ASU-Howard Football Preview, Kickoff Set for 3:30 at Kidd Brewer Stadium Saturday

BOONE, North Carolina -- There is always something a little extra special about the opening game of the college football season and Saturday at 3:30 p.m., when Appalachian State takes the field at Kidd Brewer Stadium for its first contest against Howard, there will be some added inspiration.

App State will be honoring its newest athletic hall of fame class and will be recognizing players from the 1975, 1995 and 2005 teams during on-field presentations.
“You always want to put on a good show for the guys who built the program,” said senior defensive end Ronald Blair.

The hall of fame ceremony will honor legendary coach Jerry Moore and three of his former players, quarterback Armanti Edwards, running back Chip Hooks and tight end Daniel Wilcox. There will also be one special non-football inductee, cross country and track and field standout Leigh Cooper Wallace.

The 1975 football team was the most successful ASU team of its era, posting an 8-3 record and a third-place finish in the Southern Conference as the Mountaineers made the transition into NCAA Division I.

CONTINUE READING 

NSU Spartans Open 2015 Season, Latrell Scott Era at Rutgers

Game Notes  |  Watch Live  |  Live Stats  |  Twitter Updates

NORFOLK, Virginia  --  Norfolk State opens the 2015 season and kicks off the Latrell Scott era Saturday, as the Spartans face the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway, N.J. Kickoff is at 12 noon. It will be the fourth meeting between the teams, but first since Rutgers moved to the Big 10 Conference. The game will be televised live on ESPNEWS.

TELEVISION
This week's game will be televised live on ESPNEWS. Shawn Kenney will call the action, with Al Groh serving as color commentator. The game can also be seen on watchespn.com and via the Watch ESPN app.

RADIO
WGH Star 1310 AM begins its second season as the flagship network for NSU football and basketball games. Ross Gordon will handle the play-by-play duties, with Terrell Ducre' serving as the color analyst. The game can also be heard online at www.star1310.com, accessible by computers or mobile devices.

SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
NSU is coming off a 4-8 season in which the Spartans finished 4-4 in the MEAC, sixth in the conference standings. The Spartans return 14 starters and 53 lettermen from that squad but also welcome in a new head coach in former Virginia State and Richmond head man, Latrell Scott. Scott replaces Pete Adrian, who retired following a 10-year run with the Spartans following 2014.

Offensively, NSU welcomes back six offensive linemen with starting experience, including senior right guard Mike Phillips and junior center Louis "Tres" Humphrey. Senior receiver Isaac White (48 catches, 664 yards, 7 TD in 2014), a preseason All-MEAC first team wideout, headlines an upperclassman-heavy receiving corps.  Florida Atlantic quarterback Greg Hankerson Jr. will man the controls of the offense, while Old Dominion transfer running back Gerard Johnson leads the ground game.

Defensively, senior linebacker Deon King (106 tackles, 18 TFL, 7.5 sacks) is one of five starters back from a unit which ranked No. 2 in the nation in the FCS in total defense. Linemen Shawn Fauntleroy (33 tackles) and Kevin Williams (19 tackles, 2.5 TFL) bring a veteran presence up front, while safeties Brandon Walker (43 tackles, 8 PBU) and Leroy Parker (29 tackles, 1.5 TFL) and cornerback D'Metrius Williams (22 tackles, 1 INT, 5 PBU) head up a talented secondary.

SCOUTING THE SCARLET KNIGHTS
Rutgers finished the 2014 season 8-5 overall, 3-5 in its inaugural season in the Big 10. The Scarlet Knights beat North Carolina 40-21 in the Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit.

The Scarlet Knights return three All-Big 10 players from last year, led by first-team all-conference senior wideout Leonte Carroo (55 catches, 1,086 yards, 10 TD). Redshirt senior Paul James, who scored seven touchdowns in four games last season before suffering an injury, also returns. Rutgers is slated to start redshirt sophomore Hayden Rettig, an LSU transfer, at quarterback.

The Scarlet Knights' defense is led by 2014 Big 10 honorable mention picks Darius Hamilton (45 tackles, 1.5 TFL) and Kemoko Turay (7.5 sacks) along the defensive line.

THE SERIES
• This will be the fourth meeting between the teams, with Rutgers leading the series 3-0.
• The Scarlet Knights have outscored NSU 128-0 in those meetings (2007, '10, '13).
• NSU trailed 3-0 after the first quarter of the 2007 matchup, and 6-0 at halftime of the 2010 contest.

SCOTT USHERS IN NEW ERA OF SPARTAN FOOTBALL
NSU hired Latrell Scott as the 17th head coach in Spartan football history on Dec. 16, 2014. Scott comes to NSU following an outstanding two-year run as head coach at Virginia State University. More on the Spartans' new head man:
• Scott directed the Trojans to a 19-4 record and two Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Northern Division regular-season titles in 2013 and 2014.
• The Trojans never lost to a CIAA team under Scott's direction, going a combined 15-0.
• In 2014, VSU went 10-3 overall and won its first outright CIAA championship since 1996.
• Also in 2014, VSU recorded its first-ever NCAA football playoff appearance and victory by defeating Long Island University Post in the first round of the Division II Championship.
• For his efforts, Scott was named the 2014 CIAA Coach of the Year.
• Scott also served as Richmond's head coach in 2010, leading the Spiders to a 6-5 mark.
• He has had winning seasons in all three of his years as head coach, with a cumulative record of 25-9.
• Scott has served as a position coach at James Madison, U.Va., Tennessee, Richmond, VMI and Western Carolina.
• He is a former tight end at Hampton University and a native of Richmond, Va.

SPARTANS PICKED 7TH IN PRESEASON MEAC POLL
The Norfolk State football team was predicted to finish seventh in the preseason poll of MEAC head coaches and sports information directors, and seven Spartans were named to the preseason All-MEAC teams. Senior linebacker Deon King and senior receiver Isaac White were both named to the preseason All-MEAC first team. Senior defensive lineman Shawn Fauntleroy Jr. was voted to the second team, while the quartet of senior defensive lineman Kevin Williams, senior linebacker Lamar Neal, junior safety Brandon Walker and junior kicker Cameron Marouf were all voted to the third team.

North Carolina A&T, one of last season's five MEAC co-champions, was narrowly voted as the favorite to win the conference. The Aggies were followed in the preseason poll by the other four co-champions from last year: South Carolina State was predicted second, Bethune-Cookman third, N.C. Central fourth and Morgan State fifth. Hampton was tabbed sixth and NSU seventh.

LAST MEETING WITH RUTGERS
Paul James rushed for 119 yards and three touchdowns, and host Rutgers took advantage of outstanding field position throughout the day in a 38-0 win over Norfolk State on Sept. 7, 2013 at High Point Solutions Stadium in the teams' previous meeting. In the third meeting between the schools, Rutgers' first five scoring drives all began in NSU territory thanks largely to Spartan miscues. A blocked punt set up Rutgers for a short 15-yard drive which James finished with a 1-yard TD run. An NSU fumble was recovered at the Spartans' 19 later in the first quarter, setting up an 8-yard Gary Nova to Ruhann Peele TD pass. James then capped a 33-yard drive set up by a short punt with a 10-yard TD run on the final play of the first quarter for a 21-0 Rutgers lead.

James (25-yard run) and Savon Huggins (1-yard run) scored on third-quarter TDs for Rutgers.

 

Matt Michalec, Asst. AD/Communications

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Defense may give Lincoln hope

LOWER OXFORD, Pennsylvania -- As Lincoln heads into its eighth season since resurrecting football following a 47-year hiatus from 1961-2007, an overriding theme has developed under interim head coach Herb Pickens.

The Lions have faced plenty of adversity on the gridiron in the modern era – winning just 10 of 70 contests. But the LU program is now focused its collective attention on how to more effectively react to the misfortune and hardship that inevitably pops up during every game in every season.

“Our mindset is to expect the unexpected, and keep prevailing through regardless,” said defensive standout Brion Robinson.

“Penalties, turnovers are going to happen – that’s football,” added star runner Stephen Scott added. “What we’ve been working on is being able to persevere through all of that stuff.”



CONTINUE READING 

The Lincoln University Welcomes Back Ray Williams as Head Cross Country & Track and Field Coach

COACH RAY WILLIAMS

LOWER OXFORD, Pennsylvania -- Coach Ray Williams returns to Lincoln after spending a year on the Ole Miss staff as an assistant coach. Prior to Ole Miss, he was the Head Coach at Lincoln for four seasons.

"I appreciate the opportunity that Ross Bjork and Coach Brian O'Neil gave me to serve at Ole Miss last season. Now I am ready to get back on track at Lincoln to advance the legacy," said Williams.

Williams had at least one men's cross country runner on the All-CIAA team and in 2012, Shana Brown (Baltimore, MD/Institute of Notre Dame) was the first-ever female on the All-CIAA squad.  On the track, in 2011 Williams guided Matthew Coston to an 800 Meter Indoor CIAA Champion as well as IC4A qualifiers in the 200 Meters, 800 Meters and 4x400 Relay Team.  During the 2012 season Diane Lindsey became the first student-athlete to qualify for the NCAA Division II national championships while Tarem Cannonier was All-IC4A and ranked in the top 20 in the 400 Hurdles.

Williams arrived at Lincoln back in 2010 from a highly decorated NCAA Division II program at Grand Valley State University. Prior to coaching at Grand Valley, Williams was a men's and women's assistant track & field coach at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis., where he concentrated on sprinters, hurdlers and jumpers.

In his years preceding the position at Marquette, Williams served as the Director of Student-Athlete Development and men's and women's assistant track and field coach at the University of Detroit for the 2001-2002 season. During his stint with the Titans, four of his athletes captured conference titles.

Before he joined the Detroit program, he was the assistant women's cross country and track and field coach at Western Michigan in 2000-2001 and from 1997-2000 he enjoyed a productive stint as the assistant track and field coach at the University of Chicago. While at Chicago, he coached a three-time NCAA Division III All-American and two NCAA Division III national qualifiers.

Williams, a native of Chicago, has worked diligently at many national camps throughout his career. In 2012, he was appointed Secretary of the United States Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).  He has served as an instructor at the UCLA Speed and Power Camp, directed the Speed and Power Development Camp at Grand Valley State from 2005-2010 and served as the keynote speaker and clinician at the 2010 Chicago Public Schools Track & Field Clinic. Williams completed his Masters in Education at GVSU, and graduated from North Central College in Naperville, Ill., in 1995 with a degree in Urban Sociology.

In addition to coaching, Williams has worked with the Boy Scouts of America, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and the Campus Outreach Opportunity League (COOL). He also served as the Undergraduate Advisor for the Alpha Phi Alpha, Fraternity, Inc. at GVSU and currently an active member.

During his undergraduate years at North Central, Williams was a NCAA Division III All-American in the 110 hurdles in 1995, Team Captain, and three-time CCIW Conference Champion. His efforts helped the Cardinals on their way to a Division III Outdoor National Championship in 1994. Williams was also a member of the DC Capitals Track and Field Club teams from 1996-2000.

Williams and his wife, Danyual, have two sons: Daniel and Kamran.

COURTESY THE LINCOLN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Another top-10 for August; Nuggets 2nd at USM

Results:  Men    Women

HATTIESBURG, Mississippi Christopher August for the second consecutive week, and the XU women were runner-up for the second straight year in the Southern Miss Invitational cross country meet Friday.
— Xavier University of Louisiana received a top-10 finish from

August ran 5,000 meters in 17 minutes, 16.69 seconds to place seventh out of 21 men. It was his eighth career top-10 finish.

The Gold Nuggets scored 67 points to finish ahead of Spring Hill, a former NAIA member transitioning to NCAA Division II, and NCAA DI member Louisiana-Monroe. It was the 29th top-2 team finish for the XU women during Joseph Moses' 11 seasons as coach.

Xavier freshman Brianna Pace led the Gold Nuggets and placed 11th out of 28 women. She finished the 5K in 21:58.70.

The other Gold Rush finishers were Darrick Williams (12th place, 19:33.03), Brent Kitto (16th, 21:36.81), Xaiver Latting (19th, 23:48.25) and Felipe Perrier (20th, 23:51.77). Williams, Latting and Perrier all ran faster than they did a week ago.

The Gold Rush scored 67 points and finished third behind ULM, the men's champion, and Spring Hill.
    
Also finishing for the XU women were Dionysia Love (13th, 22:17.34), Zahri Jackson (14th, 22:36.92), Briana Simms (15th, 22:55.10), Hannah Finnegan (19th, 23:36.44) and Clarke Allen (20th, 24:04.66).
    
Individual winners were Isaac Ndirangu (16:50.12) of ULM and Rebecca Ulrich (18:12.90) of Southern Miss. Ulrich repeated as women's champion and led USM to the team title.
    
It was the second meet of the season for both XU teams. The next competition will be Sept. 12 in the Allstate Sugar Bowl Festival at Lafreniere Park in Metairie, La., a New Orleans suburb.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
https://twitter.com/xulagold
https://www.facebook.com

NAIA No. 20 Coastal Georgia defeats Gold Nuggets

CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

BRUNSWICK, Georgia — Xavier University of Louisiana lost 25-20, 25-20, 25-16 to NAIA No. 20 Coastal Georgia in the Gold Nuggets' second match of the Mariner Invitational volleyball tournament Friday.
     
Taylor Reuther had eight kills and eight digs for Xavier (2-4), and CeCe Williams had seven kills and 14 digs. The loss was Xavier's second of the season against a top-25 team.
    
Kyra White had 10 kills for Coastal Georgia (6-1), which outhit the Gold Nuggets .320 to .120. Xavier's hitting percentage and 38 kills were season lows.

The Mariners built a 21-10 lead in the first set and rallied in the second set after trailing five times by five points, the latest at 13-8.

"We showed some flashes of brilliance," XU coach Hannah Lawing said, "but our goal is to be consistent for 75 points."
It was the teams' first meeting.

Xavier lost 19-25, 25-16, 25-14, 22-25, 15-10 to Bethel (Ind.) in the tournament's opening match.
    
Xavier will play Saturday against Martin Methodist at 9 a.m. EDT and 5 p.m. against Bryan. Like Xavier, Martin Methodist and Bryan were 0-2 apiece Friday. Martin Methodist is 0-7 overall.


Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
https://twitter.com/xulagold
https://www.facebook.com/ 

from THE EDITOR, DWIGHT FLOYD: 2015 College Football is Here and It Makes You Wanna Sing

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Yes! College football is here and you won’t have to Wake Me Up” to start the season because already “I Feel Good All Over.” It is something about all the people coming together on one accord; the atmosphere of competition. The crisp fall weather, or just the thought of it makes you feel so ”Alive.” Today is a day of hope for many of the FCS teams that have chosen to take on the bigger Division 1 FBS teams like Miami and Florida State. Here are Sportsedit’s games of the week. I’ll have three televisions and one computer going, so I can watch all of them.

Division II Game of the Week
Valdosta State at Albany State
7:00 PM EST

CONTINUE READING

Ram Ramblings: New WSSU helmets need a reboot

PHOTO GALLERY

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Maybe WSSU can reboot.

No, I’m not talking about the loss to UNC Pembroke on Thursday night. That 17-7 setback is in the books and there’s no going back.

I’m talking about the new helmets. They are bad. No, they are awful.

At first I thought they didn’t look too bad but then I got a closer look. I guess I’m old school when it comes to bragging about accomplishments but listing the CIAA titles on the top of the helmets by each season wasn’t a great idea.

The reason I say that is it seems to be rather short sighted. When Connell Maynor took over before the 2010 season he didn’t talk about winning just the CIAA, he talked about winning the national championship. A lot of folks laughed at him.

Then in 2012 when the Rams got to the Division II national championship game folks weren’t laughing, they were on the bandwagon.

CONTINUE READING 

Langston University Names New Volleyball Coach

LANGSTON, Oklahoma  -- Langston University has appointed a new head coach for Volleyball, Jacob Rodriguez.

“Coach Rodriguez, a true man of integrity and great character, is a great addition to our athletic department,” said Donnita Rogers, the Director of Athletics.

“His enthusiasm is contagious. Rodriguez will be a tremendous role model for our student athletes and will play a pivotal role in putting Langston University volleyball on the map.”

Rodriguez comes to Langston from Bacone College, where he served as the head volleyball coach for three years. During his three years as head coach, the team went 46-52 overall and 24-16 in the Red River Athletic Conference.

Prior to Bacone College he served as the assistant coach at Southwestern Assemblies of God University. During this time the team made tremendous strides, which included trips to the NAIA Regionals and the National Christian College Athletic Association Regional and National Tournament in 2007.

Rodriguez currently holds a masters degree in Kinesiology from Dallas Baptist University and a Bachelor of Science degree in History from Southwestern Assemblies of God University.

Stepping into this position, he has high hopes for the volleyball program’s fourth season. Last year the Volleyball program reached historic new heights, the team recorded its first win over East Central University, an NCAA Division 2 opponent.

The Lady Lions made it to the Conference Tournament last year; he knows the bar is already set high. He is ready to build a strong 2015 recruiting class and turn Langston's volleyball team into a program that strives to win national championships.

“The most important thing for this team is to compete; the team will need to continue to build off of this foundation,” said Rodriguez.

“Our first goal as a team is to give a unified effort every time we step on the court.”

The Lady Lions open the 2015 season on August 21, 2015 against Southwest Assemblies of God in Waxahachie, Texas. For more information or to view the Langston Sports schedules please visit www.langstonsports.com.

LANGSTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Starting with Saturday’s opener at Louisiana Tech, Southern’s ready to push the pace

RUSTON, Louisiana --Southern believes its offense is going to be difficult to defend this season.

So the Jaguars plan to use a faster tempo more often, giving their myriad playmakers more and better opportunities to make big plays.

“When we go tempo, I think we’re at our best,” coach Dawson Odums said. “When you go tempo, you run more plays. And the more plays you have, the better your chances to move the football around. I think that’s helpful.”



A faster tempo could come in handy at 6 p.m. Saturday in the season opener at Louisiana Tech, which has a defense that likes to confuse blockers with a lot of presnap movement. The faster the ball is snapped, the less time there is for presnap maneuvering, as well as substitutions.

“I think a lot of their big plays on defense come from the confusion that they have when they’re moving around a lot on defense,” Odums said. “That creates some bad reads and some opportunities for big plays.”

CONTINUE READING 

Gill Recaps LU Flames Preparation for the DSU Hornets

LYNCHBURG, Virginia -- Following Liberty's final full practice of the week on Thursday, Flames Head Coach Turner Gill met with the media one last time to recap his team's practice this week.

Liberty will open its fourth season under Gill on Saturday night when they face the Delaware State Hornets at 7 p.m., in Williams Stadium. The contest will be Liberty's first home opener at its on-campus facility since 2008.

Liberty is 19-23 all-time in season openers. The Flames have lost four straight season openers, all of which have been played against FBS opponents.

Liberty is 17-7 all-time in season openers played at home. The Flames have won six consecutive openers in Lynchburg since a 23-3 loss to Western Carolina to start the 2002 season.

Liberty is 11-2 all-time in season openers at Williams Stadium. The Flames have won five season openers in a row at Williams Stadium, since the setback to Western Carolina in 2002. Saturday's game is Liberty's first season opener at Williams Stadium since 2008, when the Flames defeated North Greenville, 49-10.



COURTESY LIBERTY UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Lobos trying to rid their Devils (MVSU)

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico  --  Tonight, at least, the Devils are not in the details. Or vice versa.
This one, coach Bob Davie says, is all about the Lobos.

Year 4 of the Davie Era begins tonight at University Stadium with a college football game between the New Mexico Lobos and the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils.

The visitors, Davie said this week, are a bit of a mystery.

Second-year MVSU coach Rick Comegy has new coordinators on offense and defense. On defense in particular, this is a young Delta Devils team.

Davie, his assistants and his players nevertheless have done their homework – viewing game film not only from last year’s MVSU team but from Jackson State and Paine College, the two coordinators’ last coaching addresses.  And yet, Davie said, all that barely matters.

CONTINUE READING 

NCCU Football PROTECT THE NEST Sept. 5 vs Saint Augustine's

DURHAM, North Carolina -- Eagle fans, it's time to PROTECT THE NEST! #NCCUFootball opens up their home schedule against Saint Augustine's on Saturday, Sept.5, 2015. Kickoff is at 6:00 PM. Come out and support NCCU Athletics!!



COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Defendant in FAMU hazing death gets 4 years, credit for time served

ORLANDO, Florida -- A former Florida A&M band member who's been awaiting his punishment for more than two years for his role in a drum major's hazing death, has been sentenced to four years in prison with credit for time served.

Caleb Jackson, 26, will serve roughly 11 more months after receiving credit for two years and 149 days, according to Channel 9's Julie Salomone.

Jackson was sentenced Friday after it had been postponed twice in the past month. He pleaded no contest to manslaughter and hazing in 2013 for his role in the 2011 death of Robert Champion, who was from Decatur, Georgia. Jackson faced 35 years in prison.



CONTINUE READING

Alcorn coach gets hall of fame induction

VICKSBURG, Mississippi -- Miraculous Powers will step on the field tonight in his final rivalry game against the Vicksburg Gators. Since he was a child, he’s had a close-knight relationship with his grandfather, Ocie Brown Sr., who is one of the main reasons he started playing football.

Brown was a beloved running backs coach and offensive coordinator at Alcorn State University from 1972 to 1998. He coached Braves greats such as Steve McNair, Perry Quails, Gregory Jones and Augusta Lee.

“He’ll always tell me don’t never give up on your dreams. He inspired me to play football or anything I wanted to do,” Powers said. In Brown’s 26 years on the coaching staff he, — alongside the “Godfather of the SWAC” Marino Casem and Cardell Jones — helped record 17 winning seasons, win seven Southwestern Athletic Conference championships and two National Black College Championships.

CONTINUE READING 

Nippert is Back: UC Bearcats vs Alabama A&M Bulldogs Preview

CINCINNATI, Ohio  -- On September, 5th the Bearcats and Bulldogs will collide at the newly renovated Nippert Stadium. This will be the first Bearcats game at the new Nippert, so that in itself will make the night special.

The game is set to start at 7 PM and this will be the first game for both teams. The Bearcats are one of the favorites in the AAC while the Bulldogs are picked to be in the middle of the pack in the Southwestern Atlantic Conference.

The Bearcats return a lot of fire power on offense as Gunner Kiel, Mike Boone, Chris Moore, Mekale McKay and Shaq Washington all return. Kiel, who is fully healthy, will lead the offense and has a good chance to improve on his stellar first year with the Bearcats.

I've already highlighted how good this trio of receivers are, so I don't think the Bulldogs will have must in terms of talent to control this group. Mike Boone last year's leading rusher as a freshman will be joined in the back field with junior Tion Green will be back sharing some ofC the load, also a sprinkle of Hosey Williams. The real question will be out the defense looks, but tonight I don't expect the Bearcats and their defense to be tested much if at all.



CONTINUE READING 

Students protest red tape, mice, mold and financial-aid glitches at Howard University

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Some students protested at Howard University on Friday, sticking colored notes full of complaints and demands onto pillars in the administration building.

Not Chinae Nwaokoro – she was too busy rushing around campus trying to straighten out her financial aid for the semester. After waiting in one very long line, the nursing student was told “they lost some papers. So I didn’t get my money yet.”

Other students said they were going from faculty office to faculty office, pleading with professors to add them to class lists because they were unable to register online. “They need to fix this,” Nwaokoro said.

The school year got off to an especially hectic start this fall at Howard, the iconic historically black university whose students are staunchly loyal to the school even as they demand improvements.

They love the history, the legacy, the culture, the classes, the friendships they form. But they’re tired of persistent problems at a school with troubled finances.

CONTINUE READING

Former Prairie View coach Northern starting fresh at TSU

HOUSTON, Texas  -- Heishma Northern has a challenge in his first game as TSU defensive coordinator. He has to help the Tigers defeat his former team, Prairie View A&M, in the Labor Day Classic at 8 p.m. Saturday at BBVA Compass Stadium.

Northern impressed early as a rookie coach for the Panthers in 2011, but the team struggled to win games after that season. Along with the losses, there were the Academic Performance Rate penalties last year. Prairie View A&M was one of four SWAC schools punished for a low four-year score. The Panthers' score fell two points short of the NCAA requirement of 910 in 2014.

APR penalties affect things like number of practice days allowed and maybe the biggest punishment, postseason bans. The Panthers were eligible for a SWAC title in 2014 because the conference opts out of the FCS playoffs.

CONTINUE READING 

Cross country teams compete Friday at Southern Miss

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's cross country teams will compete Friday in their second meet of the season, the Southern Miss Invitational at Hattiesburg, Miss.

Both races will be 5,000 meters. The men will run at 5:30 p.m., followed by the women at 6. Tatum Park will be the venue.

Competing against the Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets will be the men's and women's teams of Louisiana-Monroe, Alcorn State and Spring Hill and the women of the host school, Southern Miss.

Xavier won women's team and individual championships this past Friday in its Big Easy Opener at City Park. Fifth-year senior Zahri Jackson earned her first victory since 2012 — she ran two miles in 14 minutes, 27.3 seconds — and the fourth of her career.

Leading the XU men in the Big Easy Opener was junior Christopher August, whose time of 17:03.6 was XU's 15th-fastest for 5,000 meters during the past 13 seasons. August was the first collegiate finisher and placed eighth overall.

As a result of their performances, Jackson and August received Gulf Caost Athletic Conference Runner of the Week awards.

Xavier's women were second in the 2014 Southern Miss Invitational, and Brent Kitto was the No, 2 male finisher. Kitto is a senior this season.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
https://twitter.com/xulagold
https://www.facebook.com/

Gold Nuggets on road for 4-pack of matches

NEW ORLEANS — The second-week schedule of the Xavier University of Louisiana women's volleyball team has similarities to this past week.

Once again the Gold Nuggets (2-2) will face an NAIA top-25 team and another receiving votes. But this time Xavier is on the road, competing in the Mariner Invitational at Brunswick, Ga.

Xavier will play Friday at 9 a.m. EDT against Bethel (Ind.) (4-2) and 1 p.m. against 20th-ranked Coastal Georgia (5-1), the host team. The Gold Nuggets will play Saturday at 9 a.m. EDT against Martin Methodist (0-5) and 5 p.m. against Bryan (1-4), which received votes in the preseason coaches poll.

Xavier split four matches in its Big Easy Blastoff, sandwiching victories against Faulkner and NCAA Division I's Mississippi Valley State around losses to NAIA No. 19 Wayland Baptist and vote-receiving Mobile.

"Our serve-receive and defense were our strong points last week," XU coach Hannah Lawing said. "We'll be better in those areas than we were last season. Our offense will get better."

Xavier ranks eighth in the NAIA with 19.46 digs per set, 13th with 12.62 assists per set and 16th with 13.69 kills per set. Two XU seniors are ranked — Franziska Pirkl is seventh with 11.15 assists per set, and Darian Harris is 33rd with 5.00 digs per set. Pirkl (setter) and Harris (defender) are two of the three reigning Gulf Coast Athletic Conference players of the week.

All but Martin Methodist will be first-time XU opponents. The Gold Nuggets are 0-3 all-time against Martin Methodist but has not played the RedHawks since 2010.

Xavier will open its GCAC schedule at 7 p.m. Monday against Talladega at the Convocation Center.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
https://twitter.com/xulagold
https://www.facebook.com/ 

Virginia State will test Cal U's defense

ETTRICK, Virginia  -- Cal U will be trying to keep a trend of opening-day success going Saturday when the Vulcans kick off the football season at Virginia State.

The Vulcans have won 11 of their last 14 season openers, including a 33-24 victory over the Trojans at Cal U last season.

 

Fourth-year head coach Mike Kellar has his team's sights set on snapping another streak, that of three straight third-place finishes in the PSAC West standings.

 

For the Vulcans (8-2 last season) to have success, they will lean heavily on a defense that finished fifth in the nation in rushing yards allowed a year ago. That defense returns six starters, including junior All-America candidate Jordan Bowman (DB) and Jawan Turner (DT).

Cal could have its hands ful with a Virginia State team that qualified for the NCAA playoffs for the first time in school history a year ago while winning its first CIAA championship since 1996.

CONTINUE READING

MTSU squads locked in on Jackson State

MURFREESBORO, Tennessee -- The MTSU football season kicks off in less than 48 hours and whether you ask players or coaches, they are locked in on Jackson State.

“All our focus is on Jackson State this weekend,” head coach Rick Stockstill said emphatically. “Don’t ask me about Alabama.”

Even if Stockstill didn’t say a word about the team’s focus, it’s not hard to see where these players stand ahead of Saturday’s matchup.

Throughout the preseason, battles have raged on at the quarterback, wide receiver and cornerback positions to name a few.

The starters are set and the players are finally ready to take the field at Floyd Stadium once again.

CONTINUE READING

New FAMU starter Carson Royal ‘ready’ to face USF

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- After months of practice and questions, Carson Royal is ready to show what Florida A&M can do on the gridiron.

Royal, a redshirt junior who earlier in the week was named FAMU’s starting quarterback, said he’s eager to get some game-time action after waiting behind four-year starter Damien Fleming for three years.

Royal holds the keys to FAMU’s new offense and his first test will be a challenge — the Rattlers open the season Saturday against FB53S opponent South Florida in Tampa.

“I’m just ready,” he said. “Mentally, physically… I’m really just ready to get out there and play.”



CONTINUE READING

Statesmen Claim 450th in 48-7 Rout of Fort Valley State

CLEVELAND, Mississippi  – The No. 14 Delta State University football team outscored Fort Valley State 39-7 in the first half en route to a 48-7 victory in the season-opener for both teams on Thursday, Sept. 3 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. DSU earned its 450^th all-time win in the rout.

Inside the Matchup:
Score:  Delta State 48, Fort Valley State 7
Records: Delta State (1-0), Fort Valley State (0-1)
Date: Thursday Sept. 3, 2015 | 6:00 p.m. (CST) Kickoff
Location: Parker Field-McCool Stadium | Cleveland, Miss.
Series: Delta State leads the series 3-2
 
Quoting Cooley:



"I was really pleased with our demeanor today. I felt like, starting yesterday, we understood that it was time and started locking in the way the way we like to lock in and I thought we were focused when we came out, which was the key to it. "I think we've got a pretty mature group. They're excited about getting a win, but they know we've made a lot of mistakes tonight and we've got to go get them corrected tomorrow because we're going to play a very tough opponent next weekend."

How it Happened:

• The Statesmen scored on their first five drives. DSU opened the scoring when Tyler Sullivan found Collin Floyd for a 58-yard touchdown pass with 10:52 remaining in the first quarter. 
• Sullivan scored the next two touchdowns on the ground, finding the end zone from 34 and two yards out. 
• Following Sullivan's first touchdown, Vince Sciorrotta knocked home a 38-yard field goal to give DSU an 18-0 advantage. 
• The Wildcats made the score 25-7 with an Otis Brown four yard touchdown run with 11:29 remaining in the first half. 
• Following a 75-yard touchdown pass from Justin Leavy to Jarvis York on a fake punt, Sullivan closed the first half scoring with a 59-yard pass to Patrick Bethley. 
• DSU outgained the Wildcats 346-232 in the first half. Sullivan was 12-of-17 for 214 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in the opening 30 minutes. 
• Sullivan struck again in the third quarter, as he found Leavy from 60 yards out with 13:23 left in the third quarter. 
• DSU closed out the scoring on a safety with 1:18 remaining.

The Numbers:

•  DSU finished with 475 total yards, while the Wildcats finished with 353. The Statesmen, who finished with 101 rushing yards, held FVSU to 94. 
• Sullivan led the way with 42 yards rushing. Eddie McCadney finished with 35. 
• Jalen White led the Wildcat rushing attack with 34 yards. 
• Sullivan finished 16-of-25 for 293 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. FVSU signal-caller Otis Brown was 17-of-27 for 218 yards with an interception. 
• Patrick Bethley had five catches for 87 yards and a touchdown to lead the Statesmen. 
• Richard Nash and Wilson Curtis led the Statesmen with 5.5 tackles apiece.

 Beyond the Numbers:

• With his third PAT of the contest Sciorrotta became DSU's all-time leader with 113 in his career. He finished with five PATs on the night for 115. 
• DSU is now 7-1 versus non-conference opponents under Todd Cooley. 
• The Statesmen claimed the 450 in school history. DSU now sports a 450-374-23 record in 85 seasons.

Up Next:

• The Statesmen travel to Commerce, Texas for a non-conference contest with Texas A&M Commerce. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT. The game will be carried live on the Statesmen Sports Network beginning at 6 p.m.

COURTESY DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

West Virginia State Football Rolls to 59-34 Win in Opener

FAIRMONT, West Virginia -- Yellow Jacket fans could finally let loose a sigh of relief followed by a loud cheer Thursday night.
   
The WVSU football team had won its opening game.
   
Third-year Head Coach Jon Anderson looked on as his squad put together an extremely solid effort on both sides of the ball to score a convincing 59-34 victory over host Fairmont State under the lights on a warm and humid evening.
   
Young players proved they have matured, new players showed they have some game, and new offensive coordinator John Pennington's attack proved to be both exciting and effective.
   
And, oh yeah, the already strong defense recorded two safeties and ran back a botched Fairmont extra point kick for two points.
In other word, there was a little bit of everything for Yellow Jacket fans.
   
All of it good.
   
The Yellow Jackets ended up with 509 total yards of offense, 279 on the ground. Besides scoring six points the defense recorded 11 tackles for a loss totaling 43 yards and five sacks for 30 more negative yards.
   
They did not turn the ball over at all and allowed only one sack for a 1-yard loss.
   
The Falcons had won the last five meetings between the programs but it did not take long for the Jackets to show everyone there are more differences between this team and last year's than their new uniforms.
   
After taking the opening kickoff the Yellow Jackets drove 79 yards on nine plays with Tevin Brown topping the drive off with a 17-yard touchdown run at the 11:42 mark.
   
The two-point conversion attempt failed but a few minutes later WVSU senior linebacker Rudy Favard picked up the two points for the Jackets on a safety.
   
The Jackets drove 55 yards on the ensuing possession with Tyrone Barber going in from the 1-yard line for the score.
   
A 13 yard pass from D'von Dorsey to Chase Henderson with 28 seconds remaining gave WVSU a 22-0 lead after the opening period.
   
Just how big was that opening quarter to the Yellow Jackets?
   
The 22 points equaled last year's season high total – for an entire game.
   
The defense added another safety to make it 24-0, Anthony Herrera hit a 38-yard field goal, freshman Tyrone Barber broke free for a 46-yard touchdown run, and Herrera showed that even the WVSU kicking game is looking solid this year by hitting from 45-yards out to make the score 37-7 at halftime.
   
The last time WVSU scored that many points in a half was in the opening game of 2008 when the Jackets went on to win their first five games and reach as high as #21 in the national rankings before finishing 7-3.
   
After kicking off and stopping the Falcons to start the second half the Jackets scored on their opening possession when Akil Washington caught a perfectly placed 37-yard pass from Matt Kinnick to run the score to 44-7.
   
The teams traded scores with the WVSU touchdowns coming on a 5-yard run by Barber and one from 17-yards out by Kelvit Barrett as the third quarter came to an end with the Yellow Jackets leading 57-21.
     
The Falcons pulled to within 57-27 but Stevin Gomez picked up the missed extra point kick at the two yard line and ran it back 98 yards for two points to make it 59-27.
     
Fairmont State added one last touchdown with 3:41 to play to bring the final to 59-34.
     
Senior Will Merritt and junior Mitch Rowell each made eight tackles with sophomore Dennis Gardeck adding seven.
     
Kinnick finished the night 16-of-27 passing for 217 yards and a touchdown.
     
Barber carried 11 times for 103 yards, Tevin Brown 16 for 85, and Barrett 12 for 80.
     
Washington caught four passes for 76 yards and Quinton Gray four for 61 yards.
     
The 279 yards on the ground is the most in a game for WVSU since the Jackets picked up 414 against Charleston on November 12, 2011.
     
The 509 total yards is most since the Yellow Jackets rolled up 630 at Johnson C. Smith on September 3, 2011.
   
The last time a WVSU squad put up more points was when the 2008 squad beat Lincoln, Missouri 67-13 on August 30, 2008.
     
The Yellow Jackets play their home opener on Saturday, September 12 at 1 p.m. against Urbana.
 
 Statistics

COURTESY WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION