FAMU linebacker and Godby grad confident heading into 2015 season

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- William “Luke” Helms has a base of support — both on and off the field — because he chose to stay close to home for his college football career.

Helms, a junior linebacker and a leader on Florida A&M’s defense, came to the Rattlers in 2013 from Godby. He said whenever FAMU brings on a local recruit, he already has a history with the player.

“You’ve always got a base,” Helms said.

“You always see the people around and there are some guys who remember me from high school or I remember them. There’s that interesting dynamic. You don’t have to build a relationship, it’s already there because we played against each other.”

He added, “Of course, you’ve also got family and friends in town.”



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UMES Women's Basketball Signs Five Newcomers

PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland – After a successful run in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament in 2015, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Women’s Basketball program announced the signing of five new recruits for the upcoming season: Tantania Brown (Washington, D.C.); Ciani Byrom (Greensboro, N.C.); Keyera Eaton (Winston-Salem, N.C.); Jean Martin (Jacksonville, Fla.); and Tori Morris (Herndon, Va.).

“This is one of the toughest classes we’ve recruited,” said UMES Women’s Basketball Fred Batchelor. “These ladies bring the mental aspect and physicality we need to make us better.”
 

Brown arrives to UMES from Anacostia H.S. in our nation’s capital. In her senior season, Brown guided her squad to a 19-10 overall record and the 2015 District of Columbia Interscholastic Athletic Association (DCIAA) Championship.
 

“I am going to max out and give it my all,” said Brown. “I will continue to work hard and help my team in any way I can.”
 

The three-sport honor roll student-athlete will major in communications in the fall.

 

"Tan has a lot of heart and toughness,” said Coach Batchelor and added that, “her determination to survive will help her on the court and beyond basketball too.”

In her final season, Byrom guided her club to the 2015 National Championship after going 29-2 overall. In her efforts, she was named 2015 National Most Valuable Player (MVP). Furthermore, the North Carolina native was a four-time All-Star for her club team.

“I am very competitive,” Byrom stated. “I am going to strive to get better and keep the intensity going every game.”

The two-sport lettermen graduated Cum Laude and will study criminal justice for the Lady Hawks.

“Cece is a triple-threat guard,” said Batchelor. “She’s aggressive and quick on both ends of the floor. She will make a huge impact on our league sooner than later.”

Fellow Tar Heel Keyera Eaton attended RJ Reynolds H.S. in Winston-Salem, the same high school as the late ESPN sports anchor Stuart Scott. In her senior year, Eaton helped the squad to a 27-1 overall record.
 

“I want to continue to get better,” said Eaton. “I want to be a strong role player and important factor to the team.”
 

Additionally, she was a two-time All-Conference selection and an All-Northwest honoree.
 

“Keke is a high motor, intangible player that impacts both ends” Batchelor added. “Her length and quickness allows her to attack the basket at-will.”

 

Ra’Jean Martin hails from Jacksonville, Fla. where she attended The Potter House Christian Academy. The four-year lettermen won three state championships while accumulating a 38-5 overall record in her final season.
 

“I want to become great,” Martin explained. “I want to get better every day and shoot a high percentage from three-point range.”
 

Martin plans to study aviation in the fall semester.

 

“Ra’Jean has a desire to be great,” Batchelor said. “She’s a wrecking ball on both ends. Her toughness, heart, and drive will bring her success.”

 

Morris is the lone transfer on the team, arriving from Western Athletic Conference (WAC) competitor Grand Canyon (Ariz.). Last season, she played 25 contests with four starts as a sophomore. In high school, Morris was a two-time All-Arlington County selection at Bishop O’Connell H.S.
 

“I want to help the team win a MEAC Championship,” said Morris. “I am striving to get better each day and be ready when my number is called.”
 

The Virginia product will sit out this season due to NCAA transfer rules.
 

“Tori is a solid player with great touch around the basket,” Batchelor stated. “She’s got great footwork and a variety of low-post skills.”
 

The five newcomers join a veteran cast, consisting of 10 returners, led by All-Rookie selection Moengaroa Subritzky (Auckland, New Zealand) and 2015 MEAC Defensive Player of the Year Alexis Udoji (Randolph, Mass.).

  

For complete news of Hawk athletics, please visit www.umeshawks.com.

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE SPORTS INFORMATION

Jalana Ellis: From Canada to Jackson State, Mississippi

JALANA ELLIS
COURTESY JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Jalana Ellis' proclivity to punctuate conversations with "pardon," a side effect of her Canadian upbringing, draws occasional teasing from teammates. Her output on the soccer pitch, however, leaves little need for apologies. The 5-feet-4-inch junior central midfielder from Brampton, Ontario, is set to pace the Jackson State University Tigers as they attempt to reclaim the Southwest Athletic Conference Title the team won in 2013. Since driving more than 1,100 miles south to the JSU campus from her hometown just northwest of Toronto, the 20-year-old has started every game and led the team in points during each of her two seasons. JSU named her Offensive Player of the Year as a freshman, and she earned a spot on the SWAC All-Conference First Team as a midfielder last season.

It was back at the start of her senior year at St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School in Brampton when Ellis committed to not letting her competitive soccer career end with the last whistle of the high-school season.

"In Canada, not many girls get scholarships to Canadian schools," Ellis says. "They don't focus on athletic scholarships as much as they do academic."

So Ellis looked south for college.

Intrigued by historically black college environments, which are absent from Canada, Ellis reached out to the Tigers' then-first-year head coach Dean Joseph in the fall of her senior year.

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Howard, Texas Southern Scheduled for MGM Grand Main Event

COURTESY TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

LAS VEGAS, Nevada  --Another in-season tournament schedule has been officially completed, as the slate for the MGM Grand Main Event (to be held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas) was announced Wednesday by BD Global Sports. The tournament consists of two four-team brackets, with the teams in the Heavyweight Bracket (Clemson, Creighton, Massachusetts and Rutgers) getting to host at least two home games before heading to Las Vegas for games November 23 (Monday) and 25 (Wednesday).

In the Heavyweight Bracket semifinals November 23, Clemson will take on UMass with Creighton/Rutgers being the other matchup. The consolation and championship games will be held two days later.

There’s also a Middleweight Bracket, with UTSA and Central Arkansas meeting in one semifinal and Texas Southern and Howard in the other. Those four teams will play two road games apiece against the teams in the Heavyweight Bracket before they play in the afternoon sessions in Las Vegas November 23 and 25.

COURTESY HOWARD UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

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Culver Column: Intense coaches bringing new life to FAMU

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- FAMU football practice is pretty exciting these days.

Some of it, obviously, comes from the new coaches. There’s a new sheriff in town and his deputies (assistant sheriffs?) are bringing plenty of fire to practice. But the players are bringing so much more to the table, compared to what I saw toward the end of last season.

Every player I’ve spoken to so far has said at some point: “Intensity.”

The intensity level is always at maximum on the practice field, for better for worse.

I’m inclined to believe it’s for the better.

When I arrive at practice, I can hear coaches screaming even before I exit my car. They aren’t necessarily berating players, unless they’ve done something wrong, it’s just the usual volume of practice.

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SCSU Bulldogs Release 2015-16 Men’s Basketball Schedule

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- The South Carolina State University men's basketball program released its 2015-16 schedule,  featuring nine (9) Power Conference  schools and a slate that includes 11 home games, and 18 road contests including  MEAC Conference and non-conference play.

"This coming season will mark my second full season at the helm of our Men's Basketball program.  I am genuinely excited about the opportunities we have this season to restore our brand of excellence with our  program," said SC State head coach Murray Garvin. "We have many of our key players from last season's squad returning add with that our new additions to the team. We will be prepared for our out of conference slate, by the time MEAC play starts and we should have all the kinks out and ready to compete."

The Bulldogs start play in a Garnet & Blue intrasquad scrimmage on Nov. 7 at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center, before opening up the regular season on the road against intrastate rival College of Charleston on Nov.13 in Charleston, SC.

The first home-opener of the season will be against Voorhees College on Nov. 16, followed by a trip to the blue grass state to participate in the Eastern Kentucky Hoops Classic in Richmond, KY. First matchup for SCSU in the EKU Classic will be Longwood on Nov. 20, followed by Eastern Kentucky on Nov. 21, and Ball State on Nov. 22.

SCSU then returns to Orangeburg in non-conference action against Barber-Scotia on Nov.29, before heading out to the Midwest to take on Big 12 giant Kansas State on Nov.29 in Manhattan, KS in a televised event.

The Bulldogs have early road MEAC battles in the sunshine state with Florida A&M on Dec. 5 in Tallahassee, Fla. and Bethune-Cookman on Dec. 7 in Daytona Beach. SC State returns home for the last time in the 2015 season, when the host Jacksonville University on Dec. 12.

Garvin and his team, then embark on a five-game road swing during the holiday season beginning with  two contests versus Atlantic 10 schools, starting with Duquesne University on Dec. 16 in Pittsburgh, PA and St. Bonaventure on Dec. 19 in St. Bonaventure, NY.

The Bulldogs then return to the Carolinas to take on the Pirates of Eastern Carolina of the American Athletic Conference on Dec. 22 in Greenville, NC. Following a very short break the Bulldogs then take off on a visit to the great state of Ohio to battle Big Ten foe The Ohio State University on Dec. 27 in Columbus and Akron University on Dec. 30 in Akron. The Ohio tour will conclude with the Bulldogs first opponent in 2016 versus Miami of Ohio in Oxford on Jan.2.

"We will be tested early and often in the first half of our schedule," said Garvin. "Our team must capitalize daily on our preseason strength and conditioning and early practices in preparation for this very challenging schedule."

After the holidays, SC State returns to MEAC play with a four-game home stand beginning with North Carolina Central (Jan.9), N.C. A&T State (Jan. 11), Delaware State (Jan.16), and UMES (Jan. 18). The Bulldogs then hit the road for a three-game conference swing beginning in the Commonwealth state of Virginia to battle with Norfolk State on Jan. 23 and Hampton on Jan. 25, before heading north for a showdown against the Hornets of Delaware State on Jan. 30 in Dover, Del.

Three straight home games follow with Coppin State (Feb. 6), Morgan State (Feb. 8) and Savannah State (Feb.13), then the Bulldogs are back on the road for a three-game MEAC swing against UMES (Feb.21) in Princess Anne, MD, Howard (Feb. 23) in Washington, DC, and Savannah State (Feb.27) in Savannah, GA.

The Bulldogs close out the regular season at home against Bethune-Cookman on March 3.

The 2015 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament will be held March 7-12 at the Norfolk Scope Arena.

"This season we would like all of the Bulldog faithful to mark their calendars and come out and support our Men's Basketball team, at home and especially on the road!"

Dates and times are subject to change.

SC State brings back eight letter winners from last year's squad that finish 7^th in MEAC play. The Bulldogs welcome three JUCO transfers to a veteran team including, one guard and two forwards.

Garvin also welcomes back redshirt senior forward Luka Radovic and junior center DouDou Gueye who missed the entire 2014-15 campaign due to injury. Both returnees will add much needed depth in the frontcourt position.

For more information on South Carolina State University basketball, please call the Office of Athletic Media Relations at (803) 536-7060 or visit the official Bulldog website at www.scsuathletics.com.

COURTESY SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION 

SCSU ‘Scoot’ running for big senior season

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- JALEN "SCOOT" SIMMONS (Redshirt Sr., Running Back, 5-8, 205, Charlotte, NC) — The first 1,000-yard rusher since Will Ford (MEAC’s & S.C. State All-Time Leading Rusher) in 2009 returns to lead a high-powered offense for the Bulldogs this season. Missed the entire 2013 campaign due to shoulder injuries only to return to lead S.C. State to its 16th Mid-Eastern Athletic Championship in school history and second straight.

* LAST SEASON: The leading rusher for South Carolina State with 209 carries for 1,154 yards and nine touchdowns last season. Ranked third in the MEAC in rushing last season behind All-MEAC running backs Tarik Cohen (N.C. A&T) and Her Walker Jr. (Morgan State), Simmons is looked upon to have a breakout senior season for the Bulldogs in 2015.

* SIMMONS’ OUTLOOK ON THE SEASON: “Of course the goal is to win the MEAC Championship outright and not share with any teams this season. My goal is to stay healthy and have another year season and perform better than I did last season.”

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As Fayetteville State's new athletic director, Anthony Bennett comes home

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina -- Anthony Bennett said he saw more numbers with 910 area codes calling his phone Wednesday than at any point since leaving Fayetteville for Winston-Salem State five years ago.

The news that the Laurinburg native and Fayetteville State alum had been named the Broncos' new athletic director had been making the rounds.

There were more than a few people from back home that wanted to congratulate him.

"Family, friends, mentors, I've heard from all of them," Bennett said. ". I know a lot of people there are supportive of the athletic department and supportive of me. I look forward to working with everybody."

The school's Board of Trustees met Wednesday afternoon and unanimously voted to make the move official. Bennett, 42, will start Sept. 1, becoming the school's seventh athletic director since 1986. The school offered him an at-will contract that will pay him $113,000 per year.

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Texans Rookie tight end Khari Lee (BSU) adjusting to ‘faster game’

HOUSTON, Texas -- Lining up in his three-point stance at the line of scrimmage, Texans rookie tight end Khari Lee didn’t hesitate.

The former undrafted free agent from Bowie State got into his pattern Wednesday with a quick outside release and caught the football cleanly. Lee also held his own as a blocker, walling off defenders to create some push upfront to open up a pathway for the running backs to run through.



Making his bid for a spot on the 53-man roster or on the 10-man practice squad, Lee is adjusting on the fly to a much higher level of football after being a Division II All-American selection and a three-time All-CIAA selection.

“As a tight end, I bring versatility and physicality and my willingness to help this ball club, make this ball club and help this team win,” Lee said. “I think it’s even as far as my catching and blocking. I can run the route as well as I can block the man in front of me.

“At this level, you have to improve your technique and work at it. As a rookie, there’s a lot of little things to learn. The vets, they are used to reading coverages. The faster you can shorten that learning curve, you’ll be fine. It’s a lot faster game now.”

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Florida A&M Camp Report: Video - From The Sidelines

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Come meet the Rattlers! Fan Day is set for Aug. 22 at 2 p.m. at the Al Lawson Center. Come out and meet the new coaching staff and 2015 Rattler Football Squad.....and....#SEEYOUINBRAGG!



COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Ram Ramblings: Definitely a new vibe at WSSU's first practice

WINTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- I did see some familiar faces at WSSU’s first football practice today but most of them were the assistant coaches.

It was definitely a different vibe during this first practice of the season and I think it was different because of all the new players on campus. You would have to expect that after losing 35 players from last season’s 9-2 team there would be some turnover.

What was odd also about the first practice was that most of the players didn’t have helmets. Because of a snafu in delivery of the helmets only about 40 or so of the 120 players in camp were issued helmets.

Hopefully all the players will have helmets by Thursday’s second practice.

What I did find amusing was how many quarterbacks ran through drills. I counted three No. 5 jerseys who were quarterbacks. I’m pretty sure that one of those No. 5-wearing quarterbacks was Kevin Sousa, the Wake Forest graduate.

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Strike up the band: First AAMU football scrimmage is Aug. 15

NORMAL, Alabama -- Alabama A&M's first football scrimmage of the fall will come with a little more fanfare than the normal scrimmage.

Scheduled for Saturday, the scrimmage will also include a couple of local high school bands who will perform during the practice and at "halftime."

The Bulldogs will hold the scrimmage under controlled game-type conditions at Louis Crews Stadium. It is scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. and the public is invited.



On Monday, the team held its 11th and 12th practices of the fall with an intense, full-pads morning session and a 7 p.m. session in shells (shoulder pads, shorts and helmets). The evening workout was originally scheduled for the afternoon but was moved because of heat concerns.

The Bulldogs will have one practice Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. (full pads) and return to two-a-days Wednesday at 2 p.m. (shells) and 7:30 p.m. (full pads). They have off Thursday to attend the first day of class and are back at practice Friday at 7 p,m. All practices are open to the public.

Alabama A&M kicks off the season Sept. 5 at the University of Cincinnati.

COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Alabama State Football Finishes First Week of Camp

MONTGOMERY, Alabama – Tuesday's practice marked the end of the first week of preseason camp for the Alabama State University Hornets and the performance from the Hornets continues to show how much they have bought into the new offensive and defensive systems being implemented by Head Coach Brian Jenkins and his staff.

"They are buying in," Jenkins said. "I think they are showing that by the performance they did in the classroom in the spring as well as in the summer. For guys to perform at a high level, and we have close to 40 players with a 3.0 (grade point average) or higher in both semesters I think they are buying in."

"As far as the football field, we haven't had any guys late and guys are doing everything we are asking of them and their attitudes have been great. That lets us know they are buying into what we are teaching."

Jenkins has been preaching attention to detail since the day he arrived on campus and that is a lesson that is talked about every day in camp and it has certainly caught on with the players.

"I think that is the difference between winning and losing," Jenkins said. "When you pay attention to detail in everything that you do that means you do things right repeatedly. You will be consistent in your play when you do that. When you have the discipline to continue to do things with attention to detail it puts you in a better position to win."

Jenkins will begin his weekly press conferences tomorrow (Wednesday) August 12 at 1 p.m. The press conference will be held at the Houston Markham Football Complex.



COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

2015-16 MVSU Men’s Basketball Schedule Announced

ITTA BENA, Mississippi – Head Coach Andre Payne announced the 2015-16 men's basketball schedule, which features eleven home games.

During the non-conference season, the Mississippi Valley State University Delta Devils will tip-off their season with the lone home contests in 2015. MVSU hosts Stillman College and Wiley College on November 4^th and 11^th, respectively in two exhibition contests.

The Delta Devils will be on the road for the remainder of Nov. and December, starting with a trip to Lincoln Nebraska, to take on Nebraska (Nov. 14) before going to Denver Colorado, to face the Air Force on Nov. 18. On Nov. 20 MVSU takes on New Mexico in New Mexico, New Mexico. Nov. 23 will see the Delta Devils face Grand Canyon in Phoenix, Arizona. The traveling does not end there; Mississippi Valley will travel to Provo, Utah, to square off against Brigham Young University (Nov 25). From there MVSU will travel to Cookeville, Tennessee, to face Robert Morris (Nov. 28) and Tennessee Tech on Nov. 29.

In December the Delta Devils' vigorous travel does not slow its grueling pace. December 1 will find the team in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, against Duquesne University. On Dec. 3 the team travels to Durham, North Carolina, to face North Carolina Central prior to playing Evansville in Evansville, Indiana on Dec. 6.

On Dec. 15 Mississippi Valley will play Northwestern in Evansville, Illinois, North Texas in Denton, Texas on Dec. 17 and wrap the non-conference season in sunny Hawaii on Dec. 29 against the University of Hawaii.



November
4 Stillman (Exhibition) Greenwood, MS 7:00pm
11 Wiley College (Exhibition) Greenwood, MS 7:00pm
14 @ Nebraska Lincoln, NE 7:00pm
19 @ Air Force ** Denver, CO 7:00pm
21 @ New Mexico** Las Cruces, NM 7:00pm
23 @ Grand Canyon Phoenix, AZ 7:00pm
25 @ BYU Provo, UT 7:00pm
28 @ Robert Morris** Cookeville, TN 7:00pm
29 @ Tennessee Tech** Cookeville, TN 2:00pm

December
1 @ Duquesne University Pittsburgh, PA 7:00pm
3 @ North Carolina Central Durham, NC 7:00pm
6 @ Seattle University Seattle, WA 7:00pm
12 @ Evansville University Evansville, IN 7:00pm
15 @ Northwestern Evanston, IL 7:00pm
17 @ North Texas Denton, TX 11:30am
29 @ Univ. of Hawaii*** Honolulu, HI 7:00pm

January
4 vs. Arkansas Pine Bluff Greenwood, MS 7:30 pm
9 @ Alabama State Montgomery, AL 4:00pm
11 @ Alabama A&M Huntsville, AL 7:30pm
16 vs. Alcorn State Greenwood, MS 4:00 pm
18 vs. Southern Greenwood, MS 7:30 pm
23 @ Texas Southern Houston, TX 4:00pm
25 @ Prairie View A&M Prairie View, TX 7:30pm
30 vs. Jackson State Greenwood, MS 4:00 pm

February
1 vs. Grambling State Greenwood, MS 7:30 pm
6 vs. Alabama State Greenwood, MS 4:00 pm
8 vs. Alabama A&M Greenwood, MS 7:30 pm
13 @ Alcorn State Lorman, MS 4:00pm
15 @ Southern Baton Rouge, LA 7:30pm
20 vs. Texas Southern Greenwood, MS 4:00 pm
22 vs. Prairie View A&M Greenwood, MS 7:30 pm
27 @ Jackson State Jackson, MS 4:00pm
29 @ Grambling State Grambling, LA 7:30pm

March
5 @ Arkansas-Pine Bluff Pine Bluff, AR 7:30pm

*All times are subject to change. All conference games will be played after January 1st.

COURTESY MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

TSU Tigers suit up in full pads during first day of two-a-day practices

HOUSTON, Texas -- The Texas Southern Tigers football team hit the field today for their first day of two-a-day practices at Durley Field.

The Tigers wore full pads during the morning session and plan on wearing helmets and shoulder pads for the afternoon session.

"We continued to improve out here today," said TSU head coach Darrell Asberry. "Right now for us the focus is on showing up to practice ready to get better and learn. Our guys have really bought into that mentality and it shows with their effort and eagerness to improve on a daily basis."

Texas Southern football will take the practice field this evening for their second practice of the day. The Tigers have two weeks of training camp remaining after todays' sessions.


ALWAYS WATCH IN 1080p HD, WIDE SCREEN

COURTESY TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Prairie View A&M Football Camp Reports, Sights & Sounds

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas --The Panthers hit the field for day six of training camp but had to end practice earlier than normal due to unexpected lightning and rain in the area.  Enjoy some of the sights and sounds of PVAMU training camp.  Head coach Willie Simmons recaps day five of camp as the Panthers put on full pads for the first time.







COURTESY PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

FAMU receivers working closely with projected starter Royal

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M’s 2015 offense, when compared to last season, will be practically unrecognizable.

New head coach Alex Wood has installed a no-huddle, quick-pass system designed to quickly get the ball out of the hands of the quarterback. The quarterback will most likely be redshirt junior Carson Royal, who takes over for four-year starter Damien Fleming.

Sophomore wide receiver Brandon Norwood, who led the Rattlers with 516 receiving yards last season, said Royal has already earned the trust of offense.

“From that year to this year (Royal) has improved,” Norwood said.

“He’s become better on the field and off the field. He’s a leader. Everybody is behind him. He’s leading everybody the right way and leading everybody down the right path.”

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Howard U. Football To Kick Off Season with Four ESPN Contests

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- For the first time school history, the Howard University football team will start the season with four games that will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks.

The coverage of the Bison begins on September 6 when the Bison take on Appalachian State in Boone, NC. That game will be carried on ESPN3 live at 3:30 pm.

Howard follows with a game at Boston College, which will also be carried on ESPN3. That kickoff is scheduled for 1 pm

The Bison will then take on rival Hampton University in the AT&T Nation's Football Classic at RFK Stadium. The rare Friday night game on September 18 is scheduled for a 7 pm kickoff and will be carried live on ESPNU and the WatchESPN app.

Howard will then travel to Chicago to take on MEAC foe, Morgan State in the Chicago Classic at Soldier Field. The game will be aired live on ESPN3 at 4 pm and will air on tape delay on ESPNU at a time to be announced.

"This is great exposure for our football program and the University," said Howard head coach Gary "Flea" Harrell. "With the launch of our new logo and other things going on in athletics here at Howard, it could not come at a better time."

All 11 Bison games will be radio webcast on WHBC for the third straight year by logging onto www.whbc963hd3.com. Trevin Jones and Mike Lindo will again provide play by play and color commentary, respectively.

The rest of the schedule features a Howard Homecoming matchup against Norfolk State at 1 pm in Greene Stadium on October 3; a road game at South Carolina State on October 17 at 2 pm; a visit to North Carolina A&T on October 24 at 1 pm; a home contest against Savannah State on October 31 at 1 pm; a road game at Stony Brook on November 7 at 1 pm; a Senior Day matchup with North Carolina Central on November 14 in Greene Stadium at 1 pm; and a season finale at Delaware State on November 21 at 2 pm.



COURTESY HOWARD UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION 

Atlantic Sun Conference Welcomes Delaware State as Women's Lacrosse Affiliate

MACON, Georgia -- The Atlantic Sun Conference announces Delaware State University as its newest affiliate member for women's lacrosse, expanding the league to 10 programs beginning in the 2017 season. The Hornets have participated as an NCAA Division I Independent since 2013.

The Atlantic Sun has grown steadily since play began during the 2012-13 academic year with five members. Over the past three seasons, A-Sun women's lacrosse has added five affiliates. Furman, Mercer and Old Dominion completed their inaugural season in 2015, while Central Michigan will begin play in the 2016 season and Elon participated for one season in 2014. With the Hornets becoming the 10th team, the A-Sun has doubled its roster as the sport continues to grow across the country.

COURTESY ATLANTIC SUN CONFERENCE

Lacrosse is the fastest growing women's sport both at the high school and collegiate level. According to the US Lacrosse Participation Survey, the number of women's lacrosse teams at the NCAA level increased 38.9 percent between 2009 and 2014, and the number of high school girls' teams increased 31.2 percent. That growth, particularly throughout the Southeast, led to the Atlantic Sun Conference beginning sponsorship of women's lacrosse in 2013, with champion Jacksonville earning the conference's first women's lacrosse automatic bid.

"Women's lacrosse continues to be one of the country's fastest growing sports, and we are proud to add Delaware State University to our growing conference," said A-Sun Commissioner Ted Gumbart. "As the sport's popularity expands, the A-Sun has doubled its lineup since the first season in 2013. We are well-positioned to promote the A- Sun and affiliate member institutions that battle for our NCAA Championship automatic bid. Delaware State will be an outstanding addition and we look forward to the contributions its women's lacrosse team will make to the A-Sun."

"It's a privilege for Delaware State University and our women's lacrosse program to be associated with the Atlantic Sun Conference," said Louis Perkins, Delaware State University Interim Athletic Director. "The A-Sun is well recognized for its competitive teams and commitment to academic excellence, and is a great fit for our growing women's lacrosse program. We are extremely happy to be associated with the outstanding Atlantic Sun institutions, and look forward to spirited competition and lasting relationships in the years ahead."

Jillian Lontz has been the only head coach in Delaware State women's lacrosse history. The Lancaster, Pa., native was a standout player at Wesley College, where she earned Capital Athletic Conference All-Academic recognition. Lontz has previously coached at the high school and collegiate levels, serving as an assistant at her alma mater before joining Delaware State.

"I'm excited that our lacrosse program will join such a great conference as the Atlantic Sun. In addition to the new rivalries that conference membership will create, it also provides opportunities for our student-athletes to compete for various honors and awards, and our team to vie for post-season play," said Lontz. "I want to thank the Delaware State University administration and the Atlantic Sun Conference for their hard work in making the first conference membership for the Hornet lacrosse program a reality."

The Atlantic Sun is coming off its most impressive season in league history. The league finished with its highest league RPI ranking of 12 in 2015, while teams combined for a new single-season record of 36 non-conference wins.

Delaware State will begin play in the Atlantic Sun Conference in the Spring of 2017.



COURTESY ATLANTIC SUN CONFERENCE MEDIA RELATIONS

Howard University Tabbed Karli Brentlinger As New Women's Lacrosse Coach

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Howard University Interim Director of Athletics Shelley Davis has announced the hiring of Karli Brentlinger as the new head coach of the Bison women's lacrosse program.

"We are pleased to bring Coach Brentlinger into the Bison family," Davis said of the hire. "She is a talented young coach with impressive credentials and a desire to take our women's lacrosse program to new heights."

Brentlinger brings to Howard a variety of experience within the sport of women's lacrosse and in athletics as a whole.

Over the past three seasons (2013-15), Brentlinger served as Head Coach at Division II West Virginia Wesleyan. The 2015 campaign proved to be a breakthrough one for Wesleyan's program under Brentlinger's leadership, as the Bobcats completed the best season in school history, going 13-5 and reaching the inaugural Mountain East Conference (MEC) Championship Game as a 3-seed. Wesleyan earned 10 All-MEC honors in the process - four First Team, three Second Team, one Honorable Mention and two Freshman team selections. In addition, Wesleyan earned three MEC Player of the Week and three All-MEC Tournament selections apiece. Brentlinger also displayed versatility at Wesleyan, serving as Interim Head Tennis Coach and Game Day Administrator during her tenure.

"I'm very excited to be named as the new coach here at Howard," Brentlinger said. "I believe a successful program can be built here so I'm just ready to get to work. I'd like to thank President Frederick and Ms. Davis for placing their trust in me."

Prior to Wesleyan, Brentlinger spent the 2012 campaign as an Assistant Coach at Division II Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania. During her lone season at Bloomsburg, the Huskies captured the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championship while earning six All-PSAC selections, the PSAC Rookie of the Year award and a PSAC Champion Scholar-Athlete award. The 2012 Huskies were also ranked 11th in the nation in scoring offense and broke several team & individual school records. The team also ranked in the top ten nationally in ground balls (fifth) and overall offensive points (seventh). 

Brentlinger was a standout lacrosse student-athlete at Division I Longwood University in Virginia. She led the Lancers to back-to-back National Lacrosse Conference (NLC) titles in 2009 and 2010 as a sophomore and junior. Brentlinger also earned National Lacrosse Conference (NLC) MVP Midfield honors those seasons and was named a two-time NLC Player of the Week, NLC Player of the Year & All-Conference First Team as a junior in 2010. 

Additionally, Brentlinger was recognized as a Longwood University Scholar Athlete during her time as the school.

Outside of her NLC honors, Brentlinger earned a WomensLacrosse.com Player of the Week Honorable Mention accolade in 2009 and was selected to the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) University Division All-State Second Team in 2010.

Besides her collegiate coaching experience, Brentlinger has extensive experience working with youth lacrosse. She has participated in several youth camps hosted by collegiate programs, including Robert Morris, Bucknell and her alma mater of Longwood. Additionally, she has been a part of numerous camps, clinics and leagues, including the Maryland United Lacrosse Club that she currently works with and the Mountain Ridge Elite (WV) program she created.

Brentlinger graduated from Longwood University in 2011 with a Bachelors of Science in Exercise Science with a minor in Coaching and is currently pursuing her Master's Degree in Exercise Science from Fairmont State University in Fairmont, West Virginia.

COURTESY HOWARD UNIVERSITY BISON SPORTS INFORMATION

Fayetteville State set to hire alumnus Bennett as A.D.

ANTHONY BENNETT
Courtesy: WSSU Athletics

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina -- Fayetteville State is believed to be turning to one of its graduates to lead its athletic program.

The FSU Board of Trustees is expected to approve Winston-Salem State’s Anthony Bennett as athletic director in a special meeting scheduled Wednesday at 2 p.m. Bennett currently serves as associate athletic director for compliance at WSSU.

Multiple FSU and in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association sources told The Fayetteville Observer that Bennett is the choice to replace Edward McLean, who retired Aug. 1 after serving eight years. Bennett was chosen from a field of finalists that also included former Saint Augustine’s associate athletic director Kristene Kelly and former N.C. State and NFL football player Lin Dawson.

“Expect an official announcement on Anthony Bennett soon,’’ a FSU source said Tuesday. “He should do a great job for the Broncos.”

The Laurinburg native earned his undergraduate (1995) and Master’s (2000) degrees from Fayetteville State. Bennett also worked five years at FSU as Associate Athletic Director for Internal Affairs and as the school’s NCAA compliance officer.

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The Cleo Hill Story: He was Michael Jordan before there was a Michael Jordan

Cleo Hill, one of the best basketball players in Winston-Salem State and CIAA history, died on Monday in Orange, New Jersey at age 77.  As a  head coach at Essex County College in Newark, NJ, Hill would win 489 games with a 79.3 winning percentage, which ranks as the seventh-highest all-time in NJCAA men’s basketball.  He coached his hometown Wolverines 24 outstanding years.

CLEO HILL
6'-1"/185 lbs.
FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICK (#8) 1961 NBA DRAFT
 ST. LOUIS HAWKS,
WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -- Before there was MJ, there was Cleo Hill. Many consider him one of the all-time greats whose misfortune was to be black and born 20 years too soon. He played college basketball at Winston-Salem Teachers College from 1957-1961 for legendary coach Clarence "Big House" Gaines before ACC schools like North Carolina, Duke and Wake Forest began recruiting black players. Playing at the predominantly girls school, the 6 foot 1 inch Hill averaged 27 points per game as a senior. Savvy basketball scouts considered Hill the best player in the country when he graduated from college. The St. Louis Hawks of the NBA drafted Hill with the 8th pick in the first round--the first African-American from a Historically Black College to be drafted in the first round.

At Winston-Salem, his impact was such that he was recently voted the best player in school history, even ahead of Hall of Famer Earl "the Pearl" Monroe who followed him in the late sixties and went on to star for the New York Knicks.

A little background here: Long time sports commentator Billy Packer, who played guard for nearby Wake Forest became friends with Hill in 1961. The naive Packer, a Pennsylvania native, decided one evening to cross the tracks to the poor side of town to watch a game between Winston-Salem and Tennessee State. He soon found he was the only white guy in the packed gym. Coach Gaines recognized him from a newspaper article and invited him to sit with him on the bench. It didn't take long for Packer to realize that the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) schools played better quality basketball (more speed and athleticism) than the so-called big time schools of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

Packer was later quoted as saying, "Cleo Hill was better than anybody in the ACC. There was nobody close to him. As a matter of fact, of the guys I've seen in this state, Cleo Hill was the forerunner of David Thompson and Michael Jordan. The whole league had guys like that. Out of that Cleo and I became buddies and we used to scrimmage against them. " This came from a man who played on two consecutive ACC champions in 1961 and 1962. Packer organized numerous informal scrimmages between Wake Forest and Winston-Salem on Sunday mornings which were probably against the law at that time in the Jim Crow South. 

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Coach Hill was a star basketball player at Winston-Salem State University before being the 1961 first round draft pick of the St. Louis Hawks. He also played in the old American Basketball League and the Eastern Pennsylvania Basketball League. Coach Hill was profiled in the 2008 ESPN documentary Black Magic, which chronicled legendary African-American basketball players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities.  Born and raised in Newark, N.J.  and a graduate of South Side High School (now Malcolm X Shabazz), Coach Hill returned home following his six-year pro basketball career. He assumed the head coaching job at the fledgling Essex County College, 

FAMU President Elmira Mangum to Receive Global Leadership Award

ELMIRA MANGUM, Ph.D.
PRESIDENT
FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Celebrating Women International has named Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) President Elmira Mangum, Ph.D., a 2015 Women of Distinction Global Leadership Award in Education honoree.

Celebrating Women International is an organization that aims to mobilize and inspire women across the globe and to recognize and celebrate their contributions. The organization has also been instrumental in the fight against cancer and HIV/AIDS.

President Mangum will be presented with the honor on Oct. 3, the date of the University’s founding in 1887, during the annual Women of Distinction Awards ceremony in Paradise Island, Bahamas.

During the ceremony, women from around the globe who have made significant contributions to art, business, education, finance and trade, religion, law, civics, media, and sports will be recognized.

President Mangum will be honored alongside global leaders such as Muriel A. Howard, Ph.D., president of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities; Donna E. Shalala, former United States Secretary of Health and Human Services; Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, minister of International Cooperation and Development for the United Arab Emirates; Nontombi Naomi Tutu, race and gender justice activist; Sandra Granger, first lady of Guyana; Joyce Banda, former president of the Republic of Malawi; Whitney Houston (posthumously), music icon; and Sheryl Lee Ralph, activist, actress, and producer.

“The selected honorees have demonstrated an untiring zeal for service to the community and inspire us through their selfless commitment to improving the lives of others,” said Celebrating Women International Corporate Secretary Collin Smith.

Commenting on receiving the distinguished award, Mangum said, “I am honored to be recognized among such an accomplished and diverse group of women who have dedicated their lives to the advancement of our world. I think it is befitting to receive this international recognition on behalf of the University on the date of its founding. I will accept the award on behalf of all of those who worked tirelessly to make FAMU into the gateway of access and opportunity that it is today.”

About FAMU

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) is one of the largest single-campus historically Black colleges or universities in the nation. The University blends a strong research focus with a commitment to economic empowerment and community service.

The University was founded in 1887 as the State Normal School for Colored Students. Today, FAMU continues its mission to be a best-in-class, land-grant institution with a global reach that focuses on science, technology, research, engineering, agriculture, and mathematics.

FAMU contributes to a strong workforce by providing a high-quality, affordable education to students from diverse backgrounds.

What distinguishes Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University from other universities is its legacy of providing access to a high-quality, affordable education to many students who otherwise may never have the opportunity to fulfill their dreams of getting a college degree. The CollegeNet and PayScale Social Mobility Index (SMI) have recognized FAMU for its commitment to providing pathways for social and economic mobility.

SMI ranks FAMU third among all colleges and universities in the nation for fostering social and economic opportunity. FAMU is also one of the top institutions for providing a high-quality education at an affordable price in Florida, according to The College Database (2013).

U.S. News & World Report lists FAMU as the nation’s top public historically Black college or university (HBCU) for 2015. The University was also recognized among the 2014 U.S. News & World Report “Best National Universities.” It is listed among The Princeton Review’s “Best in the Southeast” colleges. 

FAMU was named by Forbes magazine as one of “America’s Top Colleges” for 2015. Forbes also listed FAMU as one of its “Best in the South” colleges, and the University is recognized for providing their students with the best return-on-investment in categories such as student satisfaction, post-graduate success, academic success, career success, nationally competitive awards, student debt, retention, and graduation rates.

COURTESY FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS

RATTLER ON THE MOVE: Courtney Vinson Named Associate Athletic Director for Sport Services and Senior Woman Administrator at the University of Memphis

COURTNEY VINSON
ASSOCIATE AD FOR SPORT SERVICES AND
SENIOR WOMEN'S ADMINISTRATOR
UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS

MEMPHIS, Tennessee -- Courtney Vinson, who has served as an assistant athletic director at University of Central Florida (UCF) the past four years, has been named the Associate Athletic Director for Sport Services and Senior Woman Administrator at the University of Memphis. U of M Athletic Director Tom Bowen made the announcement Monday.
 
At Memphis, Vinson will oversee the operations of the Athletics Office of Compliance, including certification, scholarships and the scholarship book process. Also among her responsibilities, she will also serve as the sport administrator for several sports.
 
Vinson will also serve as a liaison with academic advising and co-support the operations of the CHAMPS Life Sills program.
 
"We conducted a national search and had an incredible group of qualified candidates for this position," Memphis Director of Athletics Tom Bowen said. "We were pleased that Courtney decided to be a part of the process. She is going to be an outstanding addition to the University of Memphis Athletic Department. "
 
Vinson joined the University of Central Florida staff in July 2011. Over the past four years she has been responsible for overseeing the UCF athletics compliance office.
 
A member of the UCF Athletic Association's senior staff, Vinson created, developed and implemented policies and procedures to ensure institutional rules which aligned with the NCAA and American Athletic Conference regulations. She developed compliance programming for administrators, coaches, student-athletes and boosters.
 
Prior to her tenure at UCF, the Long Island, N.Y., native served as the Director of Compliance at Clemson University (2008-11) where she was responsible for admissions and eligibility. She also oversaw 11 of 16 sports as the Assistant Director of Compliance at the University of Akron (2006-08). Vinson also worked as a compliance intern at Villanova University (2006) and Georgia Institute of Technology (2005).
 
Vinson earned her master's degree in athletic administration from Marshall University in 2006 where she was a compliance graduate assistant.
 
Vinson was a track and field student-athlete as an undergraduate student at Florida A&M University. A four-year letter-winner at FAMU, she earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from the school in December 2003.
 

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

JSU’s Porter glad to be back in action

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Monday night marked the first full-pads practice of training camp for Jackson State, a day Tigers defensive back Robert Porter has had his eyes on for quite some time.

Porter missed all of spring practice to heal from the effects of a torn labrum in his right shoulder, which he suffered during training camp last year but played through all season.

“(Spring ball) was horrible. I hated coming to practice knowing I had to watch from the sidelines,” Porter said. “It was just tough because I couldn’t be out there with the fellas, leading them.”

Now the 6-foot, 170-pound senior corner is back in action and eager to show people he’s ready to improve upon the 61 tackles and eight pass breakups he posted in 2014.

Porter, who hails from Detroit, is a criminal justice major, and has a commendable grade-point average.

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