VSU gears up for football season with new coach

CHESTERFIELD, Virginia ­— Returning for the first day of practice last Monday, the Virginia State University football Trojans possess a keen determination for the pursuit of a repeat Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) championship and beyond.

Boasting the number two slot in the CIAA preseason rankings, out of 12, VSU jumped into the preseason with a bang this week under the newfound leadership of head coach Byron Thweatt.

Formerly an assistant coach at the University of Richmond, and a Matoaca High School graduate, Thweatt said that he has transitioned smoothly and comfortably into the role after previous head coach Latrell Scott took his talents to Norfolk State University.

In just two seasons, Scott helped the Trojans to grab their first CIAA title since 1996 with a win over Winston-Salem State in 2014, and Thweatt intends to elevate the team on a national scale.

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After their dramatic turnaround, Grambling eyes even more in 2015

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- Grambling’s turnaround last season caught everyone outside the program by surprise.

The Tigers were perhaps the most improved team in the Football Championship Subdivision, taking Southern to the wire in the race for the Southwestern Athletic Conference West Division title, finishing 7-2 and 7-5 overall. That came after a disastrous 1-10 season in 2013 that led to Grambling being picked last in the West.

Did the Tigers catch lightning in a bottle? Hardly, said coach Broderick Fobbs, who engineered the turnaround in his first season.

“I thought we underachieved last year, to be honest,” he said. “I thought what we had in us was greater.”

Fobbs’ colleagues and the SWAC sports information directors seem to ...

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HU women's soccer hits the ground running in debut season

HAMPTON, Virginia   -- From the start, way back when in 2013, it was the expressed goal. An auspicious one, to be sure. But maybe, in another five or 10 years, it would become reality.

No one, not even the biggest optimist of the bunch, expected to be here only two years later.

This past May, Hampton University announced the addition of women's soccer to its varsity sports effective the fall of 2015. That gave everyone — the coaches and players on HU's club team along with administrators and staff — three months to prepare.

The Pirates' first match will be Friday against Canisius on Christopher Newport's home field. It will be HU's only "home" game this season. The remaining nine, as well as a four-team tournament of independents, will be on the road.

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Pace Joins the SC State Women’s Basketball Coaching Staff

COACH ALEXIS PACE
Courtesy : UWG Athletics

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina --  South Carolina State head women's basketball coach Doug Robertson announced the hiring of Alexis Pace as an assistant coach for the Lady Bulldog program.

"We are happy to have Alexis join our coaching staff," Robertson said. "She is a young, talented coach who will bring a lot to our program."

Pace spent the last four seasons as the assistant women's basketball coach at her alma mater, the University of West Georgia. She began her career as the graduate assistant at UWG during the 2010-11 season.

Pace was a four-year player on the UWG women's basketball team. She played in a total of 106 career games, and played her role solidly on several strong squads throughout her career. During her senior season, Pace was second on the Cin thleand averaged 2.6 points and 4.1 rebounds in 25 minutes per game.

Pace is a native of Griffin, Ga. and played basketball at Griffin High School. While there, she earned several all-region honors and Atlanta Tip-Off Club honorable mentions.  She averaged 13 points and 12 rebounds throughout her career.

Pace earned her Bachelor's degree in Mass Communications from the University of West Georgia, graduating in 2010.  She completed her Master's degree in Teaching Secondary English in 2014.

COURTESY SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Cheretta Stevenson Tabbed As SC State Head Softball Coach

COACH CHERETTA STEVENSO
Courtesy: SCSU ATHLETICS

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- The South Carolina State department of athletics has named Cheretta Stevenson the new head softball coach. Stevenson brings a wealth of knowledge of the game both as a player and as a coach.

“Cheretta brings a wealth of experience to the Bulldog family. Her commitment to excellence made her the perfect choice for this department,” said S.C. State Director of Athletics Paul A. Bryant. “I am excited to support her as she embark on her collegiate head coaching career.”

She formerly served as the head softball coach at Fairfield Central High School from 2013-15, where she was named Region Coach of the Year. Several of her players have gone on to receive Division I scholarships.

Prior to that, Stevenson spent two seasons at Winston-Salem State (2011-13) as an assistant softball/pitching coach. During her tenure, WSSU claimed the CIAA crown in 2012.

Before joining the WSSU coaching staff, Stevenson spent seven seasons as the head softball coach at her alma mater Lower Richland High School in Hopkins, South Carolina. In addition to her duties as head coach of the Hornets softball team, she also was the head coach of the Hornets volleyball team and earned Region Coach of the Years honors as well.

A graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, Stevenson enjoyed a solid playing career with the Aggies where she was one of the top players in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).

She was the first player in school history to earn first-team All-MEAC honors after a tremendous freshman season for the Aggies. For her efforts, she was also named the team MVP and Rookie of the Year in addition to several tournament and conference weekly honors. She finished the season with a 3.04 ERA. Also a solid hitter, she finished the season with 103 strikeouts and five complete game shutouts. She also had a great 2003 season with 83 strikeouts and a 4.14 ERA and a 13-11 record.

Her great career began at Ridge View High School, where she began playing in seventh grade. She earned six letters in softball as well as four letters in basketball, and two letters in tennis. During her senior year, she played at Lower Richland High School. During her high school career, she earned both all-state and all-region honors.

Stevenson, a native of Columbia, earned her bachelor’s degree in speech language pathology and audiology, and her master's of art in teaching (learning disability). She is the proud mother of a 16-year-old daughter, Dyna’sha “Pinky” Stevenson.

COURTESY SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Southern sets its sights on another title shot — and another win, like in 2013

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- The Southern football team’s goal for this season is twofold but simple: Get back to the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game ... and win it.

The Jaguars are seeking their third consecutive trip to the title game, having won their first SWAC title in 10 years in 2013 before losing to Alcorn State 38-24 in last year’s title game.

“In 2013, we all felt how it was to win it, and then last year, we all felt how it was to lose it,” senior linebacker Daniel Brown said. “We all know that winning is better than losing any day, so it’s motivation enough that we didn’t capture the prize like we were supposed to.”

The loss in the title game rarely leaves the Jaguars’ minds.

“That’s all we remember (from last season),” quarterback Deonte Shorts said.

But as an added reminder, the players’ workout shirts are inscribed with the word “remember” and the score of the title game.

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Austin Howard embraces his role as Southern’s starting quarterback

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- It was just minutes before Southern’s Southwestern Athletic Conference opener last season when freshman quarterback Austin Howard learned he was about to make his first college start.

He had played a few series in relief of Deonte Shorts in the first three games but, as kickoff at Prairie View neared, Shorts’ sore elbow hadn’t responded well enough to treatment to allow him to play.



“I knew right then I had to buckle my chinstrap and do what I had to do,” Howard said. “I wasn’t a freshman anymore. I was the quarterback at Southern University. If you would have told me two minutes or two hours or two days before the game, it wouldn’t have mattered. I’m just a real competitor. When I go out there, I’m just like, ‘I’m here now; there’s no turning back.’ ”

The Jaguars’ running game and defense made things relatively easy for Howard, who played efficiently (8-of-15 passing, 108 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions) in a 34-24 victory that started Southern on its way to a second consecutive SWAC West Division title.

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From the Rucker League to Edison Tech. With a Ph.D. in between from Jackson State

HARLEM, New York -- Jason Willis's basketball players at Edison Tech probably don't know the full accomplishments of their assistant coach. Right now Jason is more concerned that his Inventors make practice on time and work hard in the classroom.

I met Jason while writing a post on the basketball game at Cobb's Hill, including a compassion between the Rucker League in Harlem. Rochester’s own street ball Rucker League.

And we have a bonifide NYC streetballer in our midst. Jason describes playing and coaching from '05 to '10 for Primetime (with Head Coach James Ryan), serving losses to the likes of "Crossing Guard," "AO," "Headache," "Homicide," and "Bone Collector." Jason--or Dr. J as I like to call him, given his Ph.D.--played/coached in the NIKE, Classic Rucker (Medger Evers University in Brooklyn), EBC (Entertainment Basketball Classic) Rucker on 155th in Harlem, Dykman, 145th Street and many more, all of which drove his passion for the game.

But what's more impressive about Jason is his remarkable dedication to success on the hardwood floor and the lecture hall. Having graduated from Division III SUNY-Brockport with a double major in African-American Studies and Sociology, Jason received the PROMPT Fellowship at Southern Illinois University for an M.A. in Sociology.

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SWAC preview: Alcorn State seeks repeat in balanced league

LORMAN, Mississippi -- It’s your turn, Alcorn State.

The Braves won their first conference championship in 20 years when they beat Southern 38-24 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game last December.

That outcome denied the Jaguars a second consecutive SWAC championship, which would have been a rare accomplishment. No SWAC champion has repeated since Grambling won the most recent of three consecutive titles in 2002.



The past six SWAC championships have been won by six different programs. Alcorn and Southern were preceded by Arkansas-Pine Bluff (2012), Grambling (2011), Texas Southern (2010) and Prairie View (2009). Grambling won in 2008.

So Alcorn will try to repeat, and the Braves were picked first in the East Division in the conference’s preseason poll.

“This league, I say it every year: There’s a lot of parity,” Braves coach Jay Hopson said. “I don’t just say that. People that know me know I speak what I feel. Two years ago, we were ranked last. I think the preseason rankings, they don’t really mean anything. You take it with a grain of salt. It’s a competitive league.”

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Jackson State kickoff time against Southern moved up

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Jackson State announced the kickoff time for its game at Southern on Sept. 19 has been moved up from 6 p.m. to 5 p.m. to accommodate a request by ESPN, which will broadcast the game live on ESPN3 and tape delayed on ESPNU, on Monday.

As of now, the contest is the lone JSU game on the SWAC television schedule.

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CIAA Tournament Economic Impact Rises; Charlotte Becomes New Headquarters for CIAA Office

COURTESY CIAA MEDIA RELATIONS

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament, hosted in Charlotte, North Carolina, produced an economic impact of $55.6 million in 2015 in spite of inclement weather. This figure is an increase of 19 percent from 2014.

Hotel occupancy also showed an increase from 2014 with a combined growth in Uptown Charlotte and overall Mecklenburg County hotels of 5.4 percent in 2015; according to the 2015 CIAA Basketball Tournament Economic Impact Study conducted by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA).

“The CIAA Tournament contributes $30 million in direct visitor spending to Charlotte’s economy annually. Not only does the tournament boost the city’s economic base, but it also contributes to Charlotte’s reputation as a rising destination that embraces diverse audiences and offers a plethora of intellectual, cultural, social and recreational opportunities. The CIAA’s relocation to Charlotte is yet another example of the city’s appeal as a great place to live and work,” say CIAA Board of Directors Chairman and President of Johnson C. Smith University, Dr. Ronald L. Carter.

Fans can now purchase tickets and book hotel rooms for the 2016 CIAA Tournament, which will be held at the Time Warner Cable Arena, February 23-27, by visiting CIAATournament.org. Hotels can also be reserved by calling 1 (844) 293-6678 on Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. The newly designed website was re-launched to provide fans with an interactive experience and centralized hub for all news and official game and event information related to the annual tournament.

The CIAA established a new partnership with ConferenceDirect, a global meeting solutions company, to assist in improving the fan housing program, which was first introduced during last year’s tournament. The partnership was formed as a result of evaluating feedback shared in a survey the CIAA distributed to its fans shortly after the conclusion of the tournament. The CIAA listened and worked tirelessly through the new partnership with ConferenceDirect to provide individual incentives for fans who book through the housing program such as; discounts on room rates, special amenities, networking due to centralized location of available hotel options, reduced travel time and cost by providing access to hotels in close proximity of official tournament events, and guaranteed room reservations with a customer service team advocating for the fans if a problem arises with their hotel.

“We gauged the thoughts of our fans on areas we could improve their tournament experience. After evaluating the results, we found that customer service and communication with the housing program to be the main takeaway,” said CIAA Commissioner, Jacqie McWilliams.  “The conference reviewed several housing management companies and elected to move forward with ConferenceDirect, as they seemed to best fit our current needs for a fan base of our size and their overall industry experience.”

The CIAA officially opened their headquarters in Charlotte after last year’s announcement to move from Hampton, Virginia. The office is located at Two Piedmont Town Center in the Southpark area of Charlotte.  With 8 out of 12 member-institutions located in North Carolina, as well as 15 of their 16 championships and key sponsors, accessibility was a key factor in the decision to move to the Queen City.

“It’s been months in the making, but we’re so pleased to welcome the CIAA headquarters to the Charlotte region,” says Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority CEO Tom Murray. “We know that having Commissioner McWilliams and her team based here will help to enhance the tournament experience in the years to come. I have no doubt that our business leaders and the community as a whole will welcome them with the southern hospitality we’re so well-known for.”

For more information about the CIAA Conference visit TheCIAA.com. For more information on how to purchase tickets and book your hotels to the 2016 CIAA Tournament visit, CIAATournament.org.


About the CIAA
Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first African American athletic conference and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 16 championships attended by more than 150,000 fans from around the country. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 12 member-institutions: Bowie State University, Chowan University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, The Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Livingstone College, Saint Augustine's University, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University and Winston-Salem State University. For more information on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com. For more information on the CIAA Basketball Tournament, visit CIAATournament.org, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

 

 

About ConferenceDirect
Headquartered in Los Angeles, with offices located in Las Vegas, Toronto and Charlotte - ConferenceDirect is a full-service global meetings solution company whose portfolio of services includes: Site Selection & Contract Negotiation, Conference Management, Event Hotel Bookings, Registration Services, Mobile App Technology and Strategic Meetings Management Programs. Our 325+ Associates manage over 9,800 meetings, conferences and events annually for more than 2,500 customers. For more information, visit ConferenceDirect at www.conferencedirect.com.

 

Morgan State receiver Andrew King's work in community earns him Good Works Team nomination

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- Morgan State football coach Lee Hull likens Andrew King favorably to former Terp and current San Francisco 49er Torrey Smith, and it's not just because they're both wide receivers.

Like Smith, King is committed to making contributions off the field. Smith was nominated the Ravens' representative for the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year award last December for his self-named foundation beginning a reading initiative, giving 447 students in Baltimore-area schools access to more than 700 books and electronic readers, as well as a place to read them.

King, a redshirt senior who led the Bears in catches (42), receiving yards (508) and receiving touchdowns (six), helped the team capture a share of its first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title in 35 years last season and a berth in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. He has visited area elementary schools to talk to students about the lives of student-athletes.

King, a Columbia (Maryland) native who graduated from Atholton High School, also joined an effort organized by Hull to clean streets in neighborhoods close to Morgan State's campus and has volunteered at the program's youth football camp the past two summers.

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AAMU Bulldogs, Woody Anderson Ford celebrate partnership

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Amid a crowded showroom, officials with Woody Anderson Ford and Alabama A&M University celebrated their partnership during the Bulldog Community Kickoff.

The event featured gumbo from Wintzell's, hot dogs and hamburgers by Chef Henry and entertainment from the Marching Maroon & White and the Bulldog cheerleaders and Jr. Bulldogs.

PHOTO GALLERY

"It's an honor for us to participate with the athletic department," said Cathy Anderson, owner of the local Ford dealership. "Our hearts swell with pride."

She was joined at a special check presentation by Tony Watkins of Ford, A&M President Dr. Andrew Hugine Jr., Director of Athletics Bryan Hicks, A&M Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer Kevin Rolle, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle and members of the athletic department and Woody Anderson.

"Thank you so much for your support," Hicks said to Anderson. "We are very thankful for working together."

Hugine shared the university's appreciation, saying Woody Anderson Ford "exemplifies what it means to be a good partner in the community."

COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Tennessee State Tiger Camp Update: First Scrimmage

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- The Tigers defense walked away with bragging rights after the first scrimmage in 2015. The offense was able to put together a couple of lengthy drives, but their counterparts would hold them to two field goals on the day.

The two hour Saturday morning session displayed depth in the running game, as well as on the defensive side of the ball. The 85-play scrimmage also featured the battle at quarterback between junior Ronald Butler and redshirt-freshman O’Shay Ackerman-Carter.

Sophomore Latrelle Lee struck first for the defense with a sack of Ackerman-Carter on the first series. The quarterback would answer on the next play as he hit Rodney Morris for 13 yards and a first down, the first of the day. The drive would stall, bringing on the second team.



The Butler ran squad dealt with mishaps, like the first group, but the third-year notched his initial first down on a 10-yard completion to Isaiah Jeffries-Freeman. Yet again, the defense would step up and put another stop to a drive as defensive end Marvin Maddox batted down a pass at the line of scrimmage.

With the second unit starting the second sets of series, the defense continued its stellar play as freshman Trevion Duncan would energize the defense with a big hit on running back Erick Evans. Butler would follow with a 20-yard run on a keeper, moving the offense across midfield.

Penalties and a fumble would set up a third and 32, but a late hit by the defense allowed the offense a fresh set of downs. The second squad would move down to the 15 on a defensive personal foul and a 10-yard run by Butler. The junior signal-caller chose his own number two plays later and broke free for a 15-yard touchdown, but a holding penalty negated the score, making the squad settle for a Lane Clark 34-yard field goal.

The first unit returned to the field with Telvin Hooks picking up a first down on two carries for 13 yards. Later in the drive, Ackerman-Carter ran for 26 yards to the 29 after escaping the rush.

The story of the day continued to be costly penalties as a holding call erased a 28-yard pass from Ackerman-Carter to Morris, which would have led to a first and goal from the one. The defense took advantage of the miscue and produced another stop as defensive tackle Dinsdale Jackson knocked down a pass attempt.

Butler guided the second unit down the field, picking up three first downs. The junior earned the first on the ground with a 16-yard run and connected with Jeffries-Freeman and Quindell Cousins through the air for the next two. The drive ended as Clark’s 48-yard field goal attempt missed wide left.

On the day, Butler completed eight passes on 16 attempts for 72 yards, while Ackerman-Carter finished 7-for-12 and 67 yards.

The Tigers ran for just under 200 yards, led by Marcus Deanes who gained 78 yards on seven carries. The red-shirt freshman registered the longest run of the day with a 45 yard jaunt.

Arkeem Granger finished the scrimmage with 35 yards on five carries, Hooks carried nine times for 20 yards; Tom Smith ran for 10 yards on four attempts and Erick Evans 10 yards on two rushes.

The Tigers returned to the practice field Saturday evening with a concentration on special teams. The Big Blue will enjoy a day off on Sunday and return to the field on Monday at 9:15 a.m.

Scrimmage Quotes:

Senior, Offensive Lineman James Lewis -
“Overall we did a lot of good things, but there is still things we need to improve. I thought we started out slow on offense, but we started to pick it up at the end, started to make some big plays, especially in the run game. All in all, we did a lot of good things, but we can always get better at our craft. Overall it was a decent practice.”

Junior, Linebacker Vantavious Williams - 
“I circled everybody and told them we are the rock of this team. I felt like we came out today and we dominated. We are only get better day-by-day. We have two more weeks until the first game and we are going to take advantage of that.”



Scrimmage Photo Gallery

Schedule:
Sunday, Aug. 16 - OFF
Monday, Aug. 17 - 9:15-11:30 a.m. (Full)
Tuesday, Aug. 18 - 7:30-9:30 a.m. (Full), 5:15-7:15 p.m. (Shells)
Wednesday, Aug. 19 - 9:15-11:30 a.m. (Full)
Thursday, Aug. 20 - 7:30-9:30 a.m. (Full)
Friday, Aug. 21 - 9:15-11:30 a.m. (Helmets)
Saturday, Aug. 22 - 7:30-9:30 a.m. (Shells), 5:15-7:15 p.m. (*Scrimmage*)
Sunday, Aug. 23 - 2:00 p.m. (Helmets)

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

PVAMU Football Training Camp: Day 9 Defensive Tackles Coach Jo Nixon Mic'd Up

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- Defensive tackles coach and recruiting coordinator Jo Nixon is mic'd up for training camp at Prairie View A&M on the team's second practice of two-a-days.

On Saturday, the Panthers will head to nearby Waller ISD Stadium for their first of three scrimmages. Tomorrow's scrimmage will be the lone one open to the public beginning at 3:30 p.m.

Prairie View A&M will hold media day on Saturday, Aug. 22 inside the William J. Nicks Building (The Baby Dome) from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Local and statewide media along with all Panther fans are invited to interact with the Panther football, volleyball and soccer student-athletes and coaches. There will also be a special appearance by the 2015-16 edition of the PVAMU Marching Storm Band.

Howard U. Men's Basketball Announces 2015-16 Schedule

WASHINGTON, D.C. --  The Howard University men's basketball team has announced its schedule for the upcoming 2015-16 season.

The Bison are coming off a 2014-15 campaign in which they posted 16 wins, the most in over a decade. They will play 15 games at home this season, the most in over three decades.

The season opens at UMass on November 13 and Rutgers on November 15 as part of the MGM Grand Main Event tournament.

Howard, which returns four starters, will then host Division III Medgar Evers College on Friday, November 20 at 6 p.m.. in Burr Gymnasium.

The team will then travel to Las Vegas for the Middleweight Bracket of the MGM Grand Main Event with a game against Texas Southern on November 23. The Bison will face Texas-San Antonio (UTSA) or Central Arkansas in either the Middleweight Championship Game or Consolation Game on November 25.

HU will return home for back-to-back matchups against The College of William & Mary on November 28 and USCAA member Central Penn College on November 30.

Howard opens Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play at North Carolina A&T on December 5 and at North Carolina Central on December 7. A trip to Purdue follows on December 8, followed by home games against Radford and the University of Maryland Baltimore County on December 12 and 19, respectively. Those home contests will have special significance as the coaches of the two teams formerly played at Howard and served as assistant coaches here., HU alum Mike Jones is the head coach at Radford and Aki Thomas is the head man at UMBC.

Howard takes to the road again with non-conference games at Central Michigan, at Columbia and at the University of Hawaii in an 11-day span (December 21 to January 1).,The Bison are back home on January 6 when they host Cornell and on January 9 in a home MEAC tilt with Coppin State.

After traveling to Delaware State on January 11, the Bison will close out the non-conference schedule with an important home game against Harvard, marking the first time that the Crimson has played at Burr.,

From there, the Bison play seven of their last 10 MEAC games at Burr with Senior Night coming on February 22 against South Carolina State.

The MEAC Tournament gets underway on March 7 and runs through March 12 at the Norfolk Scope in Norfolk, VA.

HOWARD UNIVERSITY BISON 2015 MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

Date	Opponent	Location	Time
MGM Grand Main Event
11/13/2015	UMass	Amherst, MA	7:00:00 PM
11/15/2015	Rutgers	Piscataway, NJ	4:00:00 PM
11/20/2015	Medgar Evers College	Washington, DC	6:00:00 PM
MGM Grand Main Event
11/23/2015	Texas Southern	Las Vegas, NV	TBA
11/25/2015	UTSA / Central Arkansas	Las Vegas, NV	TBA
11/28/2015	William & Mary	Washington, DC	4:00:00 PM
11/30/2015	Central Penn College	Washington, DC	7:00:00 PM
12/5/2015	North Carolina A&T	Greensboro, NC	2:00:00 PM
12/7/2015	North Carolina Central	Durham, NC	6:00:00 PM
12/9/2015	Purdue	West Lafayette, IN	7:00:00 PM
12/12/2015	Radford	Washington, DC	4:00:00 PM
12/19/2015	Maryland Baltimore County	Washington, DC	TBA
12/21/2015	Central Michigan	Mount Pleasant, MI	7:00:00 PM
12/28/2015	Columbia	New York, NY	4:00:00 PM
1/1/2016	Hawaii	Manoa, HI	TBA
1/6/2016	Cornell	Washington, DC	7:00:00 PM
1/9/2016	Coppin State	Washington, DC	7:00:00 PM
1/11/2016	Delaware State	Dover, DE	7:00:00 PM
1/16/2016	Harvard	Washington, DC	4:00:00 PM
1/23/2016	Florida A&M	Washington, DC	4:00:00 PM
1/25/2016	Bethune-Cookman	Washington, DC	7:30:00 PM
1/30/2016	Morgan State	Baltimore, MD	4:00:00 PM
2/1/2016	Maryland Eastern Shore	Princess Anne, MD	7:30:00 PM
2/6/2016	Norfolk State	Washington, DC	4:30:00 PM
2/8/2016	Hampton	Washington, DC	8:00:00 PM
2/13/2016	Coppin State	Baltimore, MD	4:00:00 PM
2/15/2016	Maryland Eastern Shore	Washington, DC	7:00:00 PM
2/20/2016	Savannah State	Washington, DC	4:00:00 PM
2/22/2016	South Carolina State	Washington, DC	7:00:00 PM
2/27/2016	Hampton	Hampton, VA	7:00:00 PM
3/1/2016	Norfolk State	Norfolk, VA	8:00:00 PM
3/7/2016	MEAC Tournament	Norfolk, VA	TBA

COURTESY HOWARD UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Savannah State Tigers Enthusiastic After First Scrimmage

SAVANNAH, Georgia -- There were two things very evident as the Savannah State University football team played its first limited intra-squad scrimmage at Savannah's Memorial Stadium early Saturday morning. The first thing noticeable was the enthusiasm from coaches and players, and the second could be summed up in the words of Tiger's head coach Earnest Wilson, III, …"We're big."

The Tigers entertained family, friends and community onlookers with the offense being led by quarterbacks' senior Ker-Sean Wilson and freshman David Handler. Between them, they ran over 100 plays on natural grass, rather than the artificial turf at Ted Wright Stadium, their home field.

Handler, a 6-5 player from Culver City, California, took most of the "reps", while Wilson took the rest. Only two of the SSU quarterbacks participated in the game, along with a full crew of NCAA officials, who at game's conclusion went over the new rules for the 2015 season.

"We're moving forward and need a lot of repetitions for all of the young players that will be playing Division I football for the first time," said Wilson. "We have over 40 freshmen, 29 sophomores and only seven seniors on the team this year. We have a lot of teaching to do," Wilson added.

The Tigers play a 10-game schedule with two of the teams being Bowl Championship Series (BCS) teams with the rest being from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) of which the Tigers are members.

"We don't want to be a team from Savannah that lies down and dies," said Wilson. "We're selling this program as a team that has gone from mostly 5-10 players to a lot of guys standing 6-4 or 6-5."

Handler is a tall rangy thrower with precise accuracy. He had a good day throwing as he tossed four touchdowns to various players. When asked if he (Wilson) had decided on a starter, Wilson said there was no timeline in his decision on who would open the season at that position.

The Tigers head into this season wearing t-shirts under their uniform with a simple phrase stating that to be successful, "Refuse To Be Overshadowed."

Junior running back Richard Williams seems to be the leading candidate at his position for the offense. The second-year back transferred to SSU from the University of Iowa last year via Memphis, Tennessee, where he was one of the best running backs coming out of high school in the nation.

On defense, Coach Anthony Pierce, the linebackers coach was animated with the success of his players as they kept the running backs in check. Defensive back coach Cordell Taylor stayed in the ear of the defensive backs, who consistently broke off the completion route of the offensive receivers. Defensive coordinator Mike Wallace stayed focused on the overall effort of the entire defense and seemed content with the progress of the defense, thus far.

SSU opens the season on September 5 at Colorado State University on the road in Fort Collins, Colorado. Their second BCS game will be two weeks later when they travel to Akron, Ohio to take on the University of Akron on September 19 in Ohio. Their first MEAC conference game will be the following week in Daytona Beach with Bethune-Cookman being the opponent. The first home game is October 3 against Florida A&M University.

COURTESY SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

UAPB offense scores five TDs in first preseason scrimmage

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PINE BLUFF, Arkansas -- The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Football Team held their first scrimmage of preseason camp with Golden Lion offense scoring five TDs in the scrimmage.

The UAPB offense set the tone early as they scored on the very first play of the scrimmage on a 60-yard TD pass to Kyle Coleman from Marcus Terrell.

Terrell recorded a couple of big scampers for the Golden Lions offense as he rushed 35 yards on one carry and 20 another.

The UAPB offense scored their second TD of the scrimmage on a 15-yard TD pass to Rodney Stafford from Nolen Sorensen.

Both running backs Jamal Gladden and KeShawn Williams punched it into the end zone for the Golden Lion offense with Gladden scoring from six yards out and Williams from 30-yards out.

The tandem of Brandon Duncan and Cameron Williams scored the final TD of the scrimmage with an 84-yad TD pass to Williams from Duncan.

UAPB will open their 2015 campaign against South Carolina State in their 11th annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge present by Disney in Orlando, Fla., on Sunday, Sept. 6 at Florida Citrus Bowl in a 3:30 p.m. EST start broadcasted live on ESPN. For more information contact the UAPB Ticket Office at 870.575.8601.



COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PINE BLUFF SPORTS INFORMATION

Statue to Honor TSU Coach Temple to be Unveiled Aug. 28

Coach Edward Stanley Temple
Courtesy: TSU Athletics 

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- A 15-year effort to memorialize Ed Temple will conclude Aug. 28 when a statue of the legendary Tennessee State University track and field coach is dedicated near the right field entrance to First Tennessee Park.

The 9-foot statue on a 13,000-ton granite base is the product of a fundraising effort that drew contributions from 114 people, including more than 20 of Temple’s Tigerbelles. Donations ranged from $15 to $10,000.

Temple was the women’s track coach at Tennessee State University from 1953 to 1994, coach of the U.S. women’s Olympic track team in 1960 and 1964, and assistant coach in the U.S. women’s Olympic track team in 1980.

“The Coach Temple Statue Committee is grateful to those who have given. Each is now part of Nashville’s history and a part of Temple’s team,” committee member Bo Roberts said in a release. “The Coach’s impact on Nashville will forever be immortalized by this statue. We hope locals and visitors will come to this statue to learn about and honor one of the city’s most important citizens.”

The statue unveiling ceremony will take place 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 28 and will feature local politicians and dignitaries. The public is invited to attend.

The Nashville Sports Authority will own the statue site.

“Coach Ed Temple is one of the most impressive leaders in the history of sports. With strength and compassion, he led his Tigerbelles to unparalleled achievements on and off the track,” Mayor Karl Dean said. “His contributions to our city are immeasurable, and he is most deserving of this honor.”

Courtesy Nashville Post/David Boclair
COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Riley named Coppin State M&W tennis coach

COACH WILL RILEY
COURTESY: COPPIN STATE ATHLETICS

BALTIMORE, Maryland – Coppin State has named Will Riley as its men's and women's tennis coach.

Riley, who believes in academics, student-athlete development, and achievement on and off the tennis courts, comes to Coppin State after a successful 23-year stint at Stillman College in Tuscaloosa (Alabama).

Riley amassed a combined 818-316 record along with five conference championships during his tenure as head coach of both the Stillman men's and women's tennis teams. He was also named the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Coach of the Year on five separate occasions.

This past spring, Riley guided the Stillman women to its third consecutive SIAC title and a berth in the NCAA Division II tournament. The Lady Tigers finished with a 24-2 overall record. Meanwhile, the Stillman men were conference championship runner-ups. More impressive is that Stillman had 10 student-athletes named to the SIAC All-Academic team in 2015.

"My goal has been to be a head coach at the Division I level," Riley said. "I am grateful for Coppin State for giving me the opportunity to lead its tennis program. One thing about me is I always stressed academics to my players. Seeing them graduate meant more to me than any accomplishments they had while playing tennis. Our program has produced three of the last six valedictorians at Stillman, and I look to carry that same focus to Coppin State."

Riley will have some talented players to work with once he gets settled.

On the men's side, the Eagles return sophomore Gavin Lewis, who led the team with four singles victories. The Coppin State men qualified for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament for the fourth straight season. Meanwhile, on the women's side, the Lady Eagles return seniors Carentxa Goede, Ashley Milo and Miranda Taylor.

A 1993 Stillman graduate and native of Sallis (Mississippi), Riley played tennis at his alma mater where he was the 1992 and 1993 Player of the Year.

He is also an active member of the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and still plays competitive tennis with several different leagues.

Riley was named Coach of the Year at Stillman in the 2003-2004 season and SIAC Coach of the Year in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. He has worked with several disadvantage groups, started a tennis camp at Stillman and provided free lessons to students and adults in the west Alabama community.

"My primary goal in coaching is to provide the kind of environment where players grow as people and learn life skills, not just sport skills," Riley said. "Coaching is a wonderful opportunity to have a positive influence on the lives of an outstanding group of individuals. To me, a positive influence means enhancing self-concept and building character, which includes an array of positive traits that I hope every tennis player takes into the world upon graduation."

Riley is married to Sabrina. He has four sons: Oliver (28), Brandon (24), Torrian (21), Kendrick (18) and one daughter Finesse (19).

By Rob Knox
COURTESY COPPIN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Wiley assistant coach Biggs taking over as interim baseball coach

WILEY, Texas -- Wiley College Unit of Athletics has announced that assistant coach Kendrick Biggs will take over as interim head baseball coach at Wiley College.

Biggs, a 1993 Marshall High School graduate and a 1999 Wiley College graduate, replaces Ryan Goodwin. Biggs spent the last two seasons as an assistant baseball coach for the Wiley Wildcats.

"It's exciting," Biggs said. "It's a dream come true. I've coached a lot of baseball but I've never been the head coach at the college level. Being here two years under Ryan and being able to take over and have a rapport with a lot of the guys ­- It feels kind of good."

Returning to coach under Biggs is assistant coach Corben Green. Biggs has named Quintavious Drains pitching coach. Carlos Jimenez, who played last year will work as a student coach.

Before joining Wiley, Biggs coached several teams in the Marshall area including Marshall Junior High, an 8-year-old traveling team the Texas Drillers, the Marshall Longhorns, East Texas Sports and the Marshall Major All-Stars. In 2012, Biggs lead the Marshall Major All-Stars to the Texas Dixie High School State Championship and a third-place finish in the World Series in Guntersville, Alabama.

Biggs has been married to LeKeitha for 21 years and they have three children: Keith Biggs 20, Christian Biggs 15 and Kerrigan Biggs 10.

COURTESY WILEY COLLEGE WILDCATS SPORTS INFORMATION

Lincoln Countdown to Kickoff: Day 3 - Fall Camp Preview

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri -- The 2015 Lincoln football season officially began on Friday (Aug. 15), as players reported to campus for the start of training camp.

It was a busy first day for the Blue Tigers, as players spent most of the day preparing for the start of another season. The day began with a compliance seminar, as Lincoln Athletic Director Betty Kemna went over the NCAA rulebook. Head strength & conditioning coach Heinrich Thomas went over the workout schedule for the fall while head athletic trainer Austin Matlock went over the training procedures. The players also began getting their paperwork in order for the weekend of Nov. 1, when Lincoln flies to Ellensburg, Wash. to play Central Washington.

After a brief break for lunch, the Blue Tigers joined other Lincoln students for orientation on top of the hill. The new players spent the day getting acquainted with the campus while the returners got ready to start another academic semester.

The players then reported for physicals and had their pictures taken before leaving for a cookout at Jefferson City's McClung Park. The Blue Tiger Quarterback Club helped prepare the first team meal of the season, ensuring all the players were well-fed before Saturday's (Aug. 16) first practice. The coaching staff, led by head coach Mike Jones, went over the practice schedule and team rules to get the athletes ready for the season.

The Blue Tigers will play 11 games this year, beginning on Sept. 6 with The Missouri Classic, a game against Langston that will be played at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Lincoln will then host Southwest Baptist in the first Great Lakes Valley Conference contest for both teams, as each is joining the GLVC this year as football-only members. It will be the first of five-straight conference games, as LU hosts Quincy (Sept. 20) and St. Joseph's (Oct. 11) while traveling to Truman State (Sept. 27) and William Jewell (Oct. 4). For Homecoming, Lincoln hosts Texas College on Oct. 18. The Blue Tigers then play Indianapolis (Oct. 25) before closing its non-conference slate with the Washington trip. Lincoln wraps up the season with a Senior Day home game against McKendree (Nov. 8) and a road trip to Missouri S&T (Nov. 15).

Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY BLUE TIGERS ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Norfolk State Women's Basketball Program Announces New Assistant Lou Hamilton

NORFOLK, Virginia -- Norfolk State women's basketball head coach Debra Clark announced Friday the hiring of Lou Hamilton as the Spartans' new assistant coach. Hamilton will work the Spartans' post players.

Hamilton replaces Patrena Trice-Hill, who accepted a similar position at Columbia University.

"I'm very excited about the addition of coach Hamilton to our staff," Clark said. "Coach Hamilton has a passion for and history of post player development. We're eager to get him in the gym to improve our players' individual skills, which will in turn improve our overall team. Coach Hamilton will also assist in recruiting top student-athletes who will enhance the women's basketball program at NSU."

Hamilton, who most recently was the recruiting coordinator and assistant coach in charge of post players at Delaware State, has five years of experience coaching at Division I HBCUs. He has also served stints at Grambling State University of the Southwestern Athletic Conference and North Carolina A&T of the MEAC.

Last season, Hamilton helped mentor a pair of double-digit scorers at DSU. Post player Tierra Hawkins earned All-MEAC first-team honors while ranking sixth in the MEAC in scoring (16.1 points per game), while frontcourt teammate Amber Bogard averaged 13.4 points per game. Thanks in part to the efforts of those two players, DSU led the MEAC in field goal percentage.

A former high school and AAU coach, Hamilton broke into the collegiate ranks on Patricia Cage-Bibbs' staff at North Carolina A&T in 2010. Hamilton spent two seasons on the Lady Aggies' bench, helping them compiled a 19-13 MEAC record. He served as recruiting coordinator and worked primarily with N.C. A&T's post players. While in Greensboro, Hamilton helped recruit several standout players, including Eboni Ross, who went onto win the MEAC Rookie of the Year Award in 2012-13. Ross was one of two future MEAC All-Rookie Team players recruited by Hamilton to North Carolina A&T.

Following the 2011-12 season, Hamilton moved along with Cage-Bibbs to Grambling State. After again serving as her recruiting coordinator and assistant in charge of post players in 2012-13, Hamilton was interim head coach for GSU in 2013-14 with Cage-Bibbs sidelined for health reasons. Grambling improved from ninth place in the SWAC standings in 2012-13 to seventh the following season, including a first-round SWAC Tournament victory.

Also while at Grambling, Hamilton helped the Lady Tigers sign a pair of Parade All-American high school performers.

Hamilton, a native of Greenville, S.C., was a three-sport athlete in high school. He began his collegiate career as a football student-athlete at Charleston Southern before transferring to Fayetteville State University to finish his collegiate career. Hamilton earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from Fayetteville State in 1995.

Hamilton is the father of two sons, Jamir Dogan-Hamilton (15) and Jeremiah Dogan (10). Hamilton and his wife, Latrondra, reside in Greensboro, N.C.

Matt Michalec, Asst. AD/Communications
COURTESY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS

NCCU Volleyball Scrimmage Video Highlights

DURHAM, North Carolina -- North Carolina Central University's women's volleyball team held a scrimmage at the Leroy T. Walker Complex on Saturday, Aug. 15. The NCCU Sports Network presents highlights and interviews with head coach Nicki Holmes and student-athlete Kelly Rossip about preparations for the new season.




COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Norfolk State Defense Starts Fast, Offense Finishes Strong

NORFOLK, Virginia -- In a football scrimmage that featured two contrasting halves, the Norfolk State defense flexed its muscle early, only to see the offense score five touchdowns in the second half on Saturday at Dick Price Stadium.

The 80-play scrimmage – the Spartans' first of preseason camp – included a pair of touchdown passes from junior quarterback Greg Hankerson Jr. and two touchdown runs by freshman Quintreil Chung. Saturday's session came eight days into camp and was the first of three intrasquad scrimmages before the Spartans open the season at Rutgers on Sept. 5.

The Spartans' defense – which head coach Latrell Scott described as being slightly ahead of the offense to begin camp – held the Spartan offense off the board for the first half of the scrimmage. Highlights for the defense included an interception by senior cornerback D'Metrius Williams and a two-drive span that included sacks by linebackers Jay Anderson and Raynard Revels and another by nose guard Shawn Fauntleroy Jr.

"We had a lot of penalties early that slowed our offense down. We can't put ourselves in 1st-and-20, 2nd-and-20 situations," Scott said. "Our defense made some big plays early, too, but our offense bounced back nicely."

The offense began to assert itself after Revels' sack forced a change of possession. Hankerson found Sangster for a 10-yard gain on 3rd-and-9. Three plays later, on 3rd-and-short, Hankerson hit senior Isaac White for a 21-yard touchdown pass.

That started a streak of four straight drives which ended in touchdowns. Chung capped the next possession with a 5-yard TD run and sophomore Shakeem Copeland had a 2-yard plunge on the ensuing march.

Hankerson got into the action again when he lofted an 18-yard TD pass to Sangster over the defense. Sangster tip-toed along the sideline and kept possession as he fell to the ground while being closely covered.

Chung capped the scrimmage a short while later with a 1-yard TD run in goal-to-go situations. He led all rushers with 32 yards, while Copeland had 22. Hankerson passed for 150 yards. Sangster caught four passes for 51 yards, while White had three grabs for 45 yards.

The Spartans return to their preseason practice schedule on Monday. Their second scrimmage is slated for a 3 p.m. start next Saturday at Dick Price Stadium.



Matt Michalec, Asst. AD/Communications
COURTESY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS