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ATHENS, Georgia -- Southern University wide receiver Devon Gales underwent a successful spinal surgery Sunday afternoon.
Gales suffered several fractures in his neck that were stabilized. He continues to have movement in his upper body and remains in good spirits and will remain at Athens Regional until he is released to return to Baton Rouge for further treatment.
The Gales family, along with Interim Athletics Director Roman Banks and the entire Southern University family, would like to thank Athens General, The University of Georgia and all of the many people who aided in his care during this unfortunate event. We are extremely thankful for all of the prayers and well wishes that Devon has received from many people nationwide.
Also, special thanks to the Georgia football program and Sports Medicine staff for all of their love and support that they have shown Devon during this difficult time.
Due to the overwhelming amount of love shown to them from everyone, the family is asking for privacy at this time. They appreciate and request your continued prayers and thoughts.
If you would like to send cards or well wishes to Devon, please send them to:
SU Athletics:
C/o Devon Gales
PO Box 9942
Baton Rouge, LA 70813
COURTESY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
Devondrick Nealy gives FAMU the early lead with an 83-yard punt return against Tennessee State.
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The visiting Tennessee State Tigers staged a 23-point scoring surge in the second half to overtake the FAMU Rattler football team for a 30-14 non-conference victory in Bragg Memorial Stadium Saturday night.
The setback saw the homestanding Rattlers (0-4) hold a 14-7 lead early in the third period on a 46-yard pass from Carson Royal to Kareem Smith, which broke a 7-7 halftime tie, with 12:05 left in the frame.
FAMU electrified their home fans who came 18,020 strong for the 2015 home opener, when former Jefferson County prep star Devondrick Nealy took at TSU punt and scorched the far sideline for an 83-yard TD return and a 7-0 lead with 11:03 left in the half.
Tennessee State (3-1) would even the count 7-7 before halftime when Tallahassee native Ronald Butler tossed a 12-yard scoring strike to to Mahlon Medley.
The Rattlers 14-7 third quarter lead faded late in the frame, when Butler hit Patrick Smith with a 38-yard scoring toss for a 14-14 tie with 4:54 left.
Things continued to slide away from the Rattlers, when Jason Morrow tackled running back Devondrick Nealy in the end zone for a safety, and a 16-14 TSU lead with 44 seconds left in the third.
Ronald Butler tossed his third scoring pass of the game in the fourth period, capping a 68-yard drive with a 32-yarder to Patrick Smith for a 23-14 edge with 13:32 left in the game.
TSU closed out the game with a 13-play, 80-yard drive, capped by Erick Evans’ one-yard run with 31 seconds left.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: The Rattler Defense stood up strong for the most part Saturday, holding TSU to 370 yards, well under their pre-game average…. FAMU rushed for 40 yards on 27 carries, led by Nealy’s 20-yards on five carries…. QB Carson Royal passed for 161 yards and a score, on 10 of 21 passing, while Brandon Norwood led with four receptions for 47 yards…. Ronald Butler of TSU went 16-for-34, for 194 yards and three TDs through the air, while Tevin Hooks led the Tigers’ ground game with 117 yards on 13 carries, and Patrick Smith topped the TSU receiving charts with seven grabs for 109 yards and two scores…. LB Akil Blount had 11 tackles to lead the FAMU defense, with DT Michael Lovejoy and LB Kashawn Butler each getting five solo stops.
WHAT’S NEXT: The Rattlers hit the road for the only time in October, as they head to Savannah,COU Georgia to face winless Savannah State next Saturday, October 3 at 7 p.m. in T.A. Wright Stadium.
COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
ATHENS, Georgia --Southern University wide receiver Devon Gales sustained a spinal injury during Saturday's contest against the University of Georgia in Sanford Stadium.
Gales will remain under the care of the doctors at Athens Regional until further notice.
Southern University and the Jaguar Nation asks for your continued prayers for Devon and the entire Gales family during this difficult time.
COURTESY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS
ROCKY MOUNT, North Carolina -- More adversity hit Winston-Salem State this week when a player was seriously injured in practice.
As if the Rams’ 0-3 record wasn’t bad enough, they now must begin conference play with heavy hearts as freshman Marquise Gaddy recovers from spinal cord injuries at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
The Rams take on Elizabeth City State at 4 p.m. in Rocky Mount in the Down East Viking Football Classic. The game, which will be played on the natural grass field at the Rocky Mount Athletic Complex, can be heard locally on WTOB (1380).
“To be honest, we are 0-3, so we should be motivated already,” said safety James Bullock of the Rams. “But we look at Gaddy as a family member, and we will carry him with us even if he can’t be with us physically. We want to get this win for Gaddy.”
WSSU players will wear a special decal with Gaddy’s number 28 on their helmets for this game. The decals arrived in Rocky Mount on Friday night and will be applied to their helmets before the game.
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- It's been a mixed bag for Bethune-Cookman in its opening three games of the football season.
After suffering a 45-0 blowout loss at Miami, the Wildcats responded by winning a 56-53 shootout over Grambling State. Last week, in its home opener, B-CU committed three turnovers but survived a scare from Division II Lane College for a 7-3 victory.
However, the Wildcats have consistently dominated Saturday's opponent, Savannah State. They have won the last 15 meetings against the Tigers, dating back to 1992, by a combined score of 600-180.
Savannah State enters on a 23-game losing streak overall. Its last win came against Fort Valley State, another Division II program, on Sept. 14, 2013.
Here are three keys to success as the Wildcats look to improve to 3-1.
NORFOLK, Virginia -- Browsing through his T-shirt drawer Tuesday morning, Latrell Scott found several of the blue and white variety. Those were his colors in college, he’s proud to say, and they’ll always be a part of his wardrobe..
Just not on this Tuesday morning. It wouldn’t look good for Norfolk State’s football coach to show up at his first “Battle of the Bay” news conference with a Hampton University T-shirt. Even if it was underneath his dark suit and green and gold tie.
Because while Scott’s diploma says Hampton University, his paycheck is signed by Norfolk State.
Norfolk State coach Latrell Scott discusses his team's 0-3 start against a killer schedule.
“My wife and I are both Hampton graduates, so a lot of our friends kid us about it,” said Scott, who played tight end at HU from 1994-98. “I don’t make any bones about it, I’m a Hampton fan outside of the business. I look at their score every week. I’ve gotten a hundred messages saying, ‘Good luck, but we’re not pulling for you.’ ”
JACKSON, Mississippi -- Texas Southern coach Darrell Asberry played quarterback, earned team MVP honors as a senior and was an assistant coach and offensive coordinator at Jackson State.
TSU assistant head coach/offensive line coach Carl Roberts spent many years as JSU’s offensive line coach. TSU offensive coordinator John Shannon held the same post at JSU from 1994 to 2000. He was named AFCA Division I-AA Assistant Coach of the Year in 2000 and took home some other awards that season.
As of Monday, the three coaches hadn’t had the chance to talk about TSU’s matchup with JSU in the W.C. Gorden Classic, which kicks off at 6 p.m. tonight at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, but they grasped the significance.
“We haven’t all sat down and talked about the game,” Asberry said during the SWAC teleconference on Monday. “The relationship us three have is very unique and we understand, as coaches, what this one means to us.
CARROLLTON, Georgia -- It's Homecoming for the University of West Georgia, as the Wolves will put their national ranking on the line at University Stadium on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. This week's opponent for the 2nd-ranked team in the nation will be in-state and in-region foe Clark Atlanta. The Wolves come into the game with a 3-0 record on the year, while the Panthers are 0-3.
Gameday Timeline
8:00 AM - UWG Athletic Complex Opens for Tailgating
8:00-10:00 AM - Setup allowed for The Hill (Student Zone Tailgate)
10:00 AM - Homecoming Parade
12:00 PM - Ticket Booths Open/The Hill Opens
12:30 PM - Wolf Walk at Wolf Plaza (Greet the team)
After the Wolf Walk - Gates Open
2:00 PM - UWG vs. Clark Atlanta
It's a new week for the West Georgia Wolves, a team that seems to be dominating the Special Teams landscape in the Gulf South Conference after the first three weeks of the season under new Special Teams Coordinator Matt O'Brien.
The Wolves have produced the first three GSC Special Teams Players of the week from three different areas of the game. Telvin Brown won it after the first week as a punt returner, then Hunter Heck the second week as a kicker. Last week, it was Marcus Sayles and his efforts to block two punts that earned that title.
Senior quarterback Dallas Dickey made it two of the four weekly Gulf South Conference awards, as he was 15-of-21 for 180 yards and four touchdowns last week. The four scores were the most for an individual thus far on the year in the GSC.
West Georgia's defense continues to dominate, allowing just 35 yards rushing to Fayetteville State last weekend and giving up an average of 215 yards per game on the season.
The West Georgia Wolves come into the fourth week of the 2015 season with an opportunity to move to 4-0 for the second time in as many years. UWG reached 5-0 last year before their first loss of the season, which many would say helped propel them to a region championship. The Wolves welcome Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference foe Clark Atlanta this week, a return game from last year's road game in Atlanta.
This will be the eigth meeting between the two teams, with West Georgia holding a 5-2 lead in the all-time series. The Wolves won the last meeting, last season in Atlanta by a 42-2 margin. This will be the fifth different venue in the history of this series, as the two programs have met at Grisham Stadium, Roy Richards Stadium, Panther Stadium and Lakewood Stadium before this weekend's contest in University Stadium.
West Georgia is coached by Will Hall, who is in his second season at West Georgia. He has an overall record of 40-14 in his fifth year as a head coach. In 18 games at the helm of the UWG program, Hall is 15-3. The interim head coach at Clark Atlanta is Kevin Ramsey, who is in his first season as the leader of the football program for the Panthers after three seasons at Alabama State as the defensive coordinator.
Injuries have hobbled the Wolves in recent weeks, but Hall and his staff have placed three starters who have been out in recent weeks back into the depth chart for the coming weekend. Senior safety Carlos Hutton saw limited action against Miles, but was out against Catawba and Fayetteville State. Junior running back LaMarcus Franks, who was the No. 1 back coming out of fall camp, has yet to see the field and junior receiver Telvin Brown, who returned a punt for a touchdown in the opening week. All three are back in the depth chart for the CAU game.
West Georgia has three individuals who are leading the nation in a statistical category, led by senior quarterback Dallas Dickey, who is tops in the nation in completion percentage at .738. Punt returner Telvin Brown, who should return this week in a receivers role, but he is tied for first in the nation in punt returns for a touchdown. Senior kicker Hunter Heck is tied for best in the nation in field goal percentage, as he is perfect on the year and junior cornerback Marcus Sayles is tied for #1 in the nation in blocked kicks with three.
Dickey has had one of his best years as a passer thus far this season, but he is also the Wolves' leading active rusher. He has 378 career carries for 1,455 yards and 17 touchdowns. The yardage is good for 14th all-time at UWG and is the best among quarterback, and he is 33 yards from moving into 12th place on the all-time list.
COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF WEST GEORGIA SPORTS INFORMATION
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Former Southern star basketball player and head coach Tommy Green, a 1991 inductee to the school’s Hall of Fame, died Friday. He was 59.
Current Southern men’s basketball coach and athletic director Roman Banks and Cheryl Michelet, communications director at BREC, confirmed Green’s death Friday. Green had served as BREC’s director of athletics for several years, ending in the fall of 2012.
A 1978 cum laude journalism graduate at Southern, Green was a longtime assistant men’s basketball at Southern, starting in 1987-88, and took over the program in September 1996 after Ben Jobe left to take over at Tuskegee.
Green went 74-64 in five seasons before being let go after the first year of a three-year contract, in March 2001.
Green was selected in the second round of the NBA draft by the New Orleans Jazz in 1978 after the point guard helped Southern to the Southwestern Athletic Conference title that season. He was co-captain that season, his fourth as a starter after a standout career at Baton Rouge’s McKinley High.
ATHENS, Georgia -- THE NEXT LEVEL: Jaguars plan to go full speed at Georgia, then heal up in the open week
Southern coach Dawson Odums was half-kidding when he said earlier this week, “Hopefully, we’ll come back with the same number of guys we go up there with.”
But realistically, the Jaguars’ physical condition coming out of this game is a legitimate concern.
Georgia’s players are bigger, stronger and faster than Southern’s overall. Additionally, the Bulldogs have about two dozen more scholarship players, enabling them to constantly rotate fresh players into the game to face weary ones.
In short, this is a physical mismatch.
“We definitely want to stay healthy because we have a whole season ahead of us,” nose tackle Gabe Echols said.
NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Karan Salwan and Kyle Montrel each won a pair of men's singles matches Friday to advance to the quarterfinals of the USTA/ITA NAIA South Regional Championships at City Park/Pepsi Tennis Center.
Salwan, the No. 4 seed, defeated Kyle Howell of Point 6-0, 6-0 and Matias Destefanis of Auburn Montgomery 6-3, 6-1. Salwan will play Georgia Gwinnett's sixth-seeded Lachlan McPhee next.
Montrel, seeded fifth, rallied to defeat WIlliam Carey's Andreas Brune 3-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-1) in the opening round, then beat AUM's Federico Lombisano 6-3, 6-2. Montrel will meet Georgia Gwinnett's third-seeded Matias Hatem next.
Montrel and Salwan also advanced to the doubles quarterfinals. Montrel and Kevin Chaouat, seeded fourth, defeated Point's Howell and Steven Tracy 8-2. Salwan and Tushar Mandlekar, seeded second, beat William Carey's Hunt Guidry and Leonard Sechi 8-4.
Xavier's Sha'Nel Bruins and Brandi Nelson advanced to the women's doubles quarterfinals after an 8-2 victory against William Carey's Hannah Bradford and Kayla Rycraft. The Gold Nuggets' Vashni Balleste upset Brenau's sixth-seeded Patricia Recalde 6-3, 6-1 in the first round of singles but was eliminated in the next round.
Main-draw quarterfinals and semifinals and all remaining rounds of consolation singles will be played Saturday at City Park. The finals will be Sunday at XU Tennis Center.
SALISBURY, North Carolina -- Livingstone opens its CIAA schedule at Bowie State (Md.) this evening, and even though Coach Daryl Williams is hoping to see some defense, the game has all of the makings of a shootout.
Last season, when the two teams met in Salisbury, Livingstone’s Leonardo Manzo kicked a 25-yard field goal as time expired for a thrilling, 36-33 win. The Blue Bears had tied the game at 33-all with 8:13 left on a 6-yard scoring pass from quarterback Drew Powell to wide out Jalen Hendricks.
Taking last year’s game into account and the fact that dynamic duo Powell and Hendricks are back for their senior year, tonight’s game could have some fireworks. And Bowie State will have plenty of ammunition as well.
Transfer QB Matthew Goggans, a 6-3, 225-pound graduate student, has been the CIAA “Quarterback of the Week” all three weeks in 2015. The California native has already thrown for 1,038 yards in three games, with nine TDs and just one interception. Goggan is completing 53 percent of his passes.
PINE BLUFF, Arkansas -- Arkansas-Pine Bluff head coach Monte Coleman had a simple response when asked earlier this week how he expected his team to grow from a disappointing loss to Texas Southern in its Southwestern Athletic Conference opener.
“We’re going to leave it behind us,” he said. “We watched the film (Monday); we made our corrections (Monday). For us that game is yesterday, we’re moving on to Alabama A&M.”
That could be easier said than done. While Alabama A&M, which hosts UAPB at 1 p.m. Saturday at Louis Crews Stadium, should pose a significant challenge, despite its current 0-2 (0-1 SWAC) record, it’s hard to let such a heartbreaking defeat go.
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“This game hurts,” Coleman said about the 24-20 loss to TSU. “It hurts us as a team, because of the blown opportunities we did have. … We had opportunities that we didn’t capitalize on to win the game, because we did have chances to win the ballgame.
”The missed opportunities included two first-half possessions that ended with three points instead of seven, a fumble by quarterback Marcus Terrell inside the TSU 5-yard line, and an interception in the end zone on the last play of the game.
NEW ORLEANS — Ana Privat served three aces early in the fifth set Friday to help SUNO defeat Xavier University of Louisiana 25-21, 25-22, 14-25, 13-25, 15-9 at The Castle and snap the Gold Nuggets' lengthy Gulf Coast Athletic Conference win streaks.
The Gold Nuggets (8-5, 4-1 GCAC) had won 52 in a row in the GCAC — the ninth-longest regular-season conference streak in NAIA women's volleyball history — and 63 straight including GCAC tournaments. Xavier had not lost to a GCAC opponent since losing in five sets to SUNO in the semifinals of the GCAC Tournament on Nov. 13, 2010. The Nuggets had not lost a GCAC regular-season match since losing in four sets at SUNO on Oct. 12, 2010.
Privat served her only aces of the match in the fifth set to give the Lady Knights (8-5, 2-0) leads of 2-1, 4-1 and 6-1. Although Privat committed a service error after her third ace, Xavier never got closer than four points thereafter. A Jana Reininghaus kill ended the match and gave SUNO its first victory against Xavier after 12 consecutive losses to its city rival.
Adriana Titonea and Shannon Jones had 13 kills apiece for SUNO. Titonea had four blocks, and Privat had 17 digs.
Jada Broussard had 15 kills, a career best, and hit .591 for Xavier. Taylor Reuther and Claudia Haywood had 10 kills apiece. Darian Harris had 19 digs, and Franziskl Pirkl had 42 assists, seven kills and 14 digs.
Xavier committed five attack errors and a service error after leading 19-16 in the second set.
"We were so focused on actually winning that we lost focus on how to play point-by-point," said Reuther. "We were just focused on the end result instead of what was right in front of us."
Although Xavier outhit SUNO .176 to .136 for the match, the Lady Knights had a .274 to .141 advantage in their winning sets. They outhit Xavier .350 to .158 in the fifth.
"This may seem like a historical loss to some people," said Pirkl, "but this loss does not define us."
Xavier will visit the University of Mobile in a non-conference match at 7:30 p.m. next Friday. The Gold Nuggets' next home match will start at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 6 against Belhaven, and the next GCAC match will start at 7 p.m. Oct. 8 at home against Edward Waters. SUNO will visit Xavier in the Nuggets' final home match at 1 p.m. Oct. 31.
Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015 Click below for the up-to-date scores from ESPN Click here to track live Football scores on September 26
OVC
Tennessee State at Florida A&M, 4 p.m.
SWAC Southern at #7 Georgia, 12 Noon, Sanford Stadium, Athens, GA, TV: SEC Network, ESPN
Arkansas Pine Bluff at Alabama A&M, 2 p.m.
Concordia-Selma at Alcorn State, 3 p.m.
Alabama State at Mississippi Valley State, 7 p.m.
Grambling State vs. Prairie View A&M, 90th State Fair Classic, 7 p.m., Cotton Bowl, Dallas, TX
Texas Southern at Jackson State, 7 p.m.
MEAC
Hampton at Norfolk State, Battle of the Bay, 4 p.m.
Savannah State at Bethune-Cookman, 4 p.m.
Tennessee State at Florida A&M, 4 p.m. Morgan State at Howard, 3:30 p.m.,18th Annual Chicago Classic, TV: ESPN3/ESPNU TD, Soldier Field, Chicago IL
SIAC
Albany State at Delta State, 2 p.m. TV: Free DSU Web Stream (Click Here)
Clark Atlanta at West Georgia, 2 p.m. Central State vs. Kentucky State, 32nd Annual Circle City Classic, 3 p.m., TV: ESPN3, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN,
Tuskegee at Lane, 3 p.m.
Winston-Salem State at Elizabeth City State, 4 p.m.
Morehouse at Miles, 5 p.m.
Benedict at Fort Valley State, 6 p.m.
Shaw at Lincoln (Pa.), 6 p.m.
CIAA
Johnson C. Smith at Virginia Union, 1 p.m.
Saint Augustine's at Chowan, 1 p.m.
Fayetteville State at Virginia State, 2 p.m.
Livingstone at Bowie State, 6 p.m.
The Sun Conference
Edward Waters at Point University, 12 Noon
MWC
Charleston (WV) at West Virginia State, 1 p.m.
NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's men's tennis team has three seeded singles players and two seeded doubles teams in the 2015 USTA/ITA NAIA South Regional Championships, which will begin Friday at City Park/Pepsi Tennis Center (5900 Marconi Drive, New Orleans LA 70124).
Karan Salwan, A-flight singles champion at last week's HBCU National Championships, is seeded fourth in singles for the Gold Rush. Teammate Kyle Montrel is seeded fifth, and Tushar Mandlekar is eighth.
In doubles, Salwan and Mandlekar are No. 2, and Montrel and Kevin Chaouat are No. 4. Salwan and Mandlekar won the HBCU A-flight doubles championship.
Also competing for the XU men will be Manav Chakma, Adam Albrecht and Jeremiah Capdeville. Chakma won the HBCU B-flight singles consolation title, and he teamed with Albrecht to win B-flight doubles.
Men's singles will start at 9 a.m. Friday, followed by women's singles at 10:15.
Also competing will be student-athletes from Auburn Montgomery, Brenau, Georgia Gwinnett, Point and William Carey. AUM was the NAIA women's team champion during the 2015 spring season, and Georgia Gwinnett is a two-time defending NAIA men's team champion. Georgia Gwinnett's Jordan Cox returns to defend his men's singles title. Also back is Georgia Gwinnett's Valeria Podda, No. 1 in the ITA's final NAIA women's singles rankings of 2014-15. Podda was the singles runner-up at this event last year.
Main-draw quarterfinals and semifinals will be played Saturday at City Park. Finals will be Sunday at XU Tennis Center (3619 Pine St., New Orleans LA 70125). There will be consolation matches in men's and women's singles, and both those brackets likely will conclude Saturday.
This is the third consecutive year and the fourth time in six years that Xavier plays host to this event.
Main-draw champions in singles and doubles will qualify for the USTA/ITA National Small College Championships at Sumter, S.C., from Oct. 15-18.
ATLANTA, Georgia (9/24/15)-- The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) announced that it has signed an agreement that creates additional training and development opportunities for individuals seeking to enter the football officiating profession.
Specifically, the NFL will not only provide the SIAC with technical assistance in connection with conference officiating clinics, but also give feedback with regard to current officiating best practices. The SIAC will provide the NFL with access to all SIAC game video, evaluations of all SIAC officials, and provide officials from the NFL's Intermediate Development Program opportunities to officiate conference games.
SIAC commissioner Greg Moore remarked, "Two years ago, the SIAC was very proud to become the first NCAA conference to provide four outstanding young women with the historic opportunity to officiate a college football game. This agreement represents a natural extension of our league's demonstrated commitment to increasing the number of professional opportunities in intercollegiate athletics to individuals who otherwise would not have them. We are extremely proud to be working with the NFL to advance such an important initiative."
Alberto Riveron, NFL Senior Director of Officiating stated, "We are proud to assist the SIAC with its football officiating program. The SIAC is a conference rich in tradition. Its commitment to diversity and inclusion is second to none. Under the direction of Harold Mitchell, the SIAC's football officiating program has consistently demonstrated the ability to motivate and train officials to allow them to reach the highest levels of officiating. We look forward to a great partnership."
Harold Mitchell, SIAC Coordinator of Football Officials added, "Officiating expertise is enhanced by video study, on field training and classroom rules study. The partnership with the NFL will give the SIAC Football Officiating program a tremendous boost, both now and in the future."
ABOUT THE SIAC:
The SIAC is a NCAA athletic conference headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia and includes fifteen member institutions (Albany State University, Benedict College, Central State University, Claflin University, Clark Atlanta University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Lane College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Miles College, Morehouse College, Paine College, Spring Hill College, Stillman College, and Tuskegee University). The SIAC sponsors six women's sports and seven men's sports. Last year 388,787 fans attended SIAC football games which led NCAA Division II in average football attendance.
NEW ORLEANS — Thirteen home games, three trips to Florida and two games against NCAA Division I opponents are among the highlights of the 2015-16 Xavier University of Louisiana women's basketball schedule.
Bo Browder, back for his 17th season as head coach of the Gold Nuggets, announced the schedule Wednesday.
The Gold Nuggets will travel to central Florida to open the season Oct. 31 at Webber International and Nov. 2 at Warner, the XU homecoming opponent a year ago. They'll return to south Florida the week before Christmas to make their second consecutive appearance in the Cruzin Classic, this time against Georgetown (Ky.) and Florida Memorial. The third trip to Florida will be to Jacksonville for a Feb. 20 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference game against Edward Waters.
The Gold Nuggets will play at home four times in November, once in December, five times in January and three times in February, starting with a 6 p.m. exhibition Nov. 7 against NCAA Division II's LeMoyne-Owen. The first regular-season home game will tip off at 11 a.m. Nov. 21 against Eastern Oregon, a 26-game winner and an NAIA Division II National Tournament qualifier last season. The Mountaineers will be the Nuggets' homecoming opponent.
Xavier on Nov. 12 will visit NCAA DI's Louisiana-Lafayette for the third consecutive season and close the calendar year Dec. 29 at Northwestern State. It will be the first meeting of the Gold Nuggets and the Lady Demons since Xavier rallied from 13 down to win 54-53 at NSU on Nov. 16, 2007.
The Gold Nuggets will play four 2015 NAIA Division I National Championship qualifiers in November — Our Lady of the Lake and LSU-Shreveport in the LSUS Classic at Shreveport, La., Nov. 14-15 and Shawnee State and Langston in the Xavier Classic Nov. 26-27. Shawnee State, a first-time opponent, and Xavier will play Thanksgiving evening.
LSUS will visit Xavier Jan. 2.
Xavier will visit Auburn Montgomery and Faulkner Dec. 4-5. It will be the first meeting between the Gold Nuggets and AUM since Feb. 15, 1999, during Browder's first season as head coach.
Xavier will visit city rival Loyola, a 27-game winner and NAIA tourney qualifier last season, Feb. 17. Longtime rival William Carey will visit Xavier Feb. 11 and returns to the schedule after a year's absence.
The Gold Nuggets, second in the GCAC regular season and tournament a year ago, will open their conference schedule Jan. 4 at home against Edward Waters. SUNO, which won the GCAC regular season and tournament and reached the second round at nationals, will play host to the Nuggets Feb. 1 and visit Xavier Feb. 15.
Xavier will play its other GCAC city rival, Dillard, Feb. 6 at XU in the Crosstown Classic and Feb. 27 at Dillard's Dent Hall. The first meeting will be played on Endymion Saturday, one of the prime days of Carnival.
The GCAC Tournament will be March 4-6 in New Orleans. The winner will receive an automatic bid to the NAIA Division I National Championship March 16-22 at Independence, Mo., a Kansas City suburb. The Gold Nuggets narrowly missed a bid to nationals a year ago — just the third time in the last 21 seasons they failed to qualify.
Xavier, 18-15 overall and 9-5 in the GCAC in 2014-15, returns the majority of its letterwomen, including senior all-star point guard Whitney Gathright. Browder is 390-142 at Xavier and the program's all-time winningest coach. This will be Xavier's fourth season in the Convocation Center, a $25 million facility which seats nearly 4,000.
Xavier University of Louisiana
2015-16 Women's Basketball Schedule
Oct. 31 (Sat.): at Webber International, 5 p.m. EDT
Nov. 2 (Mon.): at Warner, 7 p.m. EST Nov. 7 (Sat.): LeMOYNE-OWEN (DH), 6 p.m. (exhibition)
Nov. 12 (Thu.): at Louisiana-Lafayette, 7 p.m.
Nov. 14 (Sat.): Our Lady of the Lake, 2 p.m. (LSUS Classic, Shreveport, La.)
Nov. 15 (Sun.): at LSU-Shreveport, 4 p.m. (LSUS Classic, Shreveport, La.) Nov. 21 (Sat.): EASTERN OREGON (DH), 11 a.m. (Homecoming) Nov. 26 (Thu.): SHAWNEE STATE, 7 p.m. (Xavier Classic)
Nov. 27 (Fri.): LANGSTON, 4 p.m. (Xavier Classic)
Dec. 1 (Tue.): MOBILE (DH), 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 4 (Fri.): at Auburn Montgomery, 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 5 (Sat.): at Faulkner, 4 p.m.
Dec. 17 (Thu.): Florida Memorial, TBA (Cruzin Classic, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Dec. 18 (Fri.): Georgetown (Ky.), TBA (Cruzin Classic, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Dec. 29 (Tue.): at Northwestern State, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 2 (Sat.): LSU-SHREVEPORT, 3 p.m.
Jan. 4 (Mon.): • EDWARD WATERS (DH), 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 11 (Mon.): • PHILANDER SMITH (DH), 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 13 (Wed.): at Mobile, 6 p.m.
Jan. 16 (Sat.): • at Talladega (DH), 3 p.m. Jan. 18 (Mon.): • TOUGALOO (DH), 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 23 (Sat.): • at Philander Smith (DH), 2 p.m. Jan. 25 (Mon.): • TALLADEGA (DH), 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 1 (Mon.): • at SUNO (DH), 5:30 p.m. Feb. 6 (Sat.): • DILLARD (DH), 3 p.m. (Crosstown Classic)
Feb. 11 (Thu.): WILLIAM CAREY (DH), 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 15 (Mon.): • SUNO (DH), 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 17 (Wed.): at Loyola, 7 p.m.
Feb. 20 (Sat.): • at Edward Waters (DH), 3 p.m. EST
Feb. 22 (Mon.): • at Tougaloo (DH), 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 27 (Sat.): • at Dillard (DH), 3 p.m.
March 4-6 (Fri.-Sun.): Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament, New Orleans
March 16-22 (Wed.-Tue.): NAIA Division I National Championship, Independence, Mo.
Home games in BOLD CAPITAL LETTERS • Gulf Coast Athletic Conference game
All times are Central except where noted
Schedule is subject to change
TUSKEGEE, Alabama | After playing three consecutive non-conference games to open the 2015 campaign, the 18th-ranked Tuskegee University Golden Tigers will hit the road to face Lane College in their SIAC opener Saturday afternoon.
The game is schedule for a 2 pm kickoff in Jackson, Tenn. and can be seen/heard on the Tuskegee Sports Network.
Tuskegee (3-0) will be looking to win their conference opener for the fourth consecutive season, with the last loss coming in 2011 to Stillman. They will be looking to do so against Lane (1-2) who is looking for their first win in school history against Tuskegee, and is coming off of a 7-3 loss to FCS-member Bethune-Cookman last weekend.
However, none of those numbers matter when the two teams line up and play on Saturday afternoon.
"You can't take anyone lightly," Tuskegee junior quarterback Kevin Lacey said. "Football starts 0-0, so no one is ahead. It doesn't matter how many times you beat someone, you can always lose any day. It is anyone's game, you just have to come out and execute to your potential and whatever happens."
The Golden Tigers rank as one of the best defenses in the country this season as they enter the contest on Saturday. They are currently in the top 15 in several categories which include defensive touchdowns (tied for first), passing efficiency defense (fourth), interceptions (fifth), red zone defense (sixth), scoring defense (eighth), turnovers (13th) and turnovers gained (15th).
They will be facing one of the top offenses in the SIAC this weekend in Lane, as the Dragons lead the league in third down percentage (.679), first downs (65), rushing offense (235.0 ypg) and turnovers lost (four).
"They have a really good quarterback and all of their skill guys are back this year," Tuskegee defensive coordinator Joseph Carter said. "They have built around that, it is going to be interesting to see. They do a lot of motion with receivers and try to outnumber you like that before they snap the ball.
"It will be tempo again. This team will be one of the fastest we have faced up until now, and they will check it from the sideline. It means the coaches will get a chance to see what defense they think we are in, and make the perfect call. That is the challenge."
However, the Golden Tigers offense moved the ball last week as they ran 10 more plays than Winston-Salem State and outgained the Rams by 139 yards.
"We did better and I think we are getting better," Tuskegee head coach Willie Slater said. "We were able to drive the ball down the field, particularly the drive to start the second half. I thought that was a key drive in the game. We didn't have a lot of turnovers, we had the turnover late which was bad.
"The defense came out there and only gave up three points on the turnover. It ended up being a positive thing because they were able to hold them to just three points."
Tuskegee will need the positive on both sides of the ball as they play their first "true" road game of the season this week. The Golden Tigers have been on the road already once this year, but not in a hostile environment.
"We just have to maintain the focus that we have had this season," Lacey said. "We have a long drive to Jackson, distractions are really not good. You don't want any distractions, you have to carry the focus from Tuskegee to Jackson."
Slater has reminded the guys about this week's game and what it can mean for the program.
"I spoke to the players this morning," Slater said. "I know how bad we wanted to beat Winston-Salem State and in turn I know that is how bad they want to beat us. We better have our A game when we go up there.
"Once we leave here, it's just us. Everything is just us. There are no distractions at all. When we play at home we leave on Friday, but up until that point there are a lot of distractions. We try to get them back in and on tune. But when we leave on a road trip, we don't have distractions like that and guys seem to gel a little bit better."
The Golden Tigers depart on Friday as they head to Jackson, Tennessee to face Lane.
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CLEVELAND, Mississippi - No. 5/6 Delta State (3-0, 0-0 GSC) welcomes in-region rival Albany State University (1-2, 1-1 SIAC) to Parker Field-McCool Stadium for the first time in regular season series history. The Statesmen and Golden Rams are set for a 2 p.m. kickoff. Matt Jones, Mark Williams, Lane Quinton and Philip Tang will have the call on the Statesmen Sports Network at 1 p.m. with Statesman Game Day Live.
INSIDE THE SERIES: While the Statesmen and Golden Rams will meet for the second time on the gridiron Saturday, Sept. 26, it's the first time the two schools have met in the regular season. In the first meeting between the Super Region II powers, the Statesmen defeated ASU 28-7 in the NCAA Quarterfinals on Dec. 4, 2010 at The Coliseum in Albany, Georgia. DSU finished the day with 348 yards of total offense on 66 plays, including 156 yards rushing. The Statesmen held the ASU "Gold Rush" offense to 307 yards on the day, while shutting down its power run game to the tune of 104 yards on 33 carries.
LAST TIME OUT: Delta State University held Kentucky Wesleyan to just 194 total yards in a 51-18 victory on Pig Pickin', Saturday night at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. The Statesmen forced five turnovers, including a season-high four interceptions in the victory. KWC managed to rush for a mere eight yards on 33 carries, while passing for 186 yards on 18 completions. Junior running back D'Juan Bellaire rushed for a career-high three touchdowns to pace the Statesmen.
PACING THE GSC: Delta State enters Saturday's contest with Albany State leading the Gulf South Conference in scoring at 50.0 points per game. Led by Tyler Sullivan's 340.3 yards per contest, the Statesmen also lead the league in passing (379.7 ypg). DSU also tops the league's charts for interceptions (8) and sacks (8.0).
PULLING THEM DOWN: With four receivers ranked in the GSC's top 10, DSU's passing offense has been nearly unstoppable this season. Jarvis York and Justin Leavy rank No. 2 and No. 3 respectively in receptions entering the weekend, while Patrick Bethley sits at No. 6 and Darius Powell at No. 8.
AGAINST NONCONFERENCE FOES: The Statesmen face their 11th nonconference opponent under Todd Cooley, as Delta State welcomes Albany State to Parker-McCool. Cooley and the Statesmen have posted a 9-1 record against nonconference foes, including a 51-44 win at Texas A&M-Commerce and a 51-18 thumping of Kentucky Wesleyan last week. Cooley's lone nonconference loss came at the hands of TAMUC, 45-37, at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas on Sept. 13, 2013. Delta State is an unblemished 6-0 against out of conference opponents at Parker Field-McCool Stadium under Cooley.
BECKWITH PACES BALL HAWKS: Junior safety Joreco Beckwith has shown early on this season why many in the GSC consider him one of the best defensive backs in the league. The Winnsboro, Louisiana native is pacing the Statesmen with 17 tackles and leads the GSC in interceptions with three.
GSC PREDICTIONS: Delta State was picked to finish second in the annual Gulf South Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll behind league favorite West Georgia. UWG is the first team other than Delta State, North Alabama and Valdosta State to top the poll since 2000 when former league member Southern Arkansas finished first. The Statesmen placed five Preseason All-GSC honorees in Mose Countryman, Randall Boyd, Wilson Curtis, Romelo Wilson, and Richard Nash.
COURTESY DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M University's athletics department Wednesday announced the creation of the new "Strike" app, which will give users digital game day content.
The app, which is free and available in the Apple store (Adobe and uses Adobe's Digital Publishing Solution (DPS). FAMU is the first HBCU to use the technology to create a game day app, according to university officials. Google Play will be added before the end of the week), is the product of FAMU's recent partnership with
The Mirum Agency, a Miami-based design company that helped create last year's Super Bowl app, helped to design the app.
"This is not just for football," said Sports Information Director Vaughn Wilson. "This is for everybody."
FAMU Strike Mobile is being called an expansion of the printed edition of "FAMU Strike," which is distributed at home games for $5. Athletic Director Milton Overton said the application is the start of the athletic department's digital marketing campaign. Overton used DPS while at Alabama and said it was a great success for the Crimson Tide.
FAMU head football coach Alex Wood and former Rattler and Dallas Cowboy great Nate Newton headline this Tuesday evening’s meeting of The Tallahassee Quarterback Club at The University Center Club at Florida State.
COURTESY: Tallahassee Quarterback Club
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Former Florida A&M and and Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Nate Newton turned plenty of heads while speaking at the Tallahassee Quarterback Club.
Newton, who won three Super Bowls while on the Cowboys’ O-line, didn’t stand at a podium to deliver his message Tuesday evening. After embracing new FAMU football coach Alex Wood, Newton took off his gray blazer, stepped away from his place at the speakers’ table and walked through the audience.
“I don’t know much about FAMU football,” he said to Wood before beginning his nearly 40-minute long talk.
“I left, went to the pros and that’s where I’ve been for the last however many years. You’ve got a tremendous job ahead of you. You do whatever it takes. Understand that people are wishy-washy.”
Newton mentioned a few coaches who inspired him while he played football. He played at FAMU from 1980 until 1983, while Rudy Hubbard was still the Rattlers’ head coach.
To Wood, Newton said, “Tom Landry, no matter what anybody said, he stayed the course. Jimmy Johnson, no matter what anybody said, he stayed the course. You stay the course and you’ll be successful.”
TALLAHASSEE, Florida – The Florida A&M Rattlers will take on the Tigers of Tennessee State on Sat., Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. in Bragg Memorial Stadium. The game will mark the 40th anniversary of the FAMU Sports Hall of Fame. It is also Parent's Weekend on campus. The FAMU freshman class will represent with a field rush during the Marching "100's" pre-game performance. The TSU "Aristocrat of Bands" will be in attendance and perform at halftime of the game.
Of particular concern is the traffic pattern approaching Bragg Stadium. The Railroad Ave./Wahnish Way approach from the North will be hampered by a construction project for FAMU Way. We suggest that travelers go from Adams Street and Monroe Street to Orange Avenue and approach from the south. The Tallahassee Police Department and FAMU Campus Safety will both engage fans to assist in the traffic pattern.
In addition, fans will enter the stadium from Wahnish Way this season. That is a departure from the traditional Perry Street entrance. It will provide a more festive and safe entry experience.
GRAMBLING STATE (1-2, 1-0 SWAC) VS. PRAIRIE VIEW A&M (2-1, 0-2) 4 p.m. Saturday, Cotton Bowl (No TV)
DALLAS, Texas -- A year ago, Grambling State kicker Marc Orozco trotted off the Cotton Bowl field moments after kicking a field goal, one of two 3-pointers that were the deciding points in his team's 26-20 victory over Prairie View A&M.
Like he usually does, Orozco checked the stands behind the Grambling State bench, making sure to make eye contact with his dad, Edwin, checking for his approval.
"Whether he disliked or liked the kick," Orozco said.
Edwin, 47, said he smiled but was "kinda crying a little bit. It made me real happy, made me proud.
"Everything we've been working on together, from then to now ... his dream is coming true."
Orozco again will be the kicker for Grambling State when it faces Prairie View A&M at 4 p.m. Saturday in the Southwest Airlines State Fair Classic at the Cotton Bowl.
NORFOLK. Virginia -- David Watford allows himself to wonder what might have been had he stayed put.
The former University of Virginia quarterback, ultimately relegated to third string and the occasional appearance at wide receiver after a full season as the Cavaliers' starter, can't help but imagine his fate if he hadn't transferred to Hampton for his senior season.
"I did think about that the other day," Watford said this week. "It really crossed my mind. If I would've stayed, what would I have been doing right now, and what would be my role on the team? I'm very excited with the decision I made to come here and accept a new role."
The Pirates (2-1, 1-0 MEAC), who visit local rival Norfolk State on Saturday, couldn't be happier to have him.
The 6-foot-2, 212-pound Watford has completed 61 of 106 passes (57.6 percent) for 853 yards and nine touchdowns while leading his rejuvenated hometown team.
ATHENS, Georgia -- Southern University wide receiver Devon Gales underwent a successful spinal surgery Sunday afternoon. 
