XULA's Kennie, Allen, Quincy receive GCAC's weekly awards

NEW ORLEANS — For the second consecutive week, Xavier University of Louisiana produced three Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Performers of the Week in track and field. Winners for March 21-27 are Christopher Kennie in men's field, Clarke Allen in women's field and Kayla Quincy in women's track.
    
All XU performances were from the Louisiana Classics meet in Lafayette.
    
Kennie, a senior from New Orleans and a graduate of Holy Cross High School, was honored for the first time since 2013 and the third time in his career. Kennie matched his best-ever collegiate long jump — 21 feet, 6 3/4 inches (6.57 meters) — in a 10th-place finish. He finished ahead of 11 athletes from NCAA Division I.
    
Allen, a sophomore from Mendenhall, Miss., and a graduate of Mendenhall High School, won for the third time this season and the fourth time in her career. Allen produced her third consecutive top-7 finish in the triple jump and had a best mark of 34-10 1/4 (10.62 meters) in placing seventh.
    
Quincy, a junior from Avondale, La. and a graduate of Xavier Prep (now known as St. Katharine Drexel Preparatory School), won for the first time in her career. Quincy became Xavier's first qualifier for the 2016 NAIA National Championships with a time of 57.06 seconds in the 400-meter dash. She finished fifth and ahead of 22 from NCAA Division I. Quincy ran anchor on the 1,600 relay squad which finished ninth in 4:01.84, approximately 3 1/2 seconds faster than it did the previous week.
    
Through the first three meets of the outdoor season, XU athletes have won a combined eight GCAC weekly awards in track and field.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Point And Drive Marching Band Documentary Reviewed At FAMU With Music Department

WORK HARD OR WORK HARDER. THOSE WERE THE OPTIONS.

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The producer and director of Point and Drive movie, Detroit native Brandi Mitchell, returned to her alma mater to pre-screen her documentary with the esteemed group of faculty at the undeniably most influential music department in the country at Florida A&M University.





POINT AND DRIVE is a documentary that presents the passion, talents, history, struggles and triumphs of the most imitated marching band of all time, The Florida A&M University Marching 100 from the voices of it’s successful alumni spanning over four decades. It also shows the beauty and anatomy of the Historically Black College and University [HBCU] halftime show which the Marching 100’s founder, Dr. William P. Foster innovated, while chronicling the bands influence on young adults from all societal backgrounds; forever changing our lives, culture and traditions.

Starring Grammy Winning Jazz legends like Scotty Barnhart, Wycliffe Gordon and Vincent Gardner, all of whom are alumni of the ground-breaking marching band and university, popular artists like Dwele, and a host of alumni from all "fields" of expertise, Point and Drive explores this tightly-knit underground culture that is the marching band. Shot over a three-year time period with unprecedented access, the film intimately explores what it takes to make the band, how it’s founder Dr. William P. Foster formed the band at the height of segregation, it’s historic rise, unexpected fall, and comeback after a 2011 hazing death which almost stopped the music from playing - indefinitely.

Through original interviews, music, live performances, dancing and rare archival footage and images, we learn that the process of mastering Point and Drive, which is actually the form of precision marching that makes the famed band so eye catching, is so much more – it transfers into an innate bar of excellence that is the measurement and standard for success in their lives.

Point and Drive tells the story of how the vision and passion of one soul can shape the lives of many, and the necessity of fighting to sustain what you believe in - no matter what happens. It is a story for people of all ages, one that will inspire, educate, and provoke a spirit of excellence.

Read More about the documentary and seeing it at www.pointanddrivemovie.com.


ALWAYS WATCH IN 1080p HD, WIDE SCREEN

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY MARCHING 100 AND THE INCOMPARABLE Brandi Mitchell, www.PointAndDriveMovie.com

Jackson State offensive line does sweat the technique

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Everything circled back to technique for Jackson State's offensive line last season. Former O-line coach Steven Aycock constantly mentioned it as the area that needed the most improvement on the line.

Even though Ayock, along with the majority of last season's coaching staff, is gone, the message hasn't been abandoned.

Technique is the main focus for first-year Tigers offensive line coach Matt Jones this spring.

"It's an acquired skill. We talk about having a tool box and you have an inside-run step, an outside-zone step, a pass set, a short pass set ... and you have to pull all those things in your tool box," Jones said. "Right now we're just looking for a hammer and screw driver. Eventually we're going to have an Allen wrench. We just need the technique and do it at a high level."

CONTINUE READING

DI Southern Miss wins every set against Gold Nuggets

NEW ORLEANS — The women of Southern Miss won every set and snapped a pair of lengthy Xavier University of Louisiana singles win streaks Thursday in a 9-0 victory at XU Tennis Center.
   
The Golden Eagles (15-2) won their seventh in a row and recorded their first-ever shutout of the Gold Nuggets (7-9). Southern Miss won 6-3 each of the previous two seasons.
   
At the top singles flight, Carolin Drescher defeated Charlene Goreau 6-4, 6-3 to end Goreau's 10-match win streak. At No. 4, Claudia Castella won her eighth in a row and snapped Sha'Nel Bruins' 5-match streak with a 6-4, 6-0 decision.
   
Southern Miss lost one game combined at the top two doubles flights, then Tjasa Jerse and Elena Roca pulled away late for an 8-5 victory against Bruins and Dasia Harris.
   
Tjasa Jerse clinched the dual with a 6-3, 6-0 victory against Brandi Nelson on the third court.
   
Xavier, ranked 15th in the NAIA, is 1-2 this season against NCAA Division I opponents. Five more DIs are on the Gold Nuggets' schedule, including 11 a.m. Saturday at home against Prairie View A&M. The XU men also will play host to Prairie View at that time.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Jackson State coach Bob Braddy, Named to 2016 College Baseball Hall of Fame inductees announced:

ROBERT BRADDY

LUBBOCK, Texas -- The winningest coach and the winningest pitcher in college baseball history, as Robert Braddy
Jackson State University well as one of the leading hitters of his era, highlight the 2016 National College Baseball Hall of Fame induction class.

This year's class, which will be inducted as a part of the annual Night of Champions celebration of college baseball on July 1-2 in Lubbock, Texas, is headlined by University of Texas coach Augie Garrido, winner of five national championships and the winningest coach in college baseball history, and Florida State's JD Drew, a two-time consensus All-American and winner of five national player of the year awards in 1997.

"We are excited to induct this class," said Mike Gustafson, president and CEO of the National College Baseball Hall of Fame. "It is remarkable that this is our 11th induction class and they are this accomplished."

Garrido entered the 2016 season with 1,950 wins and has led 15 teams to the College World Series. He has received National Coach of the Year honors six times. On March 25, 2014, he earned his 1,893rd win and passed 2009 College Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Gordie Gillespie to become the winningest coach in college baseball history.

Drew becomes the second inductee in the storied history of the Florida State program. In addition to winning five player of the year awards in 1997, he was consensus All-American in both 1996 and 1997. He was drafted fifth overall in1998 by the Cardinals and completed a 14-year major league career in 2011. In 1999, he was listed eighth in Baseball America's collegiate "Player of the Century" poll.

Also included in the class are Jackson State coach Bob Braddy, the winningest baseball coach in Southwestern Athletic Conference history with 824 wins and 12 SWAC championships; Marietta College pitcher Matt DeSalvo, whose 53 wins make him the winningest college pitcher in history; Arizona State outfielder Rick Monday, named National Player of the Year in 1965 by The Sporting News; the University of Houston's Tom Paciorek, a two-time first-team All-American who led the Cougars to the finals of the 1967 College World Series; and Valdosta State coach Tommy Thomas, the winningest coach in NCAA Division II history.

Braddy compiled an 824-546 record in 28 years at Jackson State. His teams advanced to the NCAA tournament three times and he was named NAIA District Coach of the Year twice and SWAC Coach of the Year eight times. He was the first African-American to be inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2003, and he also was inducted into the JSU Sports Hall of Fame in 1985 and the SWAC Hall of Fame in 2005.

DeSalvo's 53-6 career record represents the most wins by any collegiate pitcher at any level, and his 603 career strikeouts are the second most of any pitcher at any level of college baseball. He was named the Division III National Player of the Year by ABCA in 2001 and was a three-time first-team D-III All-American.

Monday made the most of his one varsity season as an Arizona State Sun Devil, earning National Player of the Year honors from The Sporting News for the 1965 National Champions. He batted .359 with a school-record 11 home runs and blasted two home runs during the College World Series to earn All-CWS team honors. Monday was drafted No. 1 overall by the Kansas City A's in the first MLB amateur draft in 1965 and played parts of 19 years in the big leagues. ASU retired his number in 1997.

Paciorek was the first University of Houston Cougar player to receive first-team All-American honors in school history. Named first-team All-American in 1967 and 1968 by both ABCA and The Sporting News, he led Houston to the championship game of the 1967 College World Series by hitting .435 with 10 home runs in 32 games played. He later became the first Cougar to play in the big leagues, where he spent a total of 16 seasons.

Thomas owns the record for most wins in NCAA Division II history with 1,308. He graduated from Valdosta State after a four-year career where he played third base and batted .316. He was named head coach in 1967 and led the VSU baseball team to 34 winning seasons, eight trips to the national tournament and an NCAA Division II national title in 1979. He was named the National Coach of the Year by ABCA in 1979 and was inducted into Valdosta State's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006.

"I want thank our voting committee of over 200 strong for their time and effort in choosing this class," Gustafson said. "They represent so much history as college baseball media members, active and former coaches, retired umpires, past inductees, college baseball historians and, in several cases they are also former players, and their experiences and knowledge are reflected in this class."
Tickets for the 2016 induction are available on the Hall of Fame's website at www.collegebaseballhall.org.

COURTESY www.collegebaseballhall.org.

President Boyd, Steve Harvey To Hold News Conference Saturday at ASU Stadium

WHAT: Steve Harvey & President Gwendolyn Boyd to make a major announcement.
WHEN: Saturday (April 2), at 6 p.m. - gates open at 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: The ASU Stadium on its football field - located on Harris Way. Montgomery, AL

Join Steve Harvey, nationally acclaimed star of television, radio and film, who will be hosting a news conference at Alabama State University on Saturday (April 2), at 6 p.m. at the ASU Stadium on its football field.

Harvey will be joined by ASU President Gwendolyn E. Boyd and Hornet head football coach Brian Jenkins to make a major announcement regarding the 2016 Alabama State University football season, which will benefit both the University and Montgomery. They will be sharing some very exciting and newsworthy information about the star and ASU's Hornet Nation working together.

The event is open to both the ASU family and the public and all are invited to attend, said President Boyd.

"ASU greatly values partnership opportunities and is honored to be able to have such a stellar-star as Steve Harvey share with the public on Saturday the exciting news of how he and the Hornet Nation will soon be working together," President Boyd said.

The news conference will begin promptly at 6 p.m.

News media contact: Kenneth Mullinax, at 334-229-4104.

ABOUT STEVE HARVEY
Broderick Stephen "Steve" Harvey is an American comedian, television host, radio personality, actor, and author. He hosts The Steve Harvey Morning Show, Steve Harvey, Family Feud and is the host of NBC's newest Sunday night hit Little Big Shots. He was born on January 17, 1957 in Welch, WV. His movie credits include: Think Like A Man, The Original Kings of Comedy, and much more. He is married and has seven children.

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Pittman Relieved as FVSU’s Head Football Coach

Keithen DeGrate

FORT VALLEY, Georgia -- Donald Pittman has been relieved of his duties, effective immediately. Assistant head coach Keithen DeGrate will serve as interim head coach for the Wildcats.

"On behalf of the university's athletics program, I'd like to thank Coach Pittman for his service to our football program over the past seven years," Murfree said. "However, after careful consideration, I believe this decision is in the best interest of our student athletes, the athletics department and the institution. We wish Donald Pittman well in his future endeavors."

Pittman had served as FVSU's head coach since December 2009 and had compiled a 40-33 overall record in seven seasons.

The university is launching a national search for a new head football coach.

FVSU's football team finished the 2015 season with a loss in the SIAC Eastern Division Title game against Albany State. The 2016 football season kicks off on Sept. 4 in Birmingham, Ala. against Miles College.

If, you should have any questions, please contact Willie Patterson, Sports Information Director at 478-825-6437.
Fort Valley State University Director of Athletics Dr. Joshua Murfree announced today that head football coach.

COURTESY FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

SSU Names Erik Raeburn Head Football Coach

SAVANNAH, Georgia -- Savannah State University has selected Erik Raeburn as the new head football coach. Raeburn will be the 25^th head football coach in the history of the program.

Raeburn, 44, comes to SSU from Wabash College located in Crawfordsville, Ind.

A proven winner, in his eight years at Wabash, he accumulated a record of 78-13, earned five trips to the Division III playoffs and had 16 student-athletes earn All-America status. His 2015 squad posted a 12-1 record and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Division III playoffs.

Wabash was 10-2 in 2008, Raeburn's first season and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs. In 2009, the Little Giants went 9-2 and made another trip to the NCAA playoffs. Wabash missed the playoffs in 2010, despite an 8-2 record, but bounced back the following year where they went 12-1 and made it to the NCAA quarterfinals. That same year, Raeburn was named North Coast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.

The 2013 squad was ranked 17th in the nation in the final D3football.com Top-25 poll.

Raeburn led Wabash to a 10-2 record  in 2014, including a berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs and finished 13th in the final D3football.com.

Before he became head coach at Wabash, Raeburn spent eight years as head football coach at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he posted a 51-26 record. Prior to arriving at Coe, he was an assistant coach at his alma mater, Mount Union College, where he served as offensive line coach and offensive coordinator.
                    
At Coe, Raeburn coached 65 All-Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IAAC) players, 40 All-Americans, and two Academic All-Americans. He guided Coe to its first IIAC title in school history in 2002, and followed with conference championships in 2004 and 2005. He was the 2002 IIAC Coach of the Year and Regional Coach of the Year. He led the Kohawks to a playoff appearance in 2002, advancing to the second round, and also led Coe to the playoffs in 2005.

Raeburn's overall record as a head coach is 135-39.

Raeburn earned his Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Mount Union College and is currently pursuing his master's degree. As an assistant coach under Larry Kehres at Mount Union, he helped the Purple Raiders win six Ohio Athletic Conference Championships and three NCAA Division III National Championships (1996, 1997, 1998).

Erik Raeburn Timeline
Born: June 19, 1971
Playing career: Mount Union, 1989-92
Coaching career: Mount Union 1994-99 (assistant), Coe 2000-07 (head coach), Wabash 2008-15 (head coach), Savannah State 2016 (head coach)
View Photo Gallery Here

COURTESY SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Ivy has stepped up for Jackson State this spring

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Jackson State is looking for a quarterback who can serve as the leader of the team and be the face of the program.

LaMontiez Ivy has held that position down for the better part of the past two seasons, but Tigers coach Tony Hughes said there's a competition for the job this spring.

The knowledge Ivy gained from all those starts has paid off through through JSU's first four spring practices.

"The way he has taken command and the way he has competed (has been) really pleasing" Hughes said Tuesday. "Like we said, competition is open, and it is, but at the same time his experience has really shown, and he could really be a good football player, and we need him to step up and this spring he has stepped up."

Ivy is competing with Jarin Morikawa, Jordan Williams and Brent Lyles. Ivy, who was All-SWAC second team in 2014, and Morikawa both started multiple games last season, while Williams appeared in three.

CONTINUE READING

Next QBs step up into the spotlight

Grambling State - After losing Johnathan Williams, the SWAC offensive player of the year whose 37 touchdown passes tied for the most in the FCS, third-year coach Broderick Fobbs signed former Ole Miss third-string quarterback Deonte Kincade, a redshirt junior. He's basically been anointed as the No. 1 despite sitting out the spring with a broken foot suffered in Sugar Bowl warmups.

Bethune-Cookman - While it hurts to lose Quentin Williams, who played extensively over the last four years and was the FCS leader in passing efficiency last season, redshirt junior Larry Brihm has appeared in all but one game over the last two years. But considering the MEAC squad doesn't rely on one QB, junior college transfer Anthony Cruz, who at 6-5 is more of a pocket passer than a scrambler, and redshirt freshman Arkevious Williams have to be considered for playing time as well.

ONTINUE READING

Grambling using spring football as teaching tool

GRAMBLING, Louisiana — For the two first two years of Broderick Fobbs' tenure, Grambling football players did what they were asked without fully grasping the underlying theme.

The results were more than acceptable — 16 wins and a Southwestern Athletic Conference title berth — but the Tigers are looking to take the next step, and year three is beginning with an emphasis on learning why the program operates the way it operates.

"Our focus this spring is to teach. It's not a blood and guts spring for us," Fobbs said last week. "It's about teaching and getting people in the right place and understanding why they're doing what they're doing.

"I think they're starting to understand that."

Grambling is amid a near two-week long hiatus of practice for spring break, and the Tigers have just had one week of practice due to flooding that hit the area earlier this month.

CONTINUE READING

Hargrave, Hemingway head up SCSU's Pro Day prospects

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- History has already been made. But more is in the making just around the corner.

When South Carolina State football players Javon Hargrave and Temarrick Hemingway attended the NFL Combine in Indianapolis a month ago, they were the first Bulldogs teammates to be invited to the event with other top draft-eligible college players in the same year.

Both had strong performances there and are in town training for Wednesday’s SCSU Pro Day workouts inside Oliver C. Dawson Stadium in Orangeburg. If they have solid showings in the pro day workouts, both could hear their names called higher than previously projected during the 2016 NFL Draft, which starts on April 28 in Chicago.

Couple that with fact that the interest they’ve received from NFL team scouts could mean a large turnout of scouts on SCSU’s campus to see them and some of their former teammates (including Jalen “Scoot” Simmons, Antonio Hamilton and Dondre Lewis-Freeman) work out, and it’s obvious that this could be the most pro football consideration one group of SCSU players has ever garnered.

“Both guys (Hargrave and Hemingway) had a plan when they got here; a plan to get better at football and a plan to graduate early, so they wouldn’t have to worry about this time of year and trying to get prepared for the pro guys along with classes,” South Carolina State head football coach Buddy Pough said. “That plan was as impressive as anything they’ve done here. “Antonio Hamilton did the same deal; so I can say this is a good, smart group of guys representing our program and our university.”



CONTINUE READING

XU's Quincy qualifies for NAIA nationals in women's 400

LAFAYETTE, Louisiana — Xavier University of Louisiana's Kayla Quincy ran the women's 400-meter dash in 57.06 seconds Saturday to place fifth at the Louisiana Classics track and field meet and qualify for the NAIA National Championships.
    
Quincy, a junior, is XU's first this year to qualify for the national meet May 26-28 at Gulf Shores, Ala. She met the NAIA's B-qualifying standard of 57.36 seconds.
    
Also recording team-leading season-best times for the Gold Nuggets were Chelsea James in the 100 (12.34), Maliya Vaughan in the 800 (2:28.88) and 1,500 (5:07.61), Dionysia Love in the 5,000 (20:17.18) and Tylor Row in the 400 hurdles (1:11.86).
    
The Gold Rush got team-leading season-best times from Ethan Gipson in the 100 (11.32), Ammiel Williams in the 400 (53.46), Erwin Simmons in the 110 hurdles (17.36) and 400 hurdles (1:08.98) and Christopher Kennie in the long jump (6.57 meters / 21 feet, 6 3/4 inches).
    
Vaughan placed 10th in the 1,500, and Clarke Allen was seventh in the triple jump (10.62 meters / 34-10 1/4). For the Gold Rush, Darrick Williams ran seventh in the 5,000 (19:42.79), and Kennie was 10th in the long jump and matched the longest distance of his XU career.
    
The meet was Xavier's third of the outdoor season. Louisiana-Lafayette was the host school. Next for the Rush and Nuggets will be the Mississippi College Twilight Invitational at Clinton, Miss., on Friday.
    
Here are all of Xavier's Saturday results from the Louisiana Classics:

Women
    
100: Chelsea James, 15th in 12.34; Destini Thomas, 22nd in 12.66; Martina Wright, 23rd in 12.67; Alexis Milton, 27th in 12.85; Katelynn McMorris, 28th in 12.87; Kailey Williams, 30th in 12.93; Kee-Myah Henderson, 35th in 13.27
  
400: Kayla Quincy, 5th in 57.06; Chinyere Jones, 27th in 1:01.30; Janelle Jones, 28th in 1:01.48; Ky'Reon McBride, 30th in 1:02.62; Terri Cunningham, 31st in 1:03.98
    
800: Maliya Vaughan, 21st in 2:28.88; Chinyere Jones, 25th in 2:31.74; Brianna Pace, 31st in 2:35.50
    
1,500: Maliya Vaughan, 10th in 5:07.61
   
5,000: Dionysia Love, 11th in 20:17.18; Brianna Pace, 14th in 22:02.20; Hannah Finnegan, 15th in 22:32.15; Maliya Vaughan, 16th in 22:51.76
    
400 Relay: Martina Wright, Destini Thomas, Clarke Allen, Chelsea James, 9th in 48.90.
    
1,600 Relay: Chinyere Jones, Kailey Williams, Ky'Reon McBride, Kayla Quincy, 5th in 4:01.84
    
100 Hurdles: Tylor Row, 26th in 21.16
    
400 Hurdles: Tylor Row, 20th in 1:11.86
    
 Triple Jump: Clarke Allen, 7th in 10.62 meters (34 feet, 10 1/4 inches)

Men
    
100: Ethan Gipson, 37th in 11.32
    
400: Ammiel Williams, 28th in 53.46; Langston Adams, 30th in 54.71
   
 800: Ammiel Williams, 29th in 2:04.77
    
1,500: Christopher August, 17th in 4:15.10; 29th in 4:38.57; Darrick Williams, 31st in 5:00.86
    
5,000: Darrick Williams, 7th in 19:42.79; Christopher August, did not finish
    
110 Hurdles: Erwin Simmons, 29th in 17.36
    
400 Hurdles: Erwin Simmons, 24th in 1:08.98
    
Long Jump: Christopher Kennie, 10th in 6.57 meters (21 feet, 6 3/4 inches); Keairez Coleman, 16th in 6.04 meters (19 feet, 9 3/4 inches)
    
Triple Jump: Keairez Coleman, 7th in 13.01 meters (42 feet, 8 1/4 inches)

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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Williams, Gipson lead Xavier at Louisiana Classics

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.

Results:  Men    Women


Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Four from Xavier receive GCAC's weekly awards

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.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Death of Danny Johnson saddens Alabama A&M University

DANNY JOHNSON
COURTESY AAMU ATHLETICS

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

Garvin Named NABC District 15 Coach of the Year, Eaves Selected To All-District Team

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

District 1:       King Rice, Monmouth                             

District 2:       Roy Williams, North Carolina                 

District 3:       Tony Jasick, Jacksonville                         

District 4:       Mark Schmidt, St. Bonaventure              

District 5:       Jay Wright, Villanova                              

District 6:       Bill Evans, Idaho State                            

District 7:       Tom Crean, Indiana                                                        

District 8:       Tubby Smith, Texas Tech                        

District 9:       Randy Bennett, Saint Mary's                  

District 10:     Kevin Keatts, UNC Wilmington                                    

District 11:     Jerod Haase, UAB                                   

District 12:     Bryce Drew, Valparaiso                           

District 13:     James Jones, Yale                                                           

District 14:     Keith Dambrot, Akron                                                           

District 15:     Murray Garvin, South Carolina State

District 16:     Gregg Marshall, Wichita State

District 17:     Steve Fisher, San Diego State

District 18:     Greg Herenda, Fairleigh Dickinson

District 19:     Dana Ford, Tennessee State

District 20:     Dana Altman, Oregon

District 21:     Billy Kennedy, Texas A&M

District 22:     Matt McCall, Chattanooga

District 23:     Brad Underwood, Stephen F. Austin

District 24:     Chris Beard, Arkansas – Little Rock

District 25:     Fran Dunphy, Temple

 

District 15

First Team

James Daniel III, Howard

Quinton Chievous, Hampton

Reginald Johnson, Hampton

Jeff Short, Norfolk State

Dominique Elliott, MD-Eastern Shore

 

Second Team

Eric Eaves, South Carolina State

Devin Martin, MD-Eastern Shore

Sam Hunt, North Carolina A&T

Jordan Potts, Bethune-Cookman

Brian Darden, Hampton

 

To see complete list click here

 

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

SC STATE SPRING PRACTICE BRIEF: Bulldogs Conduct First Scrimmage

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 State, Wayne Brent agree to contract extension

 

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.

 

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Jackson State sweeps Alabama A&M

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.

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UAPB Lion baseball rallies twice to win series

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.

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Rush, Nuggets knock off ranked Keiser teams on road

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.

 

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Porter, Fosselman highlight Jackson State's pro day

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.

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