100 Black Men of Atlanta Teams Up With ESPN to Highlight the Excitement of HBCU Football With the New Celebration Bowl

The Celebration Bowl will pit champions from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) against the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Ga.

ATLANTA, Georgia --  The 100 Black Men of Atlanta has teamed up with ESPN to promote a new, best-in-class Historically Black College and University (HBCU) football postseason bowl game.

The Celebration Bowl, a championship style game, will pit the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) champion against the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) champion on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Ga. The inaugural game will kick off at noon ET and be televised nationally on ABC.  The game will be the first bowl game of the 2015-16 bowl season.

“We are excited about our multi-year relationship with ESPN,” said 100 Black Men of Atlanta Chairman Bill Lamar, who added that the 100 will forego the 2015 Atlanta Football Classic. “We see a new horizon in the world of HBCU football and look forward to beginning a new tradition with ESPN.  Our organization is committed to mentoring and educating our black youth and this bowl game gives us yet another opportunity to innovate in the arena of HBCU sports while supporting our community.”

As it did with the Atlanta Football Classic for almost three decades, the 100 will manage the game’s ancillary events, which will include a Youth Symposium, Robotics Showcase, College Fair, Job Fair and Fan Experience.

Added Lamar: “Fans can expect a highly competitive football game supported by our exciting Fan Experience events.”

“We are excited to work with the 100 Black Men of Atlanta in building a quality postseason experience for not only the MEAC and SWAC but for the Atlanta community,” said Pete Derzis, senior vice president, ESPN Events. “The Celebration Bowl will build on the traditions and legacy of black college football, and we hope that fans across the country will take advantage of this experience.”

Owned and operated by ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, the Celebration Bowl will provide fans a first-class bowl experience while continuing to celebrate the legacy, values and traditions of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

For more information about the Celebration Bowl, visit www.TheCelebrationBowl.com and follow on Twitter and Facebook

About the 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc.
The mission of 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc. is to provide support and improve the quality of life for African Americans, and youth in particular, in the Atlanta Community. Over 200 committed and engaged members give their time, talent and money to help youth overcome obstacles every day.
For more information about the 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc., go to www.100blackmen.org.



ESPN Events

​ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a large portfolio of collegiate sporting events worldwide. The roster includes three Labor Day weekend college football games; 13 college bowl games, 10 college basketball events and two college award shows, which accounts for approximately 250-plus hours of programming, reaches almost 64 million viewers and attracts over 700,000 attendees each year. With satellite offices in Boca Raton, Boise, Birmingham, Dallas-Fort Worth, Albuquerque, St. Petersburg and Las Vegas, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans.

Culver column: Are the Florida A&M Rattlers ready?

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Is Florida A&M ready for the 2015 football season?

I actually hear that question quite a bit from readers, folks on social media and random passersby. Usually they’re people in orange and green. They’re the fans who know I see practices and talk with head coach Alex Wood on a regular basis.

“How them Rattlers lookin’?”

“Is the team going to be ready for Sept. 5?”

“What do you think of the coaches?”

The 2015 Rattlers — even though many of the same players are on the team — will be completely different from what fans saw in 2014. The intensity of the coaches has affected the majority of the players, and it’s obvious the team is playing to erase whatever memories remain from last season.

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Alcorn State Final Scrimmage Ends Fall Camp

LORMAN, Mississippi -- Head Coach Jay Hopson recaps final scrimmage of fall camp. Defensive Coordinator Tony Pecoraro and Offensive Coordinator Fred Kaiss discusses unit performance during their scrimmage under the lights.



COURTESY ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Alabama A&M Bulldogs name football captains

NORMAL, Alabama – A pair of seniors, a junior and a sophomore have been named team captains for the Alabama A&M football team.

The captains were selected in a vote of their teammates.

Seniors Brandon Eldemire and Anthony Lanier, junior Tevin McKenzie and redshirt sophomore Bryan Brower will represent the Bulldogs during the pre-game coin flips and other duties on and off the field this season.

For Brower, a 5-10, 220-pound linebacker, it is a repeat honor – he was a team captain last season. The graduate of Stanhope Elmore High School near Montgomery was the team's leading tackler in 2014 with 46 solo tackles and 37 assists.

Lanier, 6-6, 265 pounds, is a first-team all-Southwestern Athletic Conference defensive lineman. The Savannah, Ga., product graduated from H.V Jenkins High School. He was second in tackles with 37 solo and 17 assists. Lanier had 18 tackles for loss for minus-74 yards, broke up four passes, forced two fumbles and blocked a kick.

Eldemire, at 5-10, 180 pounds, was second on the team in rushing last year with 530 yards – including a team-longest 63-yard run - and six touchdowns. He hails from Miami, Fla., and is a graduate of Dr. Krop Senior High School.

McKenzie, a 5-10, 190-pound wide receiver, had nearly 400 yards receiving with two touchdowns and another 226 yards in kickoff returns last year. He is a graduate of Murphy High School in Mobile.

The Bulldogs open the 2015 season on Sept. 5 at the University of Cincinnati. The game will be carried on ESPN3 with a 6 p.m. (Central Time) kickoff.

COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

NCAA adds TSU as Host Institution for 2016 Men’s Final Four

HOUSTON, Texas -- The NCAA Men's Basketball Committee has approved the addition of Texas Southern University as a host institution for the 2016 Men's Final Four, according to an announcement today from the Houston Local Organizing Committee (HLOC).

Along with the University of Houston and Rice University, Texas Southern will be a key component in planning, organizing and executing the city-wide event to be held April 1-4, 2016.

This marks the first time in the history of the Final Four that three institutions have collaborated to host the NCAA's largest championship.

"Texas Southern continues to be an important institution in our city and our region and we felt like it only made sense to add them as a host along with University of Houston and Rice," said Houston Local Organizing Committee Chair, Tony Chase. "In a city this size and this diverse in its population and students, it will take all the qualified resources we have to execute at the level we are planning. Texas Southern President Dr. John Rudley and Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Charles McClelland have shown a great interest in this event and we know they will be bring great resources and energy to help deliver the best Final Four ever."

"We are thrilled to have Texas Southern join University of Houston and Rice as tri-hosts for the next Final Four," said NCAA vice president of men's basketball, Dan Gavitt. "Texas Southern is a terrific school with nearly 90 years of history of providing a quality education to its students. Dr. Rudley and his leadership team will be a tremendous asset to the NCAA and the city of Houston as we work together to stage one of America's greatest sporting events."

"With our basketball programs having participated in the last two NCAA men's basketball championships, we feel like we understand this tournament and can help deliver a great experience for the student-athletes who will travel here," said Texas Southern President John Rudley." "We are thrilled to have been asked by the NCAA Men's Basketball Committee and the HLOC to participate as a host institution."

COURTESY TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Prairie View A&M Football 2K15 Day 21

COURTESY PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

ASU Jenkins Discusses Tuskegee Announcement

MONTGOMERY, Alabama --  Alabama State University head football coach Brian Jenkins held his weekly press conference today (Wednesday) and most of the questions from the local media were in connection with the announcement earlier in the day of the ASU-Tuskegee football game beginning play again in 2017.

"It's really exciting," Jenkins said.  "It's something me and Athletic Director (Melvin) Hines have been discussing for a long time and I know he has been working on it behind the scenes very hard and has been very diligent in getting it done.  I was very excited to see that we got the deal done and look forward to renewing this great rivalry."

The Hornets and Tigers will face each other on Sept. 2, 2017, in the season opener for both teams. The teams last played in the opening of ASU Stadium before a sellout crowd on Nov. 22, 2012, in the 89^th Turkey Day Classic.

"I am pleased to announce the renewal of our football rivalry with Tuskegee," Alabama State University President Dr. Gwendolyn E. Boyd said. "This contest dates back to 1924 and has provided wonderful opportunities for fans on both sides to enjoy a longstanding tradition of spirited competition, as well as the reunions of families and friends. We look forward to welcoming the Tigers back to The ASU Stadium in 2017."

The two teams will also play on Sept. 1, 2018, Sept. 7, 2019, and Sept. 5, 2020, with all games played at The ASU Stadium.

Jenkins is not the only one that is very excited about the rivalry kicking off again, as he has had many of the Hornet faithful approach him to let him know about their excitement even though he knows he can't think about those future games just yet.

"I've had to stay away from that a little bit," Jenkins said.  "I don't want to lose focus on a very important opponent we have coming up in Tennessee State.  They are a team that needs all of our focus."

"I have talked to them (fans) briefly about it, because the rivalry is a great rivalry and it has had some great moments in the past and we can have some great moments in the future."

Even with most of the talk on today's Tuskegee announcement, the Hornets are only 11 days away from their season-opener against Tennessee State in the John Merritt Classic in Nashville.

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Grambling looks for continued improvement

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- After making strides last year, the Grambling State Tigers aim to continue their progress in year two under Head Coach Broderick Fobbs.

Taking over at his alma mater, Fobbs inherited a team coming off of unprecedented one-victory campaigns. Regrouping from an 0-3 start, the G-Men rattled off seven straight victories en route to a 7-5, 7-2 finish.

GSU's six-victory improvement did not go unnoticed. Edging out Southern by two points, the Tigers were picked to win the SWAC West in the conference's preseason media poll.

Riding the arm of Johnathan Williams, the Tigers ranked 12th nationally while leading the SWAC in passing with 277.2 yards per game.

GSU was fourth in the league in scoring with 32.2 points per game and sixth in total offense with 403.9 ypg.

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Southern University QB Austin Howard ready to lead the Jaguars

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Southern University quarterback Austin Howard didn't seem overwhelmed when he took the field during the Jaguars' season opener against the University of Louisiana-Lafayette last season. He certainly didn't look like a true freshman during the game against the best opponent the Jaguars played in 2014.

Poised was the best way to describe him.

The Ragin' Cajuns easily defeated the Jaguars that night, 45-6. But it looked as though Southern had another West St. John High quarterback to take the helm and lead them effectively. Former West St. John quarterback Dray Joseph completed his eligibility at Southern in 2013, leading the Jaguars to the SWAC title.

Howard completed 18 of 31 passes against the Cajuns for 181 yards and a touchdown. And it wasn't just in relief.

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SCSU's Kollock looking forward to leading offense

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina --  ADRIAN KOLLOCK JR. (r-Jr., Quarterback, 6-2, 202, Spartanburg) — Returned as the top signal caller to lead the Bulldog offense to another Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championship in 2015. Had a productive sophomore season in leading S.C. State to share of the conference championship.

• LAST SEASON: Played in 11 games in 2014 passing for over 1,244 yards (54.5 percent) on 96-176-7 and seven touchdowns and rushed for 320 yards on 86 carries and six touchdowns during the season.

• KOLLOCK JR. OUTLOOK ON THE SEASON: “I think this season we will have a ...

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FAMU defense is ready to test its mettle

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- After weeks of hitting players wearing Orange and Green, FAMU’s defense is ready to hit someone – anyone – in a different jersey.

Senior linebacker Akil Blount said the defense is anxious for its first test against South Florida on Sept. 5. He said the group isn’t nervous, it’s just ready to show the results of a rigorous offseason schedule.

“We’re just focused on alignment, assignment and execution,” Blount said. “We have some pretty good depth at linebacker. We’re just really excited to go out and play football on Sept. 5”
Blount smiled and added, “We’re just anxious to get after USF and see a different color jersey.”

He’s not alone. Plenty of FAMU’s defensive starters are ready to stop hitting their teammates. Defensive tackle Michael Lovejoy said players have adjusted to the new scheme implemented by defensive coordinator Theo Lemon, and now they’re just waiting to get after an opponent.

Players started class Monday and ended fall camp on Saturday.

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Arizona Cardinals’ Rodney Gunter (DSU) gets his chance

PHOENIX, Arizona -- As a gesture of building camaraderie, cornerback Patrick Peterson bought a bunch of hands-free scooters for the Cardinals' defensive backs this year. They're like mini Segways you just step on and zip around.

The other day at training camp, Jerraud Powers found Rodney Gunter, the team's hulking 6-foot-5, 305-pound rookie defensive lineman, standing on Powers' scooter in a hallway.

"I just acted like it wasn't even mine," Powers said. "I just let him have it."



Why would a seven-year pro shy away from a newbie out of Delaware State who didn't even start playing football until his senior year in high school?

"He's one of those country guys you wouldn't want to fight," Powers said bluntly. "He's quiet, he doesn't say much, but he walks around here and he has that look."

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Commentary: Tough SWAC start awaits Jenkins, ASU

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Brian Jenkins' introduction to the SWAC could be a cruel one.

After playing Tennessee State in the season opener Sept. 6 in Nashville, Alabama State opens conference play against defending league champion Alcorn State and preseason SWAC West favorite Grambling in consecutive weeks.

The biggest saving grace for the Hornets is they play both teams at home. That may not matter, but it surely can't hurt.

The Braves are more than just the defending league champs and SWAC East favorite. They have the most dynamic player in the league in John Gibbs Jr. The 2014 SWAC co-offensive player of the year is 6 feet, 6 inches tall, 220 pounds and can dazzle with his arm and legs.

Last season, Gibbs threw for 2,482 yards and 21 touchdowns on 169-of-294 passing and ran for 1,006 yards and 12 touchdowns to lead an offense that ranked second in the FCS in scoring (44 ppg.). Eastern Washington only averaged 0.1 points more.

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XU Rush, Nuggets start XC season Friday at City Park

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana will begin the 2015 cross country season Friday in its Big Easy Opener at City Park.
    
The women's two-mile race will start at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men's 5,000-meter race at 6. The start and finish will be near the intersection of Wisner Boulevard and Harrison Avenue. The course is approximately three miles from the XU campus.
    
Joseph Moses, in his 11th year as head coach, has five returning all-conference runners and several talented newcomers on his teams.
    
"We have a good nucleus of experienced runners," Moses said. "Our newcomers will be fine when they make the adjustment to training and competing at the college level. That will happen sooner than later."    



Back for the Gold Rush are senior Brent Kitto and junior Christopher August, both two-time All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference runners. Both have a pair of top-5 finishes in the GCAC meet, with August finishing second a year ago. A third returning letterman is sophomore Xaiver Latting.

The Gold Nuggets' returnees are Zahri Jackson — the GCAC individual champion in 2011 and 2012 — and three-time All-GCAC runners Briana Simms and Hannah Finnegan, who placed second at conference in 2014. Jackson is a fifth-year senior who was hampered by injuries the past two years.
    
The XU men's newcomers are freshmen Felipe Perrier and Darrick Williams. There are three freshmen on the women's team — Chinyere Jones, Dionysia Love and Brianna Pace — and track letterwomen Clarke Allen and Kailey Williams, competing for XU in the fall for the first time, give the Gold Nuggets additional depth.
    
"We lost some all-time greats like Kwame Jackson and Catherine Fakler to graduation, but our runners this year are focused on making a name for themselves and adding to our tradition," Moses said.

 Kwame Jackson, the older brother of Zahri, is the only GCAC runner to win three individual conference championships in cross country. He set XU records in 2014 for four miles (21 minutes, 21.7 seconds) and 5,000 meters (15:30.90). Fakler was the GCAC individual champion in 2013 and was first-team Capital One Academic All-America® as a senior. Fakler holds XU records for 6,000 meters (24:07.38), 5,000 meters (18:08.32), 4,000 meters (15:34) and two miles (12:42.18).
    
The Big Easy Opener is the first of five regular-season meets for Xavier. The conference home for the Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets this year is the Red River Athletic, and Xavier will compete Nov. 6 in San Antonio, Texas, for honors in that league and automatic berths to the NAIA National Championships. The GCAC, Xavier's home since 1981, will not qualify for automatic bids to nationals in cross country this year and will not conduct a conference meet.
    
Both XU teams were GCAC champions each of the past nine seasons.
    
"We look forward to competing in the Red River and seeing how we stack up against those teams," Moses said.


Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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2015 Toyota SWAC Football Championship Tickets On Sale Now

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Tickets are now on sale for the 2015 Toyota SWAC Football Championship in Houston, Texas at NRG Stadium Saturday, December 5.  Tickets range from $25-$65 and are available online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling (800) 745-3000. 

The 2015 season kicks off in September, and the winner of the East and West Divisions will meet in the SWAC Football Championship Game.  The victor will earn the conference title and a chance to play in the all new Celebration Bowl.

Last season, Alcorn State and Southern played in front of a Championship crowd of 39,583 which was fifth best out of eight football FBS and FCS conference championship games.

Special events around the football championship weekend will kick off with the SWAC Hall of Fame Reception on Thursday, Dec. 3 at the Westin Galleria Hotel.  In addition, a Saturday postgame concert along with a full schedule of events will be available this fall. 

About SWAC
Founded in 1920, the Southwestern Athletic Conference - made up of historically black colleges and universities - and its members are committed to the philosophy of maintaining intercollegiate athletics as an integral part of the overall educational program. The conference believes in and subscribes to the fundamental principles of amateurism, institutional control, sound academic standards, financial aid, recruiting, and ethical conduct that govern intercollegiate athletics, and the enforcement of rules and regulations as adopted by the NCAA. Sponsoring 18 sports, the SWAC ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of alumni playing with professional sports teams- particularly in football.

The 2015 Championship is also inconjunction with the SWAC's annual Hall of Fame ceremony. The JW Marriott in Houston, Texas will host this year's inductees. For more information about SWAC, visit www.swac.org.

COURTESY SWAC MEDIA 

Commentary: SWAC change helps ASU renew Tuskegee rivalry

COURTESY ASU HORNETS ATHLETICS

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- The announcement didn't send shockwaves throughout college football earlier this spring, but it changed the scheduling game for SWAC teams.

Back in May, the conference had its spring meetings in New Orleans and came out of it with a decision to reduce its conference games from nine to seven. As a result, its 10 schools can play up to five non-conference games starting in 2017.

Alabama State is making the most of it.

The Hornets have announced three schools for its future schedules with the latest being the big one -- Tuskegee. The schools agreed to a four-year deal starting in 2017 with a season opener on Sept. 2 and ending in 2020. All the games will be played in early September at ASU Stadium.

It's not the Turkey Day Classic, but it's what fans from both sides want to see and a payday for both. The games will be sure a sellout at ASU Stadium as was the case when Tuskegee played there in 2012 in the first-ever game at ASU's new stadium.


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B-CU vs. Grambling Football Kickoff Time Change

GRAMBLING, Louisiana  – Athletic Officials at Grambling State University and Bethune-Cookman University have announced a change in the kickoff time of the their football game on Saturday September 12, at Eddie G. Robinson, Sr. Memorial Stadium on the campus of Grambling State University. The kickoff time is now 6 p.m. CST, which was moved back two hours from the original kickoff time of 4 p.m. CST.

Lynn W. Thompson, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics at Bethune-Cookman, and Interim Athletic Director Obadiah Simmons at Grambling mutually agreed that a later start-time is advantageous for the health, safety and well-being of all parties involved.

“Temperatures during early September in North Central Louisiana are extremely brutal, and we want to ensure the comfort and safety of all players, coaching and support staffs, game officials and fans while attending this football game,” notes Simmons.

“The safety of the student-athletes and fans is the most important thing,” according to Thompson. “Being in Florida, we certainly understand extreme heat in the southeast, and we share the concern of Grambling and their athletic officials when it comes to the safety and well-being of the student-athletes and fans in extreme temperatures during this time of year.”

Grambling Head Coach Broderick Fobbs states, “While we’re excited about playing the game, there’s always a conscientious effort to minimize and/or eliminate health hazards in every contest particularly in temperate climates.  The safety and well-being of all student-athletes in every contest is paramount.”

“A later start-time is certainly in the best interest of everyone,” states Bethune-Cookman Head Football Coach Terry Sims. “The number of fatalities resulting from exposure to extreme heat continues unfortunately to plague college football nationwide. Every precaution that can be taken to reduce the potential for these occurrences should be exercised. Moving the kickoff time back is certainly a safety measure in the right direction.”

Fans are also encouraged to dress accordingly and consume plenty of fluids to maintain their electrolyte balance to offset any ill effects of heat-related illnesses.

For the latest information on the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, follow us on Twitter, @BCUGridIron. For the most accurate and up to date information delivered to your phone, download the official Bethune-Cookman Wildcats app for your Droid or iPhone.

COURTESY BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

from The Editor Dwight Floyd: The Day FAMU Beat #2 Nebraska

DWIGHT FLOYD
the EDITOR

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Forever etched in the minds of FAMU Rattler faithful is the football win in 1979 against the Miami Hurricanes. There is another win in FAMU lore though that may be greater. It’s been quite a few years since, but Nebraska’s coach would relish the chance at revenge. I think FAMU should give it to him, but only if he would agree to bring his team to Tallahassee to play in the Alfred Lawson Teaching Gymnasium.

At the time that the FAMU ladies won the Nebraska tournament back in 2004, he was angry and embarrassed though he only made excuses for the loss rather than give FAMU the credit deserved. For Nebraska it was the first loss at home to an unranked team since 1986 and the first to an unranked non-conference opponent since 1996. No other team would beat the Cornhuskers on their home court until 2009 when UCLA won in five sets.

You don’t beat Nebraska in their gym. They were ranked the second best team in the country. In fact, they went on to become ranked number one in the country not losing another game before falling to two-time defending champion USC in the NCAA regionals.  That FAMU beat Nebraska was no fluke.

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Florida Memorial Men's Soccer Upsets #6 Ranked Mobile

MOBILE, Alabama -- Florida Memorial men's soccer pulled off a stunning 2-1 upset over Sixth- ranked University of Mobile on Friday evening at "The Jungle "on the campus of the  University of Mobile. Florida Memorial used a balanced offensive attack in the second half to steal the win. Florida Memorial improved to 1-0 overall, while ending a two-game losing streak against University of Mobile.

Florida Memorial started the match with nine shots in the first half, but Mobile drew first blood in the 57th minute with a score from Noel Johnson. The second half went back and forth until Florida Memorial's Andres Pratto got the Lions on the board in the 69 minute of the match to tie the game up at 1-1. Florida Memorial's Facundo Bouciguez caught Mobile's defense napping when he ripped a shot top shelf from about 35 yards out and helped the Lions run away with the victory.



Florida Memorial Lions finished with an 18-13 edge in shots, with nine shots in each period and a 6-2 edge in shots on frame in the period.

Pablo Terminiello played the full 90 minutes as goalie for the lions while picking up five saves. Gibson played goalie for Mobile's and picked up eight saves.

The Lions return to action on Sunday (Aug, 23) when they travel to Middle Georgia State University at 3 p.m.

BOX SCORE

COURTESY FLORIDA MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

NCAA declares SSU women's basketball team eligible for postseason

SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY TIGERS ATHLETICS

SAVANNAH, Georgia -- Savannah State University head women’s basketball coach Cedric Baker received some good news Monday when the NCAA told him that the team is no longer subject to Academic Progress Report (APR) penalties and is now eligible for postseason competition for the 2015-16 academic year.

“We are grateful for the opportunity. The NCAA sub-committee went back and examined our files and made the adjustments to relieve us of our penalties for postseason play,” Baker said.

With the adjusted calculations, SSU has a multi-year score of 927 and the women’s basketball program has access to the longer transition afforded to limited resource institutions.

In May, the NCAA notified SSU that the women’s basketball team had a score of 923 for the 2013-14 year, and multi-year APR of 905, falling short of the 920 benchmark set by the NCAA for limited resource institutions.

SSU appealed the penalty and as part of the appeals process, the scores were recalculated.

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Lincoln Univ. football coach excited for season, Cheyney game

The Lincoln University Lions Athletics

OXFORD, Pennsylvania -- The college football season will be starting in a matter of days. Lincoln University interim head football coach Herb Pickens is excited about the upcoming season. Pickens is preparing the Lions for a very competitive year in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

“I’m really looking forward to the season,” he said. “The CIAA is a great conference. We have so many good teams and a lot of good coaches in the conference. It’s real competitive and that’s the excitement of the conference.

“Virginia State has done a great job. Winston-Salem has been a dominant team in the South. In the Northern division, Bowie [State] and Elizabeth City [State] are coming on. We want to win some games. We want to be in the conversation.”

Pickens has been a big part of the Lincoln football program as an assistant since the school brought the game back in 2008 following a 47-year absence. He took over the program in March. He’s very familiar with the talent on this team.

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Coming to Charlotte, N.C. August 29 -- The McDonald's Queen City Battle of the Bands

ALWAYS WATCH IN 2160p or 4K HD, WIDE SCREEN 

North Carolina A&T State University Blue and Gold Marching Machine at Barber Park, 8/22/2015 performing " Smash Something" from aero view. 
Courtesy:  Thomas L. Jones, Jr.
 
2015 PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS
North Carolina A&T State University
Miles College
Elizabeth City State
North Carolina Central University
Shaw University
Alabama A&M University
Bethune-Cookman University
Johnson C. Smith University
Talladega College
 
WANT TO GO?
Location: Memorial Stadium
Address: 310 N. Kings Dr., Charlotte
Date: Saturday, Aug. 29
Parking: Additional paid parking located at CPCC Student Lots #1 and #2.
Tickets: $15 and $20 General admission.



CHARLOTTE, North Carolina  -- The McDonald's Queen City Battle of the Bands marches into Charlotte’s Memorial Stadium on Aug. 29, featuring some of the top-performing marching bands from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The competition returns to Charlotte for its third year and is expected to attract over 10,000 fans, students and alumni.

As the event draws closer, we talked to Derek L. Webber, the man responsible for organizing and promoting the annual event.

QCM: What is your background?

DW: I’m from Charlotte, born and raised. I attended Hampton University in 1995, majored in Communications. Then I worked in ...


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Distance champion Pulliam joins Xavier coaching staff

Jasmine Pulliam
Assistant Coach
Men's and Women's
Cross Country and Track and Field
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana announced Monday the hiring of Jasmine Pulliam as assistant coach for men's and women's cross country and track and field.
    
XU head coach Joseph Moses said Pulliam's primary duties will include coaching middle-distance and distance runners and coordinating day-to-day recruiting.

 "I'm very excited to have Jasmine on staff. She is a great addition," Moses said. "She is a smart young lady. She is very energetic and has great knowledge of cross country and track and field."
    
Pulliam, 23, was a standout distance runner at Brescia University in Owensboro, Ky. She was a six-time individual champion in the NAIA's Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. She was the KIAC cross country champion in 2011 and won KIAC outdoor track titles in 2011 (1,500-meter run), 2013 (1,500 and 5,000) and 2013 (3,000 steeplechase and 5,000).
    
Pulliam led Brescia to KIAC women's cross country team championships in 2011, 2012 and 2013. She received her bachelor's degree from Brescia in 2014.
    
"Jasmine Pulliam is an outstanding young woman who will be an excellent addition to the staff at Xavier," said Brian Skortz, Brescia's director of athletics.
    
Pulliam is enrolled in XU's graduate school. She is a native of Louisville, Ky., and a 2010 graduate of Louisville's Butler Traditional High School.

 Xavier's cross country teams will begin the 2015 season Friday in the Big Easy Opener at City Park in New Orleans. The women's 2-mile race will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men's 5,000-meter race at 6.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Head coach Alex Wood: ‘Door not closed’ on FAMU QB competition

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Carson Royal will likely be the starting quarterback for Florida A&M when the Rattlers open the season against South Florida, but there’s still plenty of competition for the top spot.

Head coach Alex Wood recently said he doesn’t want to “close the door” on the quarterback competition and that other signal-callers, particularly JUCO transfer Kenny Coleman, who has taken snaps primarily with the second team, are quickly grasping the up-tempo offense.

Coleman said the quarterback competition is “great.”

“I’m working, (Carson) is working,” Coleman said. “I’m just trying to get better at my mechanics and be that guy that Coach (Wood) can count on come game time.

Royal, Coleman, freshman quarterback Ryan Stanley and redshirt junior quarterback Davonte Austin all saw ...

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2015 MAC football non-conference previews: Delaware State Hornets

    2015 DSU football schedule

DOVER, Delaware -- On September 12th, Kent State welcomes a struggling Delaware State team that finished 2-10 last season. A member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), the Hornets were picked to finish a humbling 11th out of twelve teams in the conference this season. Delaware State's lone game against an FBS team did not go well last year, as they were smashed on the road by Temple by a score of 59-0.

The Hornets are optimistic heading into 2015, as they underwent a coaching overhaul after last season's dreadful finish. Every member of the coaching staff is new with the exception of the linebacker coach, Andrew Faison. The new head coach will be Kenny Carter, who was a running backs coach under Urban Meyer at the University of Florida when they won the National Championship in 2009. From 2010 up until last season, he was the running backs coach at the University of Louisville. He helped the Cardinals to two Big East Conference championships as well as two bowl appearances. Carter has also coached with LSU, Pitt, Pen State, and Vanderbilt. DSU hopes Carter can use his experience and resume to build the program back up again.

Carter's extensive knowledge of the run game is just what the Hornets need, as the team has been poor in that area recently. Last season, Delaware State ranked 10th in the MEAC and 114th out of 121 FCS teams in rushing, averaging just 96.7 yards per game. The 2015 edition of Hornets football features an experienced offensive line and a large crop of running backs working to reverse that trend.




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