Friday, December 4, 2015
SWAC Enshrines 2015 Hall of Fame Class
HOUSTON, Texas – The Southwestern Athletic Conference formally inducted seven of its most significant athletes, coaches and administrators into the SWAC Hall of Fame Thursday night at the J.W. Marriott in Houston. The annual reception served as the catalyst for championship weekend in leading up to the 2015 SWAC Football Championship game.
The newest hall of fame class consisted of Selma, Ala. Mayor and former coordinator of SWAC officials George Patrick Evans, Tommy Gibbs, Sr. (Alcorn State), Kevin Granger (Texas Southern), Perry Harrington (Jackson State), Maurice “Mo” Hurst (Southern), Alicia Pete (Prairie View A&M) and Steven Rogers, Sr. (Alabama State)
Each inductee had the chance to share past stories and show gratitude to those that helped them during their playing and coaching days.
George Patrick Evans (SWAC Official)
Prior to a career in politics, Evans served the SWAC for three decades (1979-2009) in an officiating capacity. In addition to becoming one of the conference’s most seasoned officials, Evans also spent more than a decade coordinating officials for SWAC men’s and women’s basketball.
Evans was floored by his induction.
“It’s an honor. It’s certainly a privilege for me to have worked for the SWAC for 30 years,” Evans said. To have this honor – to be asked to be an inductee, I’m just honored to be here …. I’m just appreciative, honored, and I feel blessed.”
Tommy Anthony Gibbs Sr. (Alcorn State University)
Gibbs earned his place in conference lore as one of the great defenders in Alcorn State history. In his collegiate career, Gibbs racked up 300 tackles, 27 sacks, six picks and three fumble recoveries. He was a first-team All-SWAC selection and was a member of the Braves’ 1979 conference championship team
The evening was an emotional one for Gibbs, who dedicated his college career to his mother. Gibbs described his induction as one of the most meaningful accolades he’s ever received.
“It’s a blessing, man. It’s like a dream come true. It was a surprise to me, and it just blew me away. It means everything to me,” he said. “I wish my mom was here to witness this, because she wanted me to do this … but it really means a lot to me. It means a great deal.”
Kevin Granger (Texas Southern University)
As one of the most dominant scorers of his era, Texas Southern alum Kevin Granger went down as one of the greatest basketball players in conference history, leading the Tigers to the SWAC Tournament Championship in 1994 and 1995 – he won tournament MVP honors in 1994 – and in 1996, he led the nation in scoring at 27 points per game.
Granger, who was a two-time all-SWAC and Black College All-American selection, said the best part of the night was sharing the merit with his closest loved ones.
“It’s a big honor. It’s an opportunity to say, ‘Hey, job well done.’ I normally don’t get too excited about individual awards because I was always team player and believed in the team concept of the game,” Granger said. “But, to get recognized for this, it means a lot to me. Not just for me, but I’m moreso for my family that they’re getting the opportunity to enjoy this moment with me.”
Currently, Granger serves his alma mater as its athletics operations manager.
Perry Harrington (Jackson State University)
Harrington was one of the most electric running backs in the nation as part of the Wishbone offense of SWAC coaching legend W.C. Gorden. He earned two All-SWAC selections for the Tigers in 1978 and 1979 as well.
“It’s one of the better honors of my life. It’s the first opportunity I’ve had to enjoy an award with my children. I’m very enthused,” Harrington said of his enshrinement.
Maurice “Mo” Hurst (Southern University)
Hurst parlayed a stunning athletic career at Southern, into an equally impressive seven-year career in the NFL as a member of the New England Patriots. Hurst was named to the NFL All-Rookie honors and was eventually selected to the Patriots’ all-decade team in the 1990s, earning the distinction of All-Pro during the 1995 season.
Hurst said he never thought that his playing career would lead him to the annals of the SWAC Hall of Fame, calling the induction a humbling occasion.
“It means a lot. It’s not something you think about when you’re playing, but ultimately being honored like this – it was somewhat a surprise,” Hurst said. “I’m very, very honored and it means quite a bit to me that they think of me in the same class as some of the great names who have been chosen in the past.”
Alicia Lynn Pete (Prairie View A&M University)
As one of the great athletes and coaching pioneers in Panthers history, Pete has experienced success in nearly every athletic venue one could imagine. Even with the multiple all-conference and all-tournament selections as well as the litany of division and conference championships won as volleyball coach, Pete considered her most recent distinction one of the most meaningful.
“This means a lot to me – not only to me, but to my family and to my university,” Pete said. “I really worked hard to get to where I am today, and I just appreciate being inducted into the Hall of Fame.”
Pete currently serves as the Senior Woman Administrator at Prairie View A&M.
Steve Rogers Sr. (Alabama State University)
Rogers was SWAC Player of the Year twice en route to earning All-American distinction in his junior and senior seasons. He went on to transition from that to coaching and athletic administration, where he has been a part of three separate SWAC championship teams in basketball and football.
For the former Hornet basketball star, Rogers said it was an award to share with his family, supporters and his fellow Hornet alums.
“Tonight’s a great honor for me. I’m truly blessed to have this honor. It means a lot to me, my family and all the people that supported me over the years,” Rogers said. “Most of all, my ASU – Alabama State University; I am so honored and grateful to be a part of that family. It’s because of the Alabama State University family that I’m here today.”
Rogers is currently an assistant coach for the Alabama State men’s basketball team.
COURTESY SWAC MEDIA RELATIONS
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Stillman College drops football, other athletics due to financial strains
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- Stillman College has dropped their football program and all other athletic programs except for men and women’s basketball due to financial challenges, the school's president announced on Thursday. The Spring 2016 sports will continue, but will discontinue starting in Fall 2016, according to Stillman President Dr. Peter Millet. The band and cheerleading programs will continue.
Millet said he and his staff reached this decision after approximately eight months of research.
Stillman will move to the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference in NAIA.
Stillman’s president said more sports could come back after the 2016-2017 school year if the money is available.
The president said this is a pivotal moment in the college’s history and they want to get back on solid financial ground. Millet feared if they didn't cut their sports programs, except for men's and women's basketball, the school could go under financially.
Millet said he will not allow Stillman to close because of the continuing budget woes. He said “enough is enough.”
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Germany out as Southern offensive coordinator
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Southern University football confirmed Wednesday offensive coordinator Chad Germany has resigned from the program. Germany will remain on staff until Jan. 14.“Chad Germany has been instrumental in the success of the Southern University football program for four years,” said head coach Dawson Odums.
“His development of the quarterbacks at Southern helped produced the program’s all-time leading passer and perennial All-SWAC performers. We thank Chad for his service at Southern in helping rebuild the football program and wish him the best in his future endeavors.”
Defensive line coach Myron Jackson, linebackers coach Lorick Atkinson and cornerbacks coach Chris Scott will not return to the Jaguar coaching staff in 2016.
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Gold Rush give Mobile first loss of season
NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana -- Morris Wright scored 19 points Tuesday, and NAIA No. 19 Xavier University of Louisiana scored the final six points to earn a 56-51 men's basketball victory against Mobile.
The Gold Rush (8-2) avenged a 54-39 loss at Mobile from two weeks earlier and gave the Rams their first loss of the season.
Will Hornsby's basket with 44 seconds remaining gave Mobile its final lead, 51-50. Xavier went ahead to stay, 52-51, on a pair of Lucas Martin-Julien free throws -- his only points of the game -- with 31 seconds remaining. On the next possession, Martin-Julien went out of bounds to control a rebound of a missed Mobile shot, then Wright made a pair of free throws with nine seconds to play.
Wright led the Gold Rush in scoring for the 13th consecutive game. Wesley Pluviose-Philip scored nine points, and Jarvis Thibodeaux and RJ Daniels scored eight apiece.
D.J. Hill scored 12 points, James Davis 11 and Brandon Barnes for the Rams (6-1). Davis, who entered the game as NAIA Division I's most accurate 3-point shooter, missed his only attempt from behind the arc.
Xavier led 28-21 at halftime and 35-25 after Thibodeaux's basket with 15:29 remaining.
Mobile outshot Xavier 45.2 to 39.5 percent from the floor. The Gold Rush made 19-of-23 free throws -- a season-best 82.6 percent -- to Mobile's 11-of-17.
Xavier is 8-0 at home this season. It's the first time since 2010-11 that the XU men won their first eight home games.
Xavier will visit city rival Loyola at 7 p.m. Thursday.
BOX SCORE
Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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Florida A&M Volleyball Inks Three Prime Prospects For 2016
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M University head volleyball coach Tony Trifonov announced this week the signing of three prime prospects to National Letters of Intent to join the volleyball team for the 2016 season.
Two of the signees – outside hitters Alexandria Hightower and Alexis Gosha – are highly decorated prep performers, while the third - outside hitter Maria Garcia, performed in three international world championship events this past summer.
@ Garcia, a 6-1 hitter from the Dominican Republic,was a member of the Dominican Republic’s Under 20 FIVB World Championship team, which captured the gold medal in competition in Puerto Rico. She was also a member of the bronze medal-winning Under 23 team, along with current FAMU player Pamela Soriano; and was on the Under 18 National team as well.
She plans to major in Psychology at FAMU.
@ Hightower, a 5-11 native of Chula Vista, California, is a two-time team captain for Olympian High School, which was in the California state finals at this writing.
A two-time athlete of the week in 2015, and MVP of the Sweetwater Tournament and a member of the Scripps Ranch Tournament all-tournament team, Hightower has helped lead her teams at Olympian (2014, 2105), and previously at Francis Parker High (2012, 2013), to four regional or sectional titles, two state titles (2012, 2013) and three state finals (2012, 2013, 2015).
She also has six years of playing experience in club volleyball, earning Best Players notice at the 2014 AAU National Tournament, and helped lead here 2012 Wave Volleyball Club to a fifth place finish in the Junior National division tournament.
The daughter of former FAMU Football player Arthur Hightower, now an executive with the San Diego Chargers, Alexandria was one of the San Diego Union Tribune area volleyball players to watch coming into the 2015 campaign.
Recruited by North Carolina Central, American University, Columbia University and Albany (N.Y.) University, Hightower plans to major in Biology/Pre Medicine at FAMU.
@ Gosha, a 5-10 outside hitter, right side hitter from Apopka, Florida high school, brings six years of volleyball playing experience at the prep school and club team levels, beginning here career in seventh grade.
She is a two-time All-Metro performer and captain of the Apopka High team, and played on some stellar club teams as well.
Alexis Gosha- OVA 17 Asics from Crystal on Vimeo.
Gosha played on a club that finished third in the USA National Championships; was a member of teams that finished second in the Florida regional tournament, and third place in the Big South National qualifier.
An academic all-star as well, Gosha is a member of the National Honor Society, was in the Medical Magnet program at Apopka High, and was dual enrolled at Valencia Community College in Orlando.
Recruited by Long Beach State, UMass, North Florida, Tampa, Georgia State, VCU, FAU, FIU, Mercer, Florida Tech, Radford and Lehigh, Gosha plans to major in Physical Therapy at FAMU.
“This is one of the better recruiting classes in the history of the program,” said FAMU head coach Tony Trifonov, who just completed his 18th season.
“These young ladies will come in and make an immediate impact on our program without question.”
COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
Two of the signees – outside hitters Alexandria Hightower and Alexis Gosha – are highly decorated prep performers, while the third - outside hitter Maria Garcia, performed in three international world championship events this past summer.
@ Garcia, a 6-1 hitter from the Dominican Republic,was a member of the Dominican Republic’s Under 20 FIVB World Championship team, which captured the gold medal in competition in Puerto Rico. She was also a member of the bronze medal-winning Under 23 team, along with current FAMU player Pamela Soriano; and was on the Under 18 National team as well.
She plans to major in Psychology at FAMU.
@ Hightower, a 5-11 native of Chula Vista, California, is a two-time team captain for Olympian High School, which was in the California state finals at this writing.
A two-time athlete of the week in 2015, and MVP of the Sweetwater Tournament and a member of the Scripps Ranch Tournament all-tournament team, Hightower has helped lead her teams at Olympian (2014, 2105), and previously at Francis Parker High (2012, 2013), to four regional or sectional titles, two state titles (2012, 2013) and three state finals (2012, 2013, 2015).
She also has six years of playing experience in club volleyball, earning Best Players notice at the 2014 AAU National Tournament, and helped lead here 2012 Wave Volleyball Club to a fifth place finish in the Junior National division tournament.
The daughter of former FAMU Football player Arthur Hightower, now an executive with the San Diego Chargers, Alexandria was one of the San Diego Union Tribune area volleyball players to watch coming into the 2015 campaign.
Recruited by North Carolina Central, American University, Columbia University and Albany (N.Y.) University, Hightower plans to major in Biology/Pre Medicine at FAMU.
@ Gosha, a 5-10 outside hitter, right side hitter from Apopka, Florida high school, brings six years of volleyball playing experience at the prep school and club team levels, beginning here career in seventh grade.
She is a two-time All-Metro performer and captain of the Apopka High team, and played on some stellar club teams as well.
Alexis Gosha- OVA 17 Asics from Crystal on Vimeo.
Gosha played on a club that finished third in the USA National Championships; was a member of teams that finished second in the Florida regional tournament, and third place in the Big South National qualifier.
An academic all-star as well, Gosha is a member of the National Honor Society, was in the Medical Magnet program at Apopka High, and was dual enrolled at Valencia Community College in Orlando.
Recruited by Long Beach State, UMass, North Florida, Tampa, Georgia State, VCU, FAU, FIU, Mercer, Florida Tech, Radford and Lehigh, Gosha plans to major in Physical Therapy at FAMU.
“This is one of the better recruiting classes in the history of the program,” said FAMU head coach Tony Trifonov, who just completed his 18th season.
“These young ladies will come in and make an immediate impact on our program without question.”
COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
Gold Nuggets hold on to earn 4th straight victory
NEW ORLEANS -- Donyeah Mayfield scored 18 points Tuesday, and NAIA No. 21 Xavier University of Louisiana made six free throws in the final 33 seconds to preserve a 68-62 women's basketball victory against Mobile.
The Gold Nuggets (7-2) won their fourth in a row, all at home. They'll play five in a row on the road before their next home game Jan. 2.
Xavier trailed 31-27 at halftime, but Mayfield scored nine third-quarter points, and the Gold Nuggets never trailed after Mayfield's basket at 6:18 made it 38-37. But the Lady Rams (5-2) rallied from a nine-point deficit to tie the score at 51, and there were four additional one-point margins thereafter.
Mikayla Bates closed the scoring for Xavier with a pair of free throws after she rebounded teammate Amara Person-Hampton's missed free throw with 20 seconds remaining.
Mayfield, who reached double figures for the third consecutive game and the fifth time in six games, was the Gold Nuggets' only double-figure scorer. Joi Simmons scored nine points, and Kiera Robinson had eight points, six rebounds and three blocked shots. Emoni Harvey scored a season-high seven points, six in the first half on 3-of-3 from the floor. Trana Hopkins had a career-best six assists.
Starla Daggan and Laura Beth Wright scored 16 points apiece for Mobile (5-2), and Kali Koenig scored 10.
Xavier committed a season-worst 30 turnovers, five more than Mobile, but outshot the Lady Rams 41.2 to 31.3 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 43-38. The Gold Nuggets' 23 free throws and 34 attempts were season highs.
Xavier defeated Mobile for the 16th consecutive time on its home floor. They'll meet again Jan. 13 at Mobile.
The victory was the 399th for Bo Browder in his head-coaching career at four-year colleges. He is 397-144 in 17 seasons at Xavier, 2-8 as Evansville's interim coach in 1995-96.
Xavier will travel to Montgomery, Ala., to play Auburn Montgomery at 5:30 p.m. Friday and Faulkner at 4 p.m. Saturday.
BOX SCORE
Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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UWG Football Preview: The Tuskegee Game
CARROLLTON, Georgia – The West Georgia football program is in the NCAA quarterfinals for the second straight season, taking on the Tuskegee Tigers this Saturday at noon in University Stadium. The Wolves are the top seed in Super Region 2 and the Tigers are the sixth seed. Kickoff for Saturday's contest is set for noon, with gates to open at 10:30 a.m.Gameday Timeline
8:00 AM - UWG Athletic Complex Open for Tailgating
10:00 AM - Ticket Booths Open
10:30 AM - Wolf Walk at Wolf Plaza
After the Wolf Walk - University Stadium Gates Open
12:00 PM - UWG vs. Tuskegee
Ticket Information
Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance of Saturday's contest via the online portal available at www.uwgsports.com/playoffcentral, utilizing the "print-at-home" feature to ensure the quickest passage through the university stadium gates. Chairback seats are $20, general admission $15 and student tickets are $10 on gameday.
How They Got Here
The Tuskegee Tigers had one of the biggest upsets of the 2015 playoffs thus far on Saturday afternoon, taking down traditional power North Alabama on the road, as the 6th-seeded Tigers beat 2nd-seed UNA 35-31. Tuskegee scored early, but had to come from behind late, scoring with 19 seconds left to seal the victory.
West Georgia also had a barnburner in the other Super Region 2 semifinal game, as the Wolves rallied from a 20-19 deficit to score with 3:09 left. Dallas Dickey took the ball in on a quarterback keeper on that final offensive play, then the defense held at midfield with back-to-back sacks on third and fourth down to seal the Wolves second-straight trip to the regional final.
UWG Preview
- The West Georgia Wolves put their first playoff game of the 2015 season behind them in dramatic fashion last weekend at University Stadium, thrilling the more than 7,000 fans in attendance with a battle to the wire against arch-rival Valdosta State, winning 27-20.
The win was the fourth playoff victory under head coach Will Hall and the third straight win against Valdosta State.
West Georgia comes into the contest with an 11-1 record on the season and sporting one of the best defenses in the nation. The Wolves allow just 15.3 points per game on the year annd have given up just 20 touchdowns overall.
The Wolves are best against the run, as teams have just six rushing touchdowns against the UWG defense.
On offense, West Georgia is a balanced attack with an emphasis on the run. Three explosive backs in Devontae Jackson, Lamarcus Franks and Aares McCall have combined for nearly 2,000 yards on the year behind one of the best offensive lines in the nation.
2015 Notables
- If not for the final West Georgia drive of the day against Valdosta State, neither Dallas Dickey or Devontae Jackson would have had 100 yards rushing against the Blazers. Jackson had three carries for 35 yards on "The Drive" while Dickey had four carries for 41 yards, including the nine-yard game-winner with 3:09 left. Jackson led the team with 126 yards on the afternoon while Dickey had 100 yards on the nose.
- Junior defensive end Dylan Donahue showed his mettle against Valdosta State last weekend with 3.5 sacks in the contest. The Montana native showed that he is not just a solid defensive end, but also a gamer, as two of his season-high sack total came in the fourth quarter. Donahue and the rest of the defensive line harassed the VSU quarterback throughout the afternoon, making contact on 20 different occasions.
- Freshman running back Devontae Jackson is on the verge of joining an elite club, as he is just 90 yards away from becoming the 10th back in school history with 1,000 yards rushing in a single season. Jackson also would be the first freshman in that class, rising to the top in creating a new category in the UWG record books.
- It's tough to look at individual periods and compare scores when outscoring opponents at a rate of 456-184 on the year, but the third quarter has been owned by the Wolves this season, as West Georgia has outscored opponents 110-21 in that period in 2015. The second quarter has also been strong, as UWG has outscored opponents 149-49 in that period as well.
COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF WEST GEORGIA MEDIA RELATIONS
UMES basketball coach Bobby Collins not discouraged by 1-5 start
PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland -- The UMES men's basketball team scored one fewer point than Georgetown in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the team from tumbling to a 68-49 loss Tuesday night.The Hawks are 1-5 so far, but those five losses came against opponents from larger programs. That’s partly why coach Bobby Collins isn’t going crazy about the team’s record.
“I think Georgetown’s a very good team, Missouri’s a good team, Kansas State is a very good team, Wofford is a very good team, and so is Fairfield,” he said Wednesday afternoon. “I think we might hear those teams’ names again in March. So to be 1-5 at this moment, I’m far from discouraged. I just want my team to get better, and for us, it’s really about being good in those games in March. That’s where I’m focusing.”
UMES can now turn its attention to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference portion of its schedule. The team will open league play Saturday at North Carolina Central, which is 1-4 but owns the second-longest active Division I win streak at home at 36. (Arizona owns the longest streak at 42.)
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PVAMU Lady Panthers overwhelm Louisiana Tech 77-68
RUSTON, Louisiana -- The Prairie View A&M Lady Panthers led from start to finish Wednesday as they defeated Louisiana Tech 77-68.
Alexus Parker and Lamaria Cole both set career highs in points as the Lady Panthers (3-1) handed one of the most storied programs in women's basketball history its first loss to a school from the Southwestern Athletic Conference in 40 years.
Parker scored 26 points on 12-of-19 shooting and grabbed three steals, while Cole added 24 points, four assists and four steals for Prairie View A&M; she was 10-of-19 from the field. Monique Abbs came off the bench and scored 11 points for the Lady Panthers.
Brandi Wingate, the daughter of 15-year NBA veteran David Wingate, recorded a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds for Louisiana Tech (3-3).
Cole scored on a 3-pointer to open the scoring 47 seconds into the first quarter, and from there the Lady Panthers led the rest of the way, as the Lady Techsters were unable to tie or take the lead.
Prairie View A&M's up-tempo offense helped force 22 Tech turnovers, yielding a 27-13 Lady Panthers advantage in points off turnovers. The Lady Panthers led by as many as 15 points midway through the second quarter, and held a 61-47 lead through the end of three periods.
The Lady Techsters, who are coached by Tyler Summitt, the son of legendary former Tennessee coach Pat Summitt, would get within six points with less than five minutes to play in the game, but would no closer. Louisiana Tech shot 63 percent from 3-point range in the second half after making only one out of 12 long-range shots in the first half (8.3 percent).
The Lady Panthers shot 49 percent (33 of 67) from the floor and 42 percent (5 of 12) from 3-point range. Their only shortcoming came at the free throw line, where they shot only 40 percent (6 of 15).
Larissa Scott, the nation's leading rebounder going in to Wednesday's game, pulled in 13 rebounds and scored six points.
Prairie View A&M's win ended Louisiana Tech's 29-game winning streak over SWAC opponents. The only SWAC school to claim a victory over the Lady Techsters before Wednesday was Southern University, which defeated Louisiana Tech in the 1975-76 season.
The win also gave Prairie View A&M head coach Dawn Brown her first victory over a Conference USA program in five tries. The Lady Panthers had lost their three previous matchups against Louisiana Tech in a series that dates back to 1989.
The Lady Panthers return to action Saturday when they host Lamar. Tipoff between the Cardinals and Lady Panthers is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Prairie View A&M's William J. Nicks Arena.
Box Score
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Alexus Parker and Lamaria Cole both set career highs in points as the Lady Panthers (3-1) handed one of the most storied programs in women's basketball history its first loss to a school from the Southwestern Athletic Conference in 40 years.
Parker scored 26 points on 12-of-19 shooting and grabbed three steals, while Cole added 24 points, four assists and four steals for Prairie View A&M; she was 10-of-19 from the field. Monique Abbs came off the bench and scored 11 points for the Lady Panthers.
Brandi Wingate, the daughter of 15-year NBA veteran David Wingate, recorded a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds for Louisiana Tech (3-3).
The Lady Panthers handed the Lady Techsters their first loss to a team from @theSWAC since the 1975-76 season!
Cole scored on a 3-pointer to open the scoring 47 seconds into the first quarter, and from there the Lady Panthers led the rest of the way, as the Lady Techsters were unable to tie or take the lead.
Prairie View A&M's up-tempo offense helped force 22 Tech turnovers, yielding a 27-13 Lady Panthers advantage in points off turnovers. The Lady Panthers led by as many as 15 points midway through the second quarter, and held a 61-47 lead through the end of three periods.
The Lady Techsters, who are coached by Tyler Summitt, the son of legendary former Tennessee coach Pat Summitt, would get within six points with less than five minutes to play in the game, but would no closer. Louisiana Tech shot 63 percent from 3-point range in the second half after making only one out of 12 long-range shots in the first half (8.3 percent).
The Lady Panthers shot 49 percent (33 of 67) from the floor and 42 percent (5 of 12) from 3-point range. Their only shortcoming came at the free throw line, where they shot only 40 percent (6 of 15).
Larissa Scott, the nation's leading rebounder going in to Wednesday's game, pulled in 13 rebounds and scored six points.
Prairie View A&M's win ended Louisiana Tech's 29-game winning streak over SWAC opponents. The only SWAC school to claim a victory over the Lady Techsters before Wednesday was Southern University, which defeated Louisiana Tech in the 1975-76 season.
The win also gave Prairie View A&M head coach Dawn Brown her first victory over a Conference USA program in five tries. The Lady Panthers had lost their three previous matchups against Louisiana Tech in a series that dates back to 1989.
The Lady Panthers return to action Saturday when they host Lamar. Tipoff between the Cardinals and Lady Panthers is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Prairie View A&M's William J. Nicks Arena.
Box Score
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Air Force Reserve Named Celebration Bowl Sponsor
ATLANTA, Georgia -- Air Force Reserve joins the new Celebration Bowl as title sponsor of the game that opens the college football bowl season. The Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl will crown an HBCU football champion as the champions of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) square off against the champions of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) on ABC at noon on Saturday, Dec. 19, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.“We are very excited to be the title sponsor of the inaugural Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl,” said Col. Christopher Nick, the Air Force Reserve’s Recruiting Service commander. “We feel that spotlighting the top teams from the Historically Black Colleges and Universities aligns well with the Air Force Reserve’s commitment to diversity. We hope that the players, attendees and viewers will gain greater awareness about Air Force Reserve opportunities to serve part-time in the military while living in their local communities.”
“As we continue to build toward creating a pinnacle event when the inaugural Celebration Bowl kicks off on December 19, it is exciting to have the Air Force Reserve join us as our title sponsor,” said John Grant, Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl executive director. “This game being the first kickoff on the first day of the college bowl season is a tremendous opportunity, made all the more exceptional with such a valued sponsor and representative of the United States Armed Forces.”
Fans can purchase tickets to the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl at ticketmaster.com, by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or at the Georgia Dome box office. Prices range from $15 to $60, plus applicable taxes and fees.
The Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl is owned and operated by ESPN Events, a division of ESPN. For more information, visit www.TheCelebrationBowl.com, and follow the event on Twitter and Facebook.
COURTESY SWAC MEDIA RELATIONS
SWAC title could come down to special teams
GRAMBLING, Louisiana — When asking a football coach the keys to beating an opponent, the response usually includes some form of the following "offense, defense and special teams." It's the quintessential coach-speak item that has become an empty phrase.Winning on offense and defense are obviously key, but just how much goes into special teams preparation? Coaches at Grambling say not enough at some programs.
"A lot of times they focus on offense and defense and they just kind of go through special teams," Grambling linebackers coach and special teams coordinator Terrance Graves said. "Here at Grambling, we do a great job of preparing for special teams. We actually implement a special teams game plan."
The special teams plan was used this past weekend when Grambling neutralized Southern speedster Willie Quinn, who is regarded as one of the top special teams players in the country.
This weekend, Grambling is hoping special teams can play another key role in the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship against Alcorn State.
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2015 All-SWAC Football Teams Announced
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Alabama State University, Alcorn State University, Grambling State University and Mississippi Valley State University received the four major 2015 Southwestern Athletic Conference postseason football awards in voting conducted by league head coaches and sports information directors. The conference made the announcement on Wednesday, just three days prior to its 2015 Toyota SWAC Football Championship on Saturday, Dec. 5, at NRG Stadium in Houston.
Grambling State quarterback Johnathan Williams was named Offensive Player of the Year. Alabama State linebacker Kourtney Berry was tabbed Defensive Player of the Year while Alcorn State’s Marquise Warford landed the Newcomer of the Year award. Rounding out the postseason accolades, Mississippi Valley State receiver Booker Chambers was tagged Freshman of the Year.
Southern led the way with 11 selections and five landing on first team. Alcorn State and Grambling State finished second with six and four picks receiving first-team votes respectively.
Williams led Grambling State to a 9-2 overall record (9-0 SWAC) and its first Western Division title since 2011. He helped GSU become the first school to earn a perfect conference record since 2008. The grad student ranks first in the FCS and in the SWAC in touchdown passes (36), first in the conference in passing yards (2,910), third in the SWAC in passing yards per game (262.8) and total offensive yards per game (294.6). Helping those averages was a big win over Prairie View A&M in which Williams passed for 429 yards inlcuding six touchdowns.
Berry led the SWAC and finished fifth in NCAA in tackles with 130. He registered double digit tackles in seven games with a season-high 19 against GSU. Twice Berry has been named SWAC Defensive Player of the Week in 2015. Berry is also listed on the CFPA Defensive Player of the Year Watch List.
Chambers led the Delta Devils in scoring with seven touchdowns. The true freshman hauled in 15 receptions for 194 yards and three touchdowns. Chambers returned 35 kickoffs for 777 yards and a long of 88 yards. Used in a variety of roles, he also rushed for three scores and one passing touchdown. Chambers totaled1,098 all-purpose yards on the season.
In his first Division I collegiate season after transferring from Memphis, Warford racked up nearly 1,000 all-purpose yards. He led the Braves in receptions and was second on the team in receiving yards. He was also fourth on the team in rushing yards while finishing with five touchdowns.
| OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR |
| Johnathan Williams (Grambling State) |
| DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR | |
| Kourtney Berry (Alabama State) | |
| NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR | |
| Marquise Warford (Alcorn State) | |
| FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR | |
| Booker Chambers (Mississippi Valley State) | |
| COACH PLAYER OF THE YEAR |
| Broderick Fobbs |
| FIRST TEAM | ||
| OFFENSE | ||
QB
|
Johnathan Williams
|
Grambling State
|
RB
|
Johnta’ Hebert
|
Prairie View A&M
|
RB
|
Lenard Tillery
|
Southern
|
OL
|
Isekelli Ongosia
|
Alcorn State
|
OL
|
Detonio Dade
|
Alcorn State
|
OL
|
Justin Miller
|
Grambling State
|
OL
|
Anthony Mosley
|
Southern
|
OL
|
Damian Love
|
Alabama State
|
WR
|
Chad Williams
|
Grambling State
|
WR
|
Daniel Williams
|
Jackson State
|
TE
|
Jordan Payne
|
Alcorn State
|
| DEFENSE | ||
DL
|
Stacey Garner
|
Alcorn State
|
DL
|
Darien Moody
|
Alcorn State
|
DL
|
Javancy Jones
|
Jackson State
|
DL
|
Gabe Echols
|
Southern
|
LB
|
Kourtney Berry
|
Alabama State
|
LB
|
Damon Watkins
|
Alcorn State
|
LB
|
Willie Duncan
|
Arkansas-Pine Bluff
|
DB
|
Guy Stallworth
|
Grambling State
|
DB
|
Warren Gatewood
|
Alcorn State
|
DB
|
Danny Johnson
|
Southern
|
DB
|
Marquis Green
|
Mississippi Valley State
|
| SPECIAL TEAMS | ||
K
|
Ryan Deising
|
Jackson State
|
P
|
Cory Carter
|
Texas Southern
|
RS
|
Willie Quinn
|
Southern
|
| SECOND TEAM | ||
| OFFENSE | ||
QB
|
Austin Howard
|
Southern
|
RB
|
Darryan Ragsdale
|
Alcorn State
|
RB
|
Martez Carter
|
Grambling State
|
OL
|
Jordan Johnson
|
Prairie View
|
OL
|
Terrell Lee
|
Southern
|
OL
|
Reginald Redding
|
Southern
|
OL
|
Markus Cook
|
Jackson State
|
OL
|
Kerry Williams
|
Alabama State
|
WR
|
Derric Griffin
|
Texas Southern
|
WR
|
Chester Rogers
|
Grambling State
|
TE
|
Montrell Jones
|
Southern
|
| DEFENSE | ||
DL
|
Demarcus Berry
|
Arkansas Pine Bluff
|
DL
|
Jamison Goins
|
Grambling State
|
DL
|
DeVohn Reed
|
Prairie View
|
DL
|
Michael Jolivet
|
Grambling State
|
LB
|
Darien Anderson
|
Alcorn State
|
LB
|
Aaron Tiller
|
Southern
|
LB
|
Arkez Cooper
|
Grambling State
|
DB
|
Dionte McDuffy
|
Southern
|
DB
|
Robert Porter
|
Jackson State
|
DB
|
Marquice O’Leary
|
Prairie View
|
DB
|
Dominique Weaver
|
Prairie View
|
| SPECIAL TEAMS | ||
K
|
Marc Orozco
|
Grambling State
|
P
|
Haiden McCraney
|
Alcorn State
|
RS
|
Booker Chambers/Octayvious Miles
|
Mississippi Valley State/Alabama A&M
|
COURTESY SWAC MEDIA RELATIONS
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
DII Football Notebook: Take aways from the Second Round
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana -- The second round of the playoffs provided some more upsets and some interesting story lines, although not quite as shocking or surprising as the opening round. With teams like Grand Valley, Northwest Missouri, CSU-Pueblo and Shepherd surviving, we have some traditional playoff teams still in the mix - three that have won national championships. Slippery Rock, West Georgia, Tuskegee and Emporia State are providing us with some new blood, giving the playoffs a great balance.
Slater's Homecoming
Tuskegee upset North Alabama to advance to the regional finals against West Georgia. It is significant for a couple of reasons.
Tuskegee is once again showing it can compete with the best teams in Division II after opting out of the playoffs for so many years. It now has playoff wins against teams from two other conferences in this year's playoffs. The Golden Tigers will have to beat West Georgia in order to have an opportunity to beat a team from a third conference. They have represented the SIAC well.
Also, Tuskegee's coach Willie Slater was the offensive coordinator for Bobby Wallace and UNA when the Lions won three national championships in a row from 1993-1995. The Lions remain the only team to accomplish this.
CONTINUE READING
Alcorn State Braves hope experience pays off
LORMAN, Mississippi -- In last year’s SWAC title game, Southern was the team with title game experience while Alcorn State was participating in the contest for the first time.Familiarity proved to be overrated last season as the Braves beat the Jaguars, 38-24, to earn their first conference title in 20 years.
Now it’s Alcorn State’s turn to fill the role of experienced champion when it faces Grambling in the SWAC title game on Saturday (3 p.m., ESPNU) at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
This is the Tigers’ first appearance in the conference championship game since 2011.
“You hope it helps a little bit,” Braves coach Jay Hopson said. “Guys that have played in the game kind of understand the situation, and they understand the environment they’re in. I always think it’s a little bit of an advantage, but at the end of the day, you have to go play football and that is what it comes down to.”
CONTINUE READING
Grambling's offensive line the unsung heros of 2015
GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- A dynamic quarterback and arguably the conference's best wide receiver corps almost went to waste in 2014 due to Grambling's inability to consistently run the ball.With nearly every offensive skill players back for 2015, the Tigers vowed to improve their physicality, improve their offensive line and improve their run game. It's worked wonders so far.
Once the offense's biggest weakness, Grambling's offensive line has easily become a position of strength and a key reason why the Tigers were able to roll through the Southwestern Athletic Conference with a 9-0 mark.
"They've been basically the unsung heros all year long. They've allowed us to really run the football effectively and keep (quarterback) Johnathan (Williams) upright and then allowing him to hand the ball off from time to time where he doesn't have to do as much running," Grambling coach Broderick Fobbs said. "That's been something that's been good for us this season."
CONTINUE READING
Southern University marching band does mind-blowing cover of Adele's 'Hello'
ALWAYS WATCH IN 1080p HD, WIDE SCREEN
What I’m getting at is that this is an event in Louisiana every year, and the Battle of the Bands, which takes place before the actual game is arguably the best part. During this year’s competition, Southern University’s marching band – known affectionately, and appropriately as “The Human Jukebox” – absolutely knocked a rendition of Adele’s smash hit Hello out of the park.
ALWAYS WATCH IN 1080p HD, WIDE SCREEN
CONTINUE READING
Celebration Bowl to Officially Invite North Carolina A&T
ATLANTA – The first invitation for the inaugural Celebration Bowl – to be played on Saturday, Dec. 19, at noon from the Georgia Dome in Atlanta – will be extended to the Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference (MEAC) College Football Champion, North Carolina A&T State University, during halftime at the school’s men’s basketball game on Wednesday, Dec. 2. Executive Director of the Celebration Bowl, John Grant, will be on site to officially deliver the invitation to university chancellor Harold L. Martin. The tipoff for the basketball game against The University of North Carolina at Greensboro is set for 7:30 p.m.
“Congratulations to back-to-back MEAC Champion North Carolina A&T for scoring their ticket to the inaugural Celebration Bowl,” said Grant. “We are excited for the Aggies to join us in this historic match-up against the winner of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.”
The opponent facing North Carolina A&T’s Aggies in the Celebration Bowl will be decided during the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Championship game on Saturday, Dec. 5, where Grambling State University will take on Alcorn State University
ALWAYS WATCH IN 1080p HD, WIDE SCREEN
Establishing itself as the very first bowl game of the season, the Celebration Bowl is a new Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) postseason football bowl owned and operated by ESPN Events, a division of ESPN. It is a championship-style game between the MEAC and SWAC division champions and will be televised on ABC. ESPN is working with the 100 Black Men of Atlanta to manage the game’s ancillary events which include youth symposium, robotics showcase, college and job fair, fan experience and more.
Tickets are on sale now at the Georgia Dome box office or at www.ticketmaster.com. Additional details are available at www.thecelebrationbowl.com. Follow on Twitter and Facebook.
For MEAC fans, a special rate of $99/night is being offered at the Marriott Marquis, and is available for December 17-19. Please visit Celebration Bowl for more details.
For SWAC fans, a special rate of $89/night is being offered at the Hilton Atlanta, and is available for December 17-19. Please visit Celebration Bowl for more details.
The Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center is also offering a special rate and is available for December 13-20. Please visit Celebration Bowl for more details.
COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
“Congratulations to back-to-back MEAC Champion North Carolina A&T for scoring their ticket to the inaugural Celebration Bowl,” said Grant. “We are excited for the Aggies to join us in this historic match-up against the winner of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.”
The opponent facing North Carolina A&T’s Aggies in the Celebration Bowl will be decided during the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Championship game on Saturday, Dec. 5, where Grambling State University will take on Alcorn State University
ALWAYS WATCH IN 1080p HD, WIDE SCREEN
Establishing itself as the very first bowl game of the season, the Celebration Bowl is a new Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) postseason football bowl owned and operated by ESPN Events, a division of ESPN. It is a championship-style game between the MEAC and SWAC division champions and will be televised on ABC. ESPN is working with the 100 Black Men of Atlanta to manage the game’s ancillary events which include youth symposium, robotics showcase, college and job fair, fan experience and more.
For MEAC fans, a special rate of $99/night is being offered at the Marriott Marquis, and is available for December 17-19. Please visit Celebration Bowl for more details.
For SWAC fans, a special rate of $89/night is being offered at the Hilton Atlanta, and is available for December 17-19. Please visit Celebration Bowl for more details.
The Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center is also offering a special rate and is available for December 13-20. Please visit Celebration Bowl for more details.
COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
B-CU Terry Sims named MEAC football coach of year
NORFOLK, Virginia -- Bethune-Cookman Football first-year head coach Terry Sims was honored as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, announced Monday afternoon by the league office in Norfolk, Virginia. In addition, five B-CU student-athletes were named to the all-conference first team, while another five were selected to the second and third team, respectfully.Terry Sims, having taken over the reins of the Wildcats program on December 22, 2014, guided the Wildcats to a share of the MEAC title in 2015, including a 9-2 overall finish and 7-1 mark in league play. For the Maroon and Gold, the title represented the school’s fourth consecutive (eighth overall), matching South Carolina State (1980-83) for the second-longest streak in MEAC history.
The Wildcats were victorious over in-state rival Florida A&M, 35-14 in the annual Florida Blue Florida Classic to secure their stake in the conference title. B-CU led the MEAC in several statistical categories, including scoring offense (31.4 avg/g), total offense (445.0 avg/g), rushing offense (191.8 yds./g), pass offense (253.2 avg/g), and pass efficiency (164.1 efficiency). The Cats also hold top 10 positions in the FCS in passing yards per completion (6th) and team passing efficiency (3rd). B-CU entered the STATS FCS Top 25 poll in the final ranking of the season (25th) and have slowly climbed the FCS Coaches Poll to reach No. 21 following the last game of the regular season.
Also representing Bethune-Cookman on the All-MEAC First team was quarterback Quentin Williams (Tampa, Fla.), wide receiver Jawill Davis (Miami, Fla.), offensive lineman Dariusz Bladek (Kissimmee, Fla.), linebacker Robert Way (Belle Glade, Fla.) and defensive back Marquis Drayton (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.).
Williams, a redshirt senior, enjoyed statistically his best season at Bethune-Cookman in 2015. He finished the regular season as the FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) leader in passing efficiency (187.2), third in passing yards per completion (16.45), tied for 23rd in passing touchdowns (19), tied for 39th in points responsible for (134), 40th in passing yards (2,171), tied for 40th in points responsible per game (12.2) and 46th in passing yards per game (196.9).
Davis is earning his first postseason accolade, finishing the year leading Bethune-Cookman in receptions (39) and receiving yards (788). He ended the campaign with a team-high matching six touchdown receptions, and finished ninth in the league for receptions per game (3.5). He was second in receiving yards per game (71.6), and ended 46th in the FCS for total receiving yards.
Bladek, a redshirt junior offensive tackle, was a preseason all-conference selection, and earns his first postseason award. Bladek helped pave the way for the Wildcats to lead the MEAC in several statistical categories, including scoring offense (31.4 avg/g), total offense (445.0 avg/g), rushing offense (191.8 yds./g), pass offense (253.2 avg/g), and pass efficiency (164.1 effic.). He also blocked for quarterback Quentin Williams to earn three MEAC Offensive Player of the Week awards throughout the campaign.
On defense, redshirt senior linebacker Robert Way led the Wildcats with 70 tackles, adding a team-high 11 stops behind the line of scrimmage. He also broke up a team-best eight passes from his outside linebacker position, going on to recover two fumbles and force another.
Joining him on the first team for defense was redshirt senior strong safety Marquis Drayton. The Ft. Lauderdale, Florida native amassed 37 tackles on the season, including 21 primary stops. He stepped in front of three passes for interceptions, taking one back 30 yards for a touchdown against Morgan State in the year’s final home game. His three interceptions allowed him to end the year tied for third in the league in that category. He would also finish the year second in the MEAC for kick return yards, averaging 23.4 yards per return.
Representing the Cats on the All-MEAC Second Team was running back Anthony Jordan (Atlanta, Ga.), tight end Ja-Quan Lumas (Orlando, Fla.) and linebacker Donald Smith (Tampa, Fla.). On the third team was running back Michael D. Jones (Sarasota, Fla.) and junior punter Jonathan Cagle (Pensacola, Fla.).
North Carolina A&T running back Tarik Cohen was selected as the MEAC Offensive Player of the Year. Javon Hargrave of South Carolina State took the Defensive Player of the Year award. Both student-athletes received the top honors just one year ago. North Carolina Central’s Dorrel McClain earned Rookie of the Year honors and North Carolina A&T State’s Brandon Parker was selected as the Offensive Lineman of the Year, as voted on by the MEAC’s head football coaches and sports information directors.
For a complete list of this year’s All-MEAC Team members, please visit MEACsports.com.
Follow Bethune-Cookman Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/BCUathletics), Twitter (www.twitter.com/BCUathletics) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/BCUathletics) for all of the latest news and updates. Fans also receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year, via the social media outlets or www.BCUathletics.com.
COURTESY MEAC MEDIA RELATIONS
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