The "unofficial" meeting place for intelligent discussions of Divisions I and II Sports of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) and HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC).
America's #1 blog source for minority sports articles and videos. The MEAC, SWAC, CIAA, SIAC and HBCUAC colleges are building America's leaders, scholars and athletes.
LAFAYETTE, Louisiana -- Senior Kailey Williams and freshman Ethan Gipson produced Xavier University of Louisiana's best times Friday in the 200-meter dash at the Louisiana Classics track and field meet.
Williams placed 26th in the women's division with a season-best time of 26.06 seconds. Gipson was 32nd in the men's race in 23.36.
There is no team scoring in the two-day meet, which will conclude Saturday. The Gold Nuggets are scheduled to compete in the 100, 400, 800, 1,500, 5,000, 100 hurdles, 400 and 1,600 relays, long jump and triple jump. The Gold Rush will compete in the 100, 400, 800, 1,500, 5,000, 110 hurdles, 400 hurdles, long jump, shot put and triple jump.
The meet is Xavier's third of the outdoor season. Louisiana-Lafayette is the host school.
Here are all of Xavier's Friday results from the Louisiana Classics:
Women
200: Kailey Williams, 26th in 26.06; Janelle Jones, 33rd in 26.30; Alexis Milton, 34th in 26.33; Martina Wright, 35th in 26.46; Destini Thomas, 38th in 26.56; Katelyn McMorris, 40th in 26.97; Kee-Myah Henderson, 41st in 27.13.
Men
200: Ethan Gipson, 32nd in 23.36; Langston Adams, 37th in 23.86.
NEW ORLEANS — Four from Xavier University of Louisiana received Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player or Performer of the Week awards for March 14-20.
The GCAC honored Sha'Nel Bruins in women's tennis, Clarke Allen in women's field, Ammiel Wi
lliams in men's track and Keairez Coleman in men's field.
Bruins, a junior from Colfax, La., and a graduate of Grant High School, won in doubles and singles in a 7-2 home victory against Schreiner of NCAA Division III. Bruins clinched the dual with a 6-1, 6-2 victory against Abby Knedlik at No. 3 singles. She won 8-3 at No. 2 doubles with Dasia Harris against Kelsey Buczkowski and Katie Watts.
Allen, a sophomore from Mendenhall, Miss., and a graduate of Mendenhall High School, placed sixth in the triple jump in the Rhodes Invitational at Memphis, Tenn., and barely missed breaking the XU record for the second time this season. Her best mark of 10.84 meters (35 feet, 6 3/4 inches) was two-hundredths of a meter less than her best mark. The following day she posted top-10 finishes in the 400 relay and 200.
Williams, a sophomore from Los Angeles and a graduate of Hamilton High School, placed 42nd in the 800-meter run at Rhodes in 2 minutes, 7.38 seconds and 64th in the mile in 5:17.23.
Coleman — a freshman from Harrisville, Miss., and, like Allen, a Mendenhall graduate — produced a pair of top-10 finishes at Rhodes. He was seventh in the long jump in 6.07 meters (19-11) and 10th in the triple jump in 12.35 (40-6 1/4).
The GCAC award is Bruins' third this season and fourth of her career. Allen and Coleman are two-time GCAC field winners this season, and Williams' award is his first. Allen also won a GCAC track award in 2015.
HUNTSVILLE -- Alabama A&M student-athlete Danny Johnson died Thursday from injuries sustained in an auto wreck. "This is a tragic loss for the Alabama A&M University family," said Director of Athletics Bryan Hicks. "Danny was a fine young man, a hard worker on the field and off.
"Our condolences go out to the Johnson family."
A sophomore, he was a two-year starter for the Bulldogs football team.
"It is with great sadness that we share the tragic news of Danny's passing," said Head Coach James Spady. "He and his brother Devon were two of our first signees.
"Danny was an important member of our football family and a fine student. We ask everyone to join us in prayer for his family and keep them in your thoughts in this time of sadness."
Last season, Johnson was second on the team with 30 solo tackles and he broke up four passes.
In 2014, his freshman year, Johnson received an honorable mention as Defensive Back Performer of the Week by College Football Performance Awards.
He blocked a point-after try which proved to be the margin of victory in Alabama A&M's 37-36 win over Alabama State in the Magic City Classic. Johnson also had an endzone interception and 5 tackles for the Bulldogs in the game.
Funeral arrangements will be announced. COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
KANSAS CITY, Missouri – South Carolina State head men's basketball coach Murray Garvin was named the 2016 National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) District 15 Coach of the Year, while junior guard Eric Eaves was selected to the Division I All-District Second team, announced by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).
All award winners were selected and voted on by member coaches of the NABC, which highlights and represent the finest basketball players and coaches across America.
"It's an honor to be selected by the NABC as District 15 Coach of the Year. When I look at the list of coaches that represent their particular district and who have earned this award, I am truly appreciative to be recognized along with them," said Garvin. "I am also proud of E.J. Eaves for being selected Second Team All- District. As we all know with success comes recognition and we accept these honors on behalf of our entire basketball team and South Carolina State University."
GARVIN in his third full season at the helm earned his second Coach of the Year honor this season. He was also named MEAC Coach of the Year for the first time after leading the Bulldogs to a 12-4 record in conference play. Garvin guided the SC State to a 19-15 overall record, the best regular-season finish since 2005. The Bulldogs advanced to the MEAC Championship game and earned a CIT postseason tournament bid by CollegeInsider.com.
EAVES (6-3, 185) also earned All-MEAC Second Team honors. He led the Bulldogs in scoring this season with 17.1 ppg (513 points), while shooting over .517% (167-of-323) from the field. He scored over 20+ points in 12 games or more and tossed in a career-high 35 points in the home-finale against Bethune-Cookman (3/3/16).
For more information on South Carolina State Athletics visit www.scsuathletics.com or call the Office of Athletic Media Relations at (803) 536-7060. 2016 NABC UPS DIVISION I ALL-DISTRICT COACHES
About the National Association of Basketball Coaches
Located in Kansas City, MO, the NABC was founded in 1927 by Phog Allen, the legendary basketball coach at the University of Kansas. Allen, a student of James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, organized coaches into this collective group to serve as Guardians of the Game. The NABC currently has nearly 5,000 members consisting primarily of university and college men's basketball coaches. All members of the NABC are expected to uphold the core values of being a Guardian of the Game by bringing attention to the positive aspects of the sport of basketball and the role coaches play in the academic and athletic lives of today's student-athletes. The four core values of being a Guardian of the Game are advocacy, leadership, service and education. Additional information about the NABC, its programs and membership, can be found at www.nabc.com.
COURTESY SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- The South Carolina State football team held its seventh practice of the spring followed by the first full scrimmage Saturday at Dawson Stadium. The two hour session included various schemes on offense and defensive sets.
"It was the first scrimmage you saw some good and bad but we had a lot of guys participate today," said SC State head coach Buddy Pough. "So now we have a chance to evaluate things and see if we can find some guys to help us late on down the line"
With less than two weeks left of the originally slated 15-practice schedule of the spring, head coach Buddy Pough noticed the intensity developing on both sides of the ball in the first scrimmage.
SC State will conduct their annual Pro Day Wednesday (March. 30) with approximately 15 seniors from the 2015 team, which are scheduled to work out for pro scouts from the National Football League (NFL).
The Bulldogs return to the practice fields Tuesday and Thursday at 6:50 a.m., for the eighth and ninth spring workout. SC State will hold its annual Garnet & Blue Spring game Saturday, April 9th at 1 p.m. in Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.
LIFT-A-BULLDOG KICKOFF RALLY
The Bulldogs will hold their 2016 Annual Lift-A-Bulldog Scholarship Fundraiser Seafood Extravaganza Friday, April 8 at the I.P. Stanback Museum, beginning from 6:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale for $65 per person. For more information or to R.S.V.P call (803) 536-8579 by April 7, 2016. All proceeds and donations will go to sponsor the summer school and the football scholarship program.
For more information on South Carolina State Athletics visit www.scsuathletics.com or call the Office of Athletic Media Relations at (803) 536-7060.
COURTESY SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
JACKSON, Mississippi -- Wayne Brent said multiple times throughout the 2015-16 season that next season would actually be his best team at Jackson State.
Now it appears Brent will get to coach that team.
Tigers Athletic Director Wheeler Brown confirmed an agreement has been reached in principle with Brent for a contract extension. Brent's current contract, which was for three seasons, expires on June 30 and pays him $100,000 annually.
Brown did not go into detail about the terms of the new agreement.
"We fully expect to get things done shortly," Brown said.
Brent won 11 games in each of his first two seasons, but coached JSU to its first 20-win season since 2007 this season.
The Tigers, who went 20-15, came up one basket short of an NCAA Tournament bid in a 54-53 loss to Southern in the finals of the SWAC Tournament.
JACKSON, Mississippi -- Jackson State is probably wishing it could face Alabama A&M's pitching every game after its weekend series against the Bulldogs.
The Tigers scored 22 runs against Alabama A&M on Friday and continued their hot streak on Saturday.
JSU swept its double header, 10-9 and 20-1, to sweep the three-game SWAC East Division series in Huntsville, Alabama.
The Tigers turned a 4-0 lead in the second game into a 12-0 advantage with an eight-run fourth inning. C.J. Newsome, Tony Holton, Carlos Diaz, Bryce Williams and Bryce Brown all contributed RBIs in the frame.
Diaz posted his third four-hit game of the week and drove in four runs. Holton went 3 for 4 at the plate with three RBIs. Cornelius Copeland, Jesus Santana, Newsome, Williams and Lakon Wilson each drove in two runs.
Jamal Wilson held the Bulldogs to three hits and one run in his seven innings on the mound. He also struck out six.
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana — For champions in any sport at any level, there are usually at least one or two games that stick out when thinking about the team’s road to a title.
If the Arkansas-Pine Bluff baseball team wins its third consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference West Division crown this year, Friday’s stunning victory over Southern will surely be one of the games coach Carlos James and Co. point to in getting the Golden Lions there.
Facing a 9-4 deficit after six innings, UAPB rallied off three in the seventh, one in the eighth and two in the ninth off Julian Jones’ home run to steal a 10-9 win. The Lions then went on to take one of two in Saturday’s doubleheader — a 5-3 loss and 7-2 victory — to win their second straight SWAC series.
On Friday, UAPB (6-16, 6-3) actually jumped out on top with a three-run first inning. The Lions could have done more damage but Jordan Knox was called out on what would have been a three-run homer when he passed Jacob Columbo on the bases, turning the play into a two-RBI single.
Southern (8-13, 3-5) chased Anthony Bowmaker in the second inning. He allowed four runs in that second frame. Ashton Holdridge came on and allowed five runs over 5 1/3 innings.
WEST PALM BEACH, Florida -- Xavier University of Louisiana won Wednesday against Keiser in matchups of ranked NAIA tennis programs. The Gold Rush, ranked third, beat sixth-ranked Keiser 7-2, and the 16th-ranked Gold Nuggets defeated No. 11 Keiser 5-4.
The XU women (7-7) got a pair of comeback victories from Sha'Nel Bruins. Trailing 7-4, 40-love in doubles, she and Dasia Harris rallied for a 9-8 (7-3) victory against Samantha Guy and Livia Toth. Bruins clinched the dual with a 3-6, 6-0, 6-0 victory against Lola Garcia.
"I couldn't get down on myself," Bruins said. "I just had to find the willpower and try to win. I didn't pay attention to the score. I just kept playing."
The Gold Nuggets won a trio of 3-set singles matches. Charlene Goreau beat Laura Ortega 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, and Brandi Nelson defeated Guy 6-2, 3-6, 6-0. In doubles, Nelson and Brion Flowers trailed 4-0 against Teodora Stanciu and Garcia but rallied to win 8-5.
Goreau, a freshman, has won her last nine singles decisions. Bruins won her last four singles decisions and eight of her last nine.
For the Gold Rush (9-3), Karan Salwan, Thomas Setodji and Kyle Montrel won in doubles and singles. Salwan clinched at the top singles flight with a 6-3, 6-1 decision against Nicolas Guerschanik. Setodji, a freshman, improved to 7-0 in singles with a 6-3, 6-0 victory against Martin Martins.
Salwan has a nine-match win streaks in singles and doubles, and Montrel’s doubles win streak is eight. Teammate Adam Albrecht improved his singles win streak to eight with a 4-6, 7-6 (9-7), 1-0 (11-9) decision against Ignacio Osse.
"It was a huge day for our teams, especially for the Nuggets," XU coach Alan Green said. "The competition and atmosphere were similar to what we'll see at the national tournament in May."
The Gold Rush snapped the 11-dual win streak of the Seahawks (11-2). The XU men have won nine of their last 10 duals, and it was their third victory during that time against a top-10 opponent.
The Gold Nuggets snapped the 4-dual win streak of Keiser's women (6-6) and won for the first time in six tries this season against a top-25 opponent.
Both XU teams will conclude their spring-break trip with exhibition duals Thursday against ASA Miami, a two-year school. The men's dual will start at 9 a.m. EDT, and the women's dual will follow.
JACKSON, Mississippi -- Robert Porter took off from the starting line in his first 40 and slipped.
But the former Jackson State defensive back didn't let that define his performance at Jackson State's pro day, which was held at D1 Sports in Madison on Wednesday.
"I would give myself an A, I gave it all I got," Porter said. "I think I did pretty well, I'm happy with myself."
It was the second pro day for Porter, who has been training in Louisville, after he participated in Eastern Michigan's last week.
There were at least 12 NFL scouts in attendance, which included representatives from teams such as: the Seattle Seahawks, Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots.
Those 40s were hand-timed, so times varied a bit, One scout had recorded a 4.55 40 for Porter, who is a Detroit, Michigan, native. The highlight of Porter's day wasn't on the field, it was on the bench. Porter benched 225 pounds 22 times, which is a solid number for a defensive back.
SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota – The Bentley Falcons ended Virginia Union's national championship bid Tuesday at the Sanford Pentagon, holding the Panthers to four second-half field goals to win a defensive struggle 53-52.
VUU's Kiana Johnson had a 15-footer blocked in the lane with 8 seconds to go, and after the Panthers got another chance, Johnson got a better look at a runner from roughly the same spot but it hit the back iron and rolled off the front of the rim to allow the Falcons to advance to Wednesday's semifinals.
The Panthers end their historic season with a 28-3 record. Johnson had 26 points, seven assists and five steals, but the Falcons (29-5) scored 24 first-quarter points and used their defense to stay in front for pretty much the duration.
Bentley led by as much as 9, while Virginia Union's only lead of the game came in the opening minute.
VUU's own defense was strong, giving them multiple chances late to go in front and advance, but its shooting struggles were just too much to overcome.
"They played good defense," said Johnson, who played all 40 minutes and hit 8 of 26 shots. "The ball just didn't bounce in for us sometimes."
The win was Bentley coach Barbara Stevens' 800th as the Falcons coach. She was clearly relieved her team found a way to survive.
"When the ball was in Kianna Johnson's hands with 4 seconds left I was a little nervous," Stevens admitted. "We knew we could not stop her but we wanted to do our best to limit her good looks. I felt like if this game was in the 70s we'd have a good chance. If it was in the 60s that'd be great. To have it in the 50s was pretty much a best-case scenario for us."
Lady Walker had 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Panthers, while Taylor White finished with 10 points, six rebounds and four steals. VUU had 10 steals in all, forcing 21 Falcon turnovers. That kept them in the game, but a 7 for 29 second-half shooting effort made things tough.
"We did a great job to turn them over late in the game, we just didn't capitalize off those turnovers," said Panthers coach AnnMarie Gilbert. "A few more minutes and a few lucky bounces and the game easily could've gone the other way."
Bentley's fast start was important, as it barely scored as many points in the last three quarters (29) as it did in the first. The Falcons hit just four field goals in the entire second half, and scored only 5 points in the fourth quarter.
"They transition like crazy so our gameplan was to maximize every possession," said Bentley's Jen Gemma, who had 16 points and 12 rebounds. "We did a real good job with that in the first quarter. As the game went on our defense picked up to make up for some of the careless mistakes we made on offense."
Gemma was the only Falcon to score in double figures, though Victoria Lux had 9 points, 11 rebounds and five assists.
A 28-win season and a berth in the Elite Eight is a big year for any team, but with 2015-16 being Gilbert's first year at the helm it was an especially encouraging year. That was hard to get out of the understandably emotional players after the game, but they know they put together something special.
"I'm proud of the history we made for the school," Johnson said. "I hope what we did can teach the girls that the hard work, the dedication and persistence will get you far."
The coach agreed.
"I think it's been a terrific season," Gilbert said. "Not many teams advance to the Elite Eight. I'm real proud of how our kids fought in this game. To get to this point; we're not satisfied, and my heart hurts for them, because they wanted to win this game. But our kids fought valiantly."
COURTESY VIRGINIA UNION UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
MIAMI GARDENS, Florida -- Xavier University of Louisiana's tennis teams opened their spring-break trip with victories against St. Thomas (Fla.) Tuesday. The Gold Rush, ranked third in the NAIA, won 9-0, and the Gold Nuggets, ranked 16th, won 7-2.
It was the first time since Jan. 30 that the Gold Rush (8-3) and the Gold Nuggets (6-7) won on the same day.
Both clinching victories occurred at the top singles flight -- Thomas Setodji of the Rush defeated Kevin Cubela 6-1, 6-3, and Charlene Goreau of the Nuggets beat Victoria Slavina (STU) 6-4, 6-1.
Playing for the first time in 2015-16 was the Nuggets' Brion Flowers, who won in doubles and singles. She teamed with Brandi Nelson for an 8-2 victory against Maria Dimitrova and Ksenia Slavina at No. 1 doubles, and she defeated Naomi Maehama 6-3, 6-2 at No. 4 singles.
Also winning in doubles and singles were Setodji, Kyle Montrel, Kevin Chaouat, Tushar Mandlekar, Adam Albrecht and Manav Chakma of the Rush and Goreau and Jana van der Walt of the Nuggets.
Xavier's men have won three straight and eight of their last nine duals. The men of St. Thomas (6-8) lost for the first time at home in five duals this season. The St. Thomas women (8-6) lost for the first time in six duals overall.
Xavier will travel to West Palm Beach, Fla., to play at 2 p.m. EDT Wednesday at Keiser (formerly Northwood). Keiser's men are ranked sixth in the NAIA, and its women are 11th.
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Three members of the Stillman College football staff have moved on to coach in Birmingham. Former Stillman head coach Teddy Keaton and assistant James Johnson have landed at Miles College, and offensive line coach John Causey has taken the same position at Birmingham-Southern.
Stillman announced last December that it is discontinuing the football program and also dropping all sports but men’s and women’s basketball after this spring. Coaches and players have been looking for new schools to continue their careers.
“When Stillman shut their football program down, I still wanted to remain on the college level,” Causey said. “Coaching, there’s not a lot of stability in that anyway but you want to leave a place on your own. My initial (reaction) was I was hurt for the players, not just in football but in all sports. You hate to see any program shut its athletics down.”
For Keaton, the move to Miles keeps him in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, where Stillman competed as an NCAA Division II program. It also keeps him at home, as he is able to commute to his job in Birmingham. He is associate head coach and coaches running backs.
“It’s a great opportunity,” Keaton said. “It’s an easy transition for me. It gave me the opportunity not to uproot my family.”
HAMPTON, Virginia -- Hampton University's basketball team didn't accomplish the unprecedented this season. Coach Buck Joyner isn't claiming otherwise.
But the 2015-16 season was, at the very least, noteworthy. For only the fourth time since the program went Division I in 1995, the Pirates won 21 games. And for only the second time in that stretch, they made the NCAA tournament in consecutive seasons.
"The school had done it before," Joyner said. "But to be able to put it back on the national stage where people can view us on a different light was big for us. And it was big for the university.
"Everybody wants to make a mark when they come in. The seniors that we had, over these last two years, they made quite a mark. From a conference standpoint and a national standpoint, they've done some good things."
Looking back, it seems odd that Hampton (21-11) wasn't the overwhelming pick to finish first in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The coaches liked North Carolina Central, which ended up tied for sixth. The Pirates led the MEAC race virtually wire-to-wire and swept the conference tournament.
DURHAM, North Carolina -- Carl Jones could barely stomach watching his archrival, N.C. A&T, win the inaugural Air Force Celebration Bowl in December.
North Carolina Central had defeated the Aggies in the regular-season finale for the second season in a row, which created a three-way tie for the MEAC championship. (Bethune-Cookman was the third team.)
But A&T won the tiebreaker and represented the conference against SWAC opponent Alcorn State, which the Aggies won 41-34 to earn the black college national championship.
“I watched it, most of it, although towards the end I kinda got a little sick,” the redshirt senior offensive lineman said, only half jokingly. “I was happy for them representing the MEAC, but I felt like we should have been there.”
NCCU could “have been there” if not for a missed assignment with 32 seconds left against Bethune-Cookman. Place kicker Nigel Macauley’s field-goal attempt was blocked, giving the Wildcats the win.
PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- Prairie View A&M announced Tuesday evening that Dawn Brown will not return as women’s basketball coach next season. Brown said she was fired for allegedly violating Title IX by enforcing a team rule that she says was approved by the school’s Title IX coordinator.
“Clearly, I feel betrayed and unjustly penalized by this action,” Brown said in a statement to USA TODAY Sports.
Prairie View A&M athletics director Ashley Robinson declined comment through a school spokesperson.
Brown removed two members of her team during the season for having a dating relationship. She said the relationship broke a team rule that she put in place before the season. The rule said: “Players may not have nonprofessional relationships with other players, coaches, managers, trainers, or any other persons affiliated” with the program.
The former players filed a complaint that said their dismissal was based on sexual orientation and that it violated Title IX, the law that bans discrimination based on sex at schools receiving federal funds.
SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota -- After a special dinner, the Virginia Union women still are hungry.
The Panthers set off for Sioux Falls, S.D., on Saturday for today’s 3:30 p.m. game against Bentley in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight after a week of rest, preparation, congratulations and dinner with members of the 1983 women’s national championship team.
The university president and his cabinet brought them roses. They were visited by administrators from all over the school who came out to congratulate them and show their support.
“Different people who touch our program throughout the year, so that was really special,” said VUU coach AnnMarie Gilbert.
Later that evening, the players had a team dinner with members of the group this year’s Panthers are three wins from emulating.
“Very encouraging people,” said Kiana Johnson, VUU’s leading scorer. “It’s always good to be around good company, people who want to see you excel and do well, and just give you great advice. It was a joy.”
GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- Former New Living Word star Javier Roper was a part of a talented 2015 signing class at Grambling that hoped to change the culture of the program. He'll end his career having never played a minute for the Tigers.
Roper, a three-star guard won won three state championships at New Living Word, announced Monday he will transfer from Grambling.
The 6-foot-6 small forward redshirted in 2016 and watched the Tigers finish 7-24, a five-win improvement from 2015 under second-year coach Shawn Walker.
Roper informed Walker of his decision Monday — they met last week to discuss his future — although Roper said he had planned to transfer all along. He cited style of play and position as his reasons to end his short tenure at Grambling.
"I don't think I fit the system they got going. I'm used to more of a run and gun team and playing more on the wing. They had me playing more in the post. That's basically it," Roper told The News-Star.
LORMAN, Mississippi -- Who knew the Tampa Bay Buccaneers firing of Lovie Smith would end up having so much impact on Alcorn State?
Smith's firing opened the door for Dirk Koetter to take over as head coach. Koetter plucked Southern Miss coach Todd Monken to be his offensive coordinator.
The Golden Eagles hired Jay Hopson, who led the Braves to back-to-back SWAC championships, to be their coach.
The Clarion-Ledger will take a look at what Alcorn State will look like post-Hopson and other storylines as the Braves kick off spring practice on Tuesday
Hopson gone, McNair in
Shortly after Hopson's departure, Alcorn State hired Fred McNair to be its coach. McNair had been a finalist for the job before and served as the assistant head coach under Hopson, so the move made sense on paper.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Kayla Quincy's third-place finish in the women's 400-meter dash was the Saturday highlight for Xavier University of Louisiana in the Rhodes Invitational track and field meet.
Quincy's time of 58.13 seconds matches the second-fastest in this event by an XU woman since SiMon Franklin's school-record performance of 56.74 at the 2013 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Championships.
The Gold Nuggets also got top-10 individual performances from Tylor Row in the women's 100 hurdles (fifth in 16.61), Destini Thomas in the women's 100 (10th in 12.72) and Clarke Allen in the women's 200 (10th in 26.05). For the XU men, Keairez Coleman was seventh in the long jump (6.07 meters/19 feet, 11 inches), and Christopher Kennie was eighth (6.04 meters/19-9 3/4).
There was no team scoring in the meet, which was Xavier's second of the outdoor season. The Nuggets and Gold Rush will compete Friday and Saturday in the Louisiana Classics at Lafayette, La.
Here are all the Xavier Saturday results from the Rhodes Invitational:
400: Kayla Quincy, 3rd in 58.13; Janelle Jones, 13th in 1:01.74; Kailey Williams, 23rd in 1:04.40; Ky'Reon McBride, 24th in 1:04.51
100: Destini Thomas, 10th in 12.72; Martina Wright, 16th in 12.87; Katelyn McMorris, 17th in 12.94; Alexis Milton, 20th in 13.05; Kee-Myah Henderson, 23rd in 13.26; Dorian Hill, 30th in 14.05.
800: Maliya Vaughan, 12th in 2:31.58; Chinyere Jones, 15th in 2:34.17; Brianna Pace, 18th in 2:35.04.
COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- FAMU Athletics mourns the loss of two members of their family. Mary Adams, who recently served as Assistant Athletic Director for Business Operations, transitioned on Mar. 6 in Tallahassee. Anthony "Tony" Messina, a former assistant coach and film coordinator, transitioned on Mar. 17th in Tallahassee.
Adams, came to FAMU Athletics with a host of experience in finance, including decades of experience in the banking industry. She served as the director of the athletic department's business operations for nearly a decade, before being elevated to the position of assistant athletic director. In her position she handled all aspects of the department's business affairs, including but not limited to travel, department revenues and overseeing the entire athletic department budget.
Messina enjoyed a hall of fame career at FAMU. The energetic New England native was a part of FAMU football for over two decades, serving under Rudy Hubbard, Ken Riley and Billy Joe. He served dual roles as the team's cinematographer/film coordinator and kicking coach. He enjoyed a successful career molding eight kickers into All-MEAC selections and five of those into All-Americans.
"In any athletic department, there are more people working behind the scenes than there are on any given game day. On behalf of FAMU Athletics, I salute the work of these two outstanding Rattlers. Our prayers are with their families and we request the same from our Rattler nation," FAMU Director of Athletics Milton Overton said.
COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
Messina was inducted into FAMU’s Hall of Fame in 2007
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Anthony “Tony” Messina’s legacy at Florida A&M is about more than the prowess of the kickers he coached.
He coached some of FAMU’s all-time great legs, but those players still talk about the time they spent away from the gridiron with a man who, above all else, was excited about life.
“You never knew where a day of practice would take us,” said James Vertuno, a former place kicker who Messina coached to All-MEAC and All-American honors. “We’d laugh all day in between kicks.”
Messina, a Watertown, Mass., native, died Thursday at the age of 81. He worked at FAMU from 1980 until 2002, starting as a film coordinator and eventually coaching special teams. Under Messina, FAMU produced eight All-MEAC kickers and five All-Americans, including Vertuno.
Rudy Hubbard, head football coach when Messina came to FAMU, said Messina had no troubles pulling double duty, and was a consistently-reliable coach. Hubbard said Messina’s miltary background – 22 years with the U.S. Coast Guard – came through in his punctuatiality and dedication to getting the job done.
SAVANNAH, Georgia – Florida A&M (14-6, 5-1 MEAC) scored nine runs in the first two innings on its’ way to a 12-5 win over Savannah State (6-15, 1-2 MEAC) at Tiger Field on Sunday afternoon. The Rattlers sent 17 batters to the plate in the first two innings and totaled 13 hits in the win. Alec Wong went 3-for-5 with a double and two runs scored and Dylan Dillard added two, two-run, triples in his first two at bats as he went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and four RBI on the day.
FAMU starter Chase Jarrell (3-1) earned the win after pitching five strong innings and allowed just two runs on five hits with four strikeouts and one walk.
The Rattlers jumped out to a quick lead with six runs on six hits in the top of the first inning. Marlon Gibbs led off with an infield single that dribbled up the third base line and Wong followed with a double to right field. After a pop out from Brian Davis, Dillard roped a bases clearing triple to center field and was able to come home as the second baseman missed played the relay throw from center field. After a single from Ben Ellzey and a hit-by-pitch to Cameron Johnson, Jacky Miles, Jr. ripped an RBI double down the right line as Ellzey came around to score. AJ Elkins would follow with a two-run single that dropped in over the first baseman’s head to bring home the fifth and sixth runs of the inning.
Florida A&M would score three more runs on four hits in the second inning to put the game out of reach at 9-0. With one out, Wong singled to left center and Davis doubled to left as runners were now on second and third. Dillard then roped his second triple in as many at bats, this time to right center, to score both Wong and Davis. Ellzey was able to bring home Dillard from third with an RBI single up the middle.
SSU picked up a pair of runs in the third inning to make the score 9-2. Jonathan Moore led off with a single up the middle and Charles Sikes dropped in a blooper into center field. Both runners moved up a base on Mendez Elder’s ground out before Moore came home on Jakeel Daniel’s groundout to short. Somto Egbuna then doubled home Sikes with a ball down the left line.
FAMU scored its’ final three runs in the fifth inning to put the Rattlers back up by 10 runs at 12-2. Johnson reached on an error by the first baseman, Sikes, and Miles, Jr. followed with a single to right field. With one out, Willis McDaniel hit a two-run double to left field. McDaniel then advanced to third on a groundout from Gibbs and scored on a wild pitch.
The Tigers scored a run in the sixth inning for a score of 12-3 and added two more runs in the ninth inning on bases loaded walks for the final score of 12-5. Hunter Fillingim walked five batters in the ninth inning, twice with the bases loaded to allow Jacob Lightle and Cole Bruce to score.
Tiger starter Greg Hollman (0-3) took the loss as he allowed six runs on six hits and recorded just one out with a hit batter in the first inning.
Florida A&M returns home for a three-game series with Florida Gulf Coast beginning on Thursday, March 24. Thursday and Friday’s games will begin at 5:00 PM, while Saturday’s series finale will start at 1:00 PM.
As always, fans can follow Rattler Baseball on Twitter @BaseballFAMU and on Facebook.
