academic year.
The award has been given for the four straight seasons, and the Hawks have made the list each year.
UMES however, was in the top tier of the grouping, carrying a combined 3.51 team GPA, placing it as one of seven to be above a 3.5. LIU-Brooklyn claimed this season’ crown, unseating UMES, last year’s winner, by posting a 3.79 team GPA.
The women’s bowling team at UMES is not only the most decorated athletically, but academically as well, having won the department’s Team of Scholars award 14 times in the last 15 years. The award is given to the team with the highest GPA among all 15 of the Hawks’ programs.
UMES graduated four players this season, including a pair with honors in MEAC Woman of the Year Mariana Alvarado (Leon, Mexico) and Tatiana Munoz, (Ibague Tolima, Colombia) an NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship Award winner.
“We graduated four wonderful young women,” said head coach Kayla Bandy. “They were all great bowlers and all great students. Our team works hard on the lanes and in the classroom each year, which is a staple of this program. It is something that we will continue to be proud of and something we will continue to see success in.”
In addition to individual academic honors, the NTCA awards one team the All-Scholars distinction and recognizes the other programs. The NTCA “wants to recognize outstanding academic achievement and is proud to salute [all] these teams,” they said in a statement.
Other teams nearing the top of the list included Felician, who were this year’s runner-ups, Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston State, Adelphi and Saint Francis College, all of which were above a 3.5. UMES was the only Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) team and the only Historically Black College or University (HBCU) to make this year’s list.
COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE SPORTS INFORMATION
President Barack Obama presents World Golf Hall of Famer Charlie Sifford the Medal of Freedom on November 24, 2014. Sifford is the third golfer to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, following Arnold Palmer (2004) and Jack Nicklaus (2005).
TORRANCE, California – Lexus celebrates the accomplishments of the late African-American golf legend and pioneer, Charlie Sifford, by establishing “The Lexus Endowment” at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
The Lexus Endowment of $100,000 at UMES will help college students establish careers in the golf industry, and in doing so, add to Sifford’s legacy. A 2014 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Sifford became the first African-American to join the PGA Tour in 1961 and helped pave the way for professional golfers of diverse backgrounds. Sifford passed away Feb. 3, 2015 at the age of 92.
Charlie Sifford’s legacy will forever be remembered. Charlie Sifford explains the challenges he faced while paving way for the likes of Tiger Woods.
“It is a privilege for Lexus to honor a pioneer like Charlie Sifford and help advance the dreams and aspirations of young, diverse students seeking to establish a career in the golf industry,” said Jim Colon, vice president African-American business strategy, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
“We enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Sifford going back decades, and so we are proud to be able to commemorate his rich legacy with this endowment,” Colon said.
UMES is one of 19 schools that offer a PGA golf management program that covers a broad range of aspects of the golf enterprise, and the only historically black institution to offer such a program.
Life Time Achievement Inductee Charlie Sifford (presented by World Golf Hall of Fame Member Gary Player) from the 2004 World Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
“Dr. Sifford was a true pioneer,” UMES President Juliette B. Bell said. “We thank Lexus for this generous gift, which will remind generations of students of what can be accomplished with perseverance and determination despite the odds.”
In partnering with Lexus, UMES named its 300-yard driving range on the 1,100+ acre campus, “The Lexus Driving Range,” which was dedicated at the Art Shell UMES Invitational golf tournament on June 10.
The announcement of this formal gift to UMES coincided with what would have been Charlie Sifford’s 93rd birthday on June 2.
COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE PUBLIC RELATIONS
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Jacques Bryant knows Florida A&M’s defense is under a microscope.
Bryant, a Tallahassee native who went to FAMU DRS, had his fair share of great plays last season as a sophomore defensive back, despite FAMU’s struggles.
He finished second on the team in tackles with 59, forced a fumble, caught an interception and had two sacks (FAMU’s defense only had 23 sacks all last season). He was recognized for his efforts last season and named to the preseason All-MEAC third team.
Obviously, he wants more.
“It makes me feel good, but I have to get better than that,” he said. “I want to be an All-American. I’ve got to get better than All-MEAC.”
ATLANTA, Georgia -- The Alcorn State Braves will be heading into Atlanta in week one looking to build off of a fantastic season in 2014. The Braves were 10-3 (7-2) on the season and defeated Southern in the SWAC Championship game to capture their first conference title since 1993. Georgia Tech has scheduled some rather tough opponents in the "cupcake game" slots recently, and Alcorn State could potentially fill that role once again to open the year.
What to watch for:
The Braves were one of the most dangerous teams offensively in the FCS last season, and they'll be returning most of their weapons in 2015. Alcorn State runs the ball very well, and they'll likely look to keep the ball on the ground as much as they can against the Jackets to keep their defense off the field and to limit turnovers through the air. Last season, Tech struggled heavily against the run and in most areas defensively to open up the year. In the opening game, Wofford was able to run the ball effectively against the Georgia Tech defense to keep the game fairly close for much longer than people expected. Defensively, the Braves had much more turnover and lost a good number of leading tacklers from last season. Despite that, the Alcorn State secondary should remain very productive with a few talented players returning. Run defense should be the weakness for the Braves, so it wouldn't be surprising to see Tech throw the ball less than 10 times in the game. The key matchup though will be the success of the Alcorn State run game in the first half. The Jackets will score early and often, but if the Braves can control the ball on the ground, they'll be able to stick around longer than the fans at Bobby Dodd want.
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Lenard Tillery remembers when individual milestones were put into perspective for him.
Senior quarterback Dray Joseph had just broken the Southern record for career passing yards two seasons ago when Tillery, then a freshman running back, approached him.
“I sat down and I was trying to congratulate him, and he just looked at me and said none of that really matters,” Tillery recalled. “”You get your name in the books and stuff like that, but unless you win championships, nobody cares.”
Joseph went on to break the school record for touchdown passes as he helped the Jaguars win a Southwestern Athletic Conference championship. So when Tillery became Southern’s first 1,000-yard rusher in 11 years last season, it meant little after losing to Alcorn State in the SWAC title game.
“I could have had 3,000 yards last year and no championship, and it wouldn’t have mattered,” Tillery said. “You can’t get caught up in what can I do for me? You have to look at what’s the whole goal? Is the team getting better? Is that run I made good for the team? If you go for 200 yards in a game and y’all still lose, it’s still a loss.”
NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Day two of the Tigers fall camp produced high energy and competitive intensity despite the rising temperatures. Saturday followed the same pattern as day one with the exception of the sounds of the Aristocrat of Bands blaring over the sound system. The AOB standards helped build the mood of the day.
“I just like the intensity of practice,” Head coach Rod Reed said. “The guys are out there getting after it the whole practice. That’s what you want during the early practices. Hopefully we can keep that intensity up throughout the camp.”
The offense struck first during the seven-on-sevens, as O’Shay Ackerman-Carter went over the top and connected with senior wide-out Hakeem Parker for a 60-yard touchdown pass. The defense responded with its patented shutdown coverage, highlighted by a huge pass break-up by Bernell Brooks, two plays following the initial play.
Junior quarterback Ronald Butler stepped on the field and found success in his first attempt with a 40-yard pass play to freshman tight end Mahlon Medley. The defense would once again stand tall limiting the offense to modest gains.
The day Tigers wrapped up the day with a 25-play live action session. The offense went for the big play on the very first play as Ackerman-Carter stood tall in the pocket, despite a rush by Marvin Maddox, and hit junior receiver Isaiah Jeffries-Freeman for a 65-yard touchdown.
The defense would seem to have the edge the rest of the way with an interception returned deep into the offensive territory. The blue-shirts did have another big play in them as Ackerman-Carter teamed up again with Parker for a long scoring pass.
“Both quarterbacks are looking good,” said Reed. “I am excited about the good things they are doing. Defensively, we have allowed a couple of big plays. We have to minimize those if we are going to be successful on defense. But I am pleased overall especially after the second day of practice.”
The Big Blue will take a day off on Sunday and will return to the grind on Monday morning at 9:15am.
“We need to cut down on mistakes, but that’s why you practice,” Reed commented. “We know it is the early practices and there are going to be some mistakes. The key thing is not to make the same mistakes tomorrow that you made today. We need to get in the film room, we have to do our jobs as coaches and we have to make corrections. Hopefully we will come out and have an even better practice on Monday.”
Schedule:
Sunday, Aug. 9 – OFF
Monday, Aug. 10 - 9:15-11:30 a.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 11 - 9:15-11:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 12 - 9:15-11:30 a.m.
Thursday, Aug. 13 – 9:15-11:30 a.m., 5:15-7:15 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 14 - 9:15-11:30 a.m.
Saturday, Aug. 15 - 7:30-9:30 a.m. (Scrimmage), 5:15-7:15 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 16 - OFF
ASSISTANT COACH EMILY HESTER CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S SOCCER
CHICAGO, Illinois – Chicago State University head women's soccer coach Tony Tommasi has announced today the appointment of Emily Hester as an assistant coach for the upcoming 2015 season. Hester will immediately begin her duties as the Cougars open their preseason training schedule on August 6th.
"I'm excited to have Emily join the program this year. She brings a level of enthusiasm and passion for the game that will help us continue to grow as a young program," stated Tommasi. "Emily will be a valuable mentor for our young team as they embark on the second year of Division I soccer."
Hester comes to CSU after serving as an assistant coach at NCAA Division II Southwest Minnesota State University, where she helped the Mustangs finish the 2014 season with a 10-8-1 record and advanced to the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) postseason tournament. She also served as an assistant coach on the varsity girls' team at Omaha (Neb.) North High School in 2014 before her appointment at SMSU.
In addition, Hester spent the last five years as an academy camp coach at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, and coached three years in Olympic Development Programs in Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.
Prior to her coaching career, Hester was a four-year letterwinner in soccer as a defender for Bellevue (Neb.) University, where she helped the Bruins capture three straight Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference (MCAC) regular-season titles and four consecutive MCAC tournament championships in addition to four appearances in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national tournament.
She garnered All-MCAC second-team honors in her final three seasons at Bellevue while capturing MCAC Scholar Athlete honors all four years and received the NAIA Champions of Character award in her senior season in 2013. Hester was also named Bellevue's Female Student-Athlete of the Year following the 2013-14 school year.
"I would like to thank Coach Tommasi for this great opportunity to become part of the women's soccer program. It is an exciting time to come into Chicago State to help build a program in its second year," Hester said. "I look forward to continuing to help guide the student-athletes to success here at CSU."
The Cougars open the 2015 season at Bowling Green on August 21st.
CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS
ETTRICK, Virginia -- The Trojans will host its annual media day on Monday, August 10, at 1:00 p.m. as announced by first year head coach Byron Thweatt.
There will be a question and answer session with coach Thweatt, as well as media availability with several VSU players. Local media outlets from all around will have the chance to watch the Trojans train from 3-5 p.m. at the practice field inside Rogers Stadium.
Coach Thweatt is just 31 days away from opening up his first season as head football coach. The Trojans will open up the 2015 season on Sept. 5 against California University of PA at Rogers Stadium at 1:00 p.m.
To keep up with the Trojans during preseason, follow @VSUSports on Twitter. Fans are encouraged to use the hashtags GoVSUTrojans or GoVSUTrojanFB for the 2015 campaign.
INSTITUTE, West Virginia -- The Yellow Jackets will have a new look when football season opens this fall.
Thursday they unveiled their 2015 uniforms that offer up to four different combinations.
WVSU opens the season with a Thursday night game at Fairmont State on September 3.
The Yellow Jackets play their home opener on Saturday, September 12 at 1 p.m. against Urbana.
COURTESY WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
ETTRICK, Virginia -- The time is now for VSU Trojans!
The Trojans are astonished as progress continues on the $84 million dollar Multipurpose Center slated to open in December 2015. The contractors continue to lay brick by brick with the anticipation opening date within reach.
Presently under construction, the 167,000 gross sq. ft. event facility will have approximately 5,200 fixed seats and accommodate nearly 6,200 for events. The facility will be the home of Trojan basketball and volleyball, and will include food and retail services, media spaces, classrooms and faculty offices, a wellness center and conference/meeting spaces.
The state-of-the-art facility will not only push VSU's athletic program into the forefront of Division II facilities, it will attract students to the university. "We intend to continue our quest to becoming a great national university, both academically and athletically," said Athletic Director Peggy Davis.
The new facility will make a significant impact on the long-term culture of Virginia State University, the time is now.
The future of Virginia State University is very exciting and the Trojans are looking forward to opening their home conference schedule in the new facility.
COURTESY VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- Prairie View A&M University's Blackshear Stadium was in rough shape for as long as Roy Perry can remember.
The wooden benches he sat on as an engineering student in 1978 to watch Panthers football games had not changed much from when the team was in its heyday and won five black college titles between 1953-1964. Perry graduated in 1978 dreaming improvements would someday be made, but after an historic 80-game losing streak from 1989-1998, they never came.
Even when the Panthers program broke the skid of losing seasons in 2007, won a Southwestern Athletic Conference championship in 2009 and made sweeping building improvements campuswide, some fans had to watch games played on a field in disrepair from behind a perimeter fence because the 6,000-seat stadium was at capacity. Perry said Blackshear's appearance never meshed well with the overall beauty of the campus.
"It wasn't much of anything," Perry said. "Kids played in better stadiums at their high schools."
Perry, who now serves as chairman of the Prairie View A&M Foundation, said he watched with joy on Jan. 23 as the tiny stadium was demolished with a few swings of an excavator arm.
With Blackshear gone, the university will finally get what Perry felt the school deserved more than 30 years ago in a $60 million, 15,000-seat football stadium and sports complex, which will open for its first game in September 2016.
SAVANNAH, Georgia -- The Savannah State football team’s first Community Appreciation Summer Clinic and Scrimmage was held Saturday morning off campus at Memorial Stadium. Partnering with Chatham County Park Services, the university wanted to give fans an opportunity to interact with the players and coaches in a short clinic before the team held an intrasquad scrimmage.
The scrimmage, which was split into 15-play segments at different spots on the field, went for a total of 125 plays before the final whistle was blown.
The offense (blue squad) was operating with a lot of new faces. While the young group was relatively unfamiliar playing with each other, head coach Earnest Wilson was pleased with how the offensive unit looked.
“It was the first time this coaching staff worked together,” Wilson said. “It was the first time the guys were on the sidelines together. So we are happy that things on that side of the ball are moving in the right direction.”
That's right. The Bulldog Community Kickoff, hosted by Woody Anderson Ford, is set for Friday, Aug. 14 from 3- 7 p.m.
The dealership at the corner of Jordan Lane and Sparkman Drive will be the site for food, fun, games, prizes, music and fellowship.
Fans can meet the Bulldog coaches, athletes, cheerleaders and celebrities while listening to the Marching Maroon & White band.
There will be free football tickets for Huntsville city, Madison city and Madison County students and fans will be able to purchase season and single-game tickets, as well.
So, come on out and have some fun with the Bulldog family as we get ready for another season of Alabama A&M football/
LANGSTON, Oklahoma -- Langston University was voted as the top team in the 2015 Central States Football League (CSFL) preseason poll, which marks the third consecutive season the Lions have been favored as the No. 1 team in the league's preseason poll. Langston received a total of 60 votes, including 12 first place votes. The poll is comprised of the league's coaches and sports information directors.
Langston was eight points ahead of second-ranked Southwestern Assemblies of God University (Tex.), who received 52 total points and a pair of first place votes. Bacone College sewed up third place with 37 points, as only one point separated Arizona Christian University and Wayland Baptist University (Tex.), who finished in fourth and fifth place, respectively. Lyon College (Ark.) received 19 points to rank them in the sixth spot and Texas College rounded out the poll as the number seven team with 17 points.
During the 2015 season, seven teams will compete for the CSFL title, including three teams from Texas, two schools from Oklahoma and one University out of Arizona. The CSFL is comprised of Arizona Christian University, Bacone College, Langston University, Lyon College (Ark.), Southwestern Assemblies of God University (Tex.), Wayland Baptist University (Tex.), and Texas College.
The 2015 season is the inaugural season for both Arizona Christian University and Lyon College.
Rank School Points (1st place votes)
1. Langston University 60 (12)
2. Southwestern Assemblies of God (Tex.) 52 (2)
3. Bacone College 37
4. Arizona Christian University 34
5. Wayland Baptist University (Tex.) 33
6. Lyon College (Ark.) 19
7. Texas College 17
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Until the end of last football season, Keonte Cash spent his career at Florida A&M blocking for an unpredictable quarterback.
Cash, a junior on FAMU’s offensive line, said sometimes he felt like he needed eyes in the back of his head to keep up with Damien Fleming, who frequently made plays with his legs instead of throwing the ball.
It’s a different time at FAMU now. Redshirt junior quarterback Carson Royal, primarily a pocket passer, is the signal caller for the Rattlers’ offense, and Cash said there’s been an adjustment period for the offensive line.
“It’s completely different,” Cash said, shaking his head and smiling while remembering trying to keep up with Fleming.
“Blocking for Damien, you just never knew where he was going to be. He made plays, so it was OK. It’s different having Carson there. You know where he’s going to be – he’s going to be behind you. It’s just different.”
ORANGEBURG, South Caroliina — Head coach Buddy Pough gathered his South Carolina State University football team at mid-field at Oliver C. Dawson Bulldog Stadium on Friday and marveled at merciful clouds that hovered over two hours of get-acquainted intensity.
“I don’t know what it is about Orangeburg,” Pough told the kneeling players, “but the man above always seems to take care of the weather on the first day of practice.”
If only the offseason had been so mild. Other college football teams have taken the field this August focused on playbook tweaks, position battles and schedule hurdles. S.C. State players have all that to worry about, plus program survival and the school’s collective psyche.
After years of scrutiny, investigations, infighting, deficits and political wrangling, S.C. State on June 30 approved a balanced budget heavy with cuts, early retirements, layoffs and furloughs. Nine campus buildings are closing.
ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- South Carolina State conducted its second of 27 scheduled preseason practices Saturday in preparation for their Sept. 6 showdown with SWAC foe Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the 11th Annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Orlando, FL.
The Bulldogs worked on individual and team style drills in a two-hour workout in shorts and helmets during the morning session at O. C. Dawson Stadium.
“We are still working on our installation process at the moment,” said S.C. State head coach Buddy Pough. “I am surprised at the way the freshmen and new guys are coming along. It seems like they are really picking up on the process rather quickly, which gives us a chance to keep things moving forward.”
Pough added that the quarterbacks are grasping different techniques well, along with a few more skilled guys.
The Bulldogs will conduct a third practice Sunday (Aug. 9) in a morning session at 9:30 a.m. in helmets and shells, followed by a Monday (Aug. 10) morning workout before suiting up in full gear on Tuesday (Aug. 11).
MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Alabama State football will renew its series with the Troy Trojans in a 2017 contest announced today.
The Hornets will play at Troy on Saturday, Sept. 9 at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The kickoff time is to be determined in the first football meeting between the schools since 2006.
ASU football opens fall camp under first-year head coach Brian Jenkins today with a 3:15 p.m. practice at Hornet Stadium. Alabama State will open the 2015 season at Tennessee State on Sunday, Sept. 6, with the home opener Saturday Sept. 12 vs. Alcorn State.
Season and single game tickets are on sale now online at bamastatesports.com/tickets, via phone by calling 334.229.4551, or in person at the ASU Stadium Ticket Office Monday – Friday between 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M’s football practices have been more intense under an almost entirely new coaching staff, and quarterback Carson Royal said the demands of the coaches are helping the team improve after a disappointing 2014 campaign.
The Rattlers reported to fall camp on Monday and have been fitting in practices between torrential downpours. The team will have practice in full pads on Monday, but FAMU has been working on plays since walkthroughs began on Tuesday.
“All the coaches have been great in the past,” Royal said.
“I’ve had a lot of different viewpoints, but (offensive coordinator) Coach (Marty) Spieler and (head coach) Coach (Alex) Wood come with a lot of intensity and a lot of flavor with the offense. I really enjoy the offense and they’ve explained it really well. They make sure you understand every responsibility you have.”
"Either we rise together or we fall together…the choice is ours." – Milton Overton, A.D.
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The Florida A&M University (FAMU) Football team went through over two hours of morning practice Saturday as the first week of training camp for the 2015 season wraps up.
Head coach Alex Wood and his staff, put the Rattler hopefuls through a fast paced work schedule Saturday morning in helmets, shoulder pads and shorts, with a one hour walk through scheduled for Saturday afternoon.
So far, the first week of work has been hampered a bit by thunderstorms, which threw off the outdoor schedule on Tuesday and Wednesday, but an early morning practice on Thursday (5:30) helped get the schedule back on track.
The Rattlers have had some 11-on-11 drills the past two days, but no contact, which will not begin until Monday, when the team starts two weeks of alternating two-a-day sessions (8 a.m, 3 p.m.. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays), with solo practices (3 p.m.) Tuesdays and Thursdays; 10 a.m. Saturdays).
Sunday, the Rattlers will practice at 2:00 p.m. after morning church services, their final scheduled workout before contact drills begin Monday.
COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
JACKSON, Tennessee -- With Derrick Burroughs in charge again after a one-year absence, the 2015 theme for Lane football might be best described as Back to the Future.
The Dragons had slowly progressed to six wins in 2013 before plummeting to one last year. The question now is how long it takes Burroughs and his staff to get the DeLorean back up to 88 miles per hour.
At the team’s Media Day session Friday morning, Burroughs gave a mixed review of his recruiting success this past offseason. The combination of newcomers and returnees must approach the year differently following an ugly finish to last season.
“We like to think that we’ve got the kind of kids that can face adversity well, but you never know until they do, right?” Burroughs said. “ ... It’ll be interesting to know who can address it well and who can’t.
WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- LaQuanda Barksdale Quick carries around a hefty resume thanks to her outstanding prep, college and pro career.
Quick, 35, took a leap of faith in ending a successful run as a high school girls’ basketball coach to take a job at Winston-Salem State as an assistant women’s coach. It’s something that’s been done before by other coaches, so it’s not unusual.
“Somebody reached out to me and called and said the job was going to be open,” said Quick, a former player and coach at West Forsyth. “And really, this was the first time I wasn’t looking to go anywhere.”
As proof that Quick was happy with her job at West Forsyth was the fact that she and her husband, Willie, had recently sold their house not far from WSSU’s campus.
“We moved to be closer to West Forsyth, and then…” Quick said with a laugh.
Now, she’ll commute from their home on the western side of Winston-Salem, and she is looking forward to the challenge.
NORFOLK, Virginia -- Greg Hankerson didn't have to win the starting quarterback job at Norfolk State, but he's willing to keep fighting for it anyway.
A junior transfer from Florida Atlantic, Hankerson was named the starter Thursday after incumbent sophomore Terrance Ervin announced he was leaving the program for what the school described as "personal reasons."
As the Spartans opened fall camp in Friday afternoon's rain at Norview High, Hankerson said he's ready to take on the role.
"I came here expecting to compete," he said. "I'm still going to compete. Just because he left doesn't mean that my effort and my work goes down. I still have to get better."
NSU, which went 4-8 last season while averaging fewer than 12 points per game, will welcome the help. Hankerson - at least initially - will operate first-year coach Latrell Scott's West Coast offense, which demands timing, accuracy and quick thinking.
PISCATAWAY, New Jersey -- In 2012, Kyle Flood entered his first training camp as Rutgers head coach knowing that a road game with Tulane awaited.
A trip to Fresno State was the first game on the 2013 docket.
And last season the Scarlet Knights had another cross-country trek as they traveled to Washington State to start their campaign.
After opening on the road against quality Football Bowl Subdivision competition in each of the past three years, the Scarlet Knights will play host to Football Championship Subdivision (Division I-AA)-foe Norfolk State on Sept. 5.
Rutgers has outscored Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) foes, 376-39, in nine games since 2006. Included in that ledger are three shutout wins over Norfolk State by a combined 128-0 score.
ALBANY, Georgia -- The Albany State football team hit the field for its first practice of the 2015 season on Monday. Familiar faces like Jarvis Small and Tavarius Washington were on the field, along with a new face in first-year head coach Dan Land.
