MEAC Announces 2016 Baseball Championship Seedings

MEAC BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET

NORFOLK, Virginia – The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) will host the 2016 MEAC Baseball Championship beginning Thursday, May 19 through Sunday, May 22 at the Delmarva Shorebirds Perdue Stadium in Salisbury, Md. The Norfolk State Spartans and the Florida A&M Rattlers will enter tournament play as the number one seeds.

Norfolk State clinched the northern divisional title with a 19-5 conference record, including sweeping Coppin State to end the regular season. The Spartans are 10-3 in their last 13 games and 27-19 overall heading into the tournament.

Florida A&M enters tournament play with a 19-5 MEAC record and a 30-19 overall mark for their first 30-win regular season since 2003. The Rattlers secured the top spot winning six of their final eight games, including a sweep of North Carolina A&T State on the final weekend.

Delaware State (13-10) took the number two seed in the north, while Coppin State (8-16) earned the third seed from the north.

Bethune-Cookman (17-7) secured the number two seed in the south, and North Carolina Central (11-13) took the third seed from the south.

Bethune-Cookman (S2) will face Coppin State (N3) in the opening game at 12 p.m. on Thursday. Delaware State (N2) will meet North Carolina Central (S3) in game two, beginning at 3:30 p.m. The losers of the first two games on Thursday will play an elimination game at 7 p.m. that night.

The Spartans will take on the winner of Bethune-Cookman and Coppin State at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, while the Rattlers tangle with the winner of Delaware State and North Carolina Central at 12 p.m. on Friday. A third game will take place at 7 p.m. between the lowest seeded loser from Friday’s first games and the winner of the 7 p.m. game from Thursday.

Only the top three teams from each division will compete for the tournament title. Maryland Eastern Shore, Savannah State and North Carolina A&T State were eliminated from conference play based on its regular season finish.

The championship finale is set for Sunday, May 22 beginning at 1 p.m.

The 2016 MEAC Baseball Championship tournament begins Thursday, May 19 at 12 p.m. at the Delmarva Shorebirds Perdue Stadium in Salisbury, Maryland. Admission is $8 per day or $25 for the four-day tournament. A complete tournament bracket can be found on www.MEACsports.com.

NORTHERN DIVISION
School
Conference Record/Overall Record

1. Norfolk State  19-5/27-19

2. Delaware State  13-10/13-34

3. Coppin State  8-16/12-36

SOUTHERN DIVISION
School
Conference Record/Overall Record

1. Florida A&M 19-5/30-19

2. Bethune-Cookman 17-7/25-25

3. North Carolina Central 11-13/24-28

COURTESY MEAC MEDIA RELATIONS

Claflin baseball to play West Florida to start NCAA regional play

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- The Claflin University baseball team learned on Sunday night where it will continue postseason play.

The Panthers will enter the 2016 NCAA Division II Baseball Championship Regionals as the No. 7 seed and will face the No. 2 seed (West Florida) in the South Region in a game this Thursday, May 19 at 3 p.m.

It will be the opening game of the 2016 NCAA Division II Baseball Regionals. The regional rounds of the double-elimination tournament will run Thursday-Monday, May 19-23, 2016.

Claflin, who received the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) automatic bid after defeating Stillman College twice in the conference tournament, will enter the tournament with a 24-27 overall record.

The Panthers are a true underdog-type team in the field, carrying the only losing record out of the 56 teams in the tournament.

West Florida enters the tournament with a 33-15 overall record.

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Claflin University Panthers Captures SIAC Championship Through Building Process

JAMES RANDALL
HEAD BASEBALL COACH
CLAFLIN UNIVERSITY PANTHERS

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- Winning a baseball championship, regardless of the level of competition, is special. What makes the feat more amazing is accomplishing it for the first time.

 
The Claflin University baseball team recently experienced that felling.  The Panthers brought home the program's first-ever Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Championship.  Claflin swept through the double-elimination tournament, winning four straight games.
 
Reginald Rogers' two-out single drove in Jeturi Brown with the winning run as the Panthers upended overall #1 seed Stillman College 8-7 in 10 innings.
 
The championship was nine years in the making for Claflin Coach James Randall, who inherited only nine players when he took over the program.  The former collegiate standout and head coach at Grambling University, was drafted and played in the Minor League with the California Angles.  He also spent time in the minors and major leagues with Chicago White Sox.
 
Under Randall's guidance, the Panthers improved each season, claiming a division title and several divisional runner-up finishes.  All that hard work came to past this season, according to Randall.
 
"It was a long time coming, but we accomplished it this season, meaning an SIAC championship," Randall said. "It was a combination of several things, starting with peaking at the right time."
 
"As a coach, it's what you prepare for during the regular season. We played a tough non-conference schedule, taking our bumps and bruises along the way. It made our team more productive down the stretch, especially in the SIAC tournament."
 
In the tournament, Randall's team exemplified the four important tools of the game: pitching, hitting, scoring opportunities and playing solid defense.
 
The Panthers pitching were superior as Randall used nine in the tournament. The group gave up 32 hits that resulted in 24 runs, of which 19 were earned.
Lyndale Morley pitched a complete game in Claflin 9-6 win over Stillman in the semifinals.  The tournament's most outstanding player, allowed 11 hits, but held the high-powered Stillman offense to just five earned runs while fanning eight batters.
 
Offensively, the Panthers produced 44 runs off 53 hits and batted .351 as a team during the tournament. They also drew 29 base-on-balls.
 
Rogers led the way, going seven-for-18 with 6 RBI's. Morley was six-for-12 with 4 RBI's, while Elliott Melton had seven hits.
 
As for defense, Claflin committed only seven errors.
 
Now that the SIAC championship trophy is displayed in the athletic department case, it's back to business for Randall. The focus is on the upcoming NCAA Division II Baseball Tournament.
 
"It's back to business for us," Randall said. "I gave them [our players] some time off, but it's time to start preparing for the NCAA Tournament. We will work on the basics and fundamentals of the game."
 
Claflin will represent the SIAC in the upcoming national tournament. Pairings will be announced Sunday (May 15) during the selection show via NCAA.com at 10 p.m.

COURTESY CLAFLIN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Alabama State faces #1 Florida in NCAA softball tournament

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- It's Florida. 
 
With members of the Alabama State softball team watching from the ASU Football Stadium's club lounge, the Lady Hornets learned where their next path would take them in the NCAA Softball Tournament. 
 
The NCAA Selection Show revealed that the Alabama State softball team will be headed to the NCAA Regional Tournament in a four-team grouping in Gainesville starting Friday with a match up against the nation's two-time defending champions and overall No. 1 seed Gators at 2:30 ET/1:30 CT.
 
The game will air on the SEC Network. 
 
Joining ASU and Florida will be two other teams from the Sunshine State: Central Florida and Florida Atlantic.
 
ASU was one of five teams from the state of Alabama to make the tournament. 
 
The others were No. 4 Auburn, No. 6 Alabama, Jacksonville State and Samford. 
 
Alabama State is one of five teams, who will be making their first appearance in the tournament joining Butler, Samford, Ole Miss and CSU Bakersfield. 
 
"We're just really excited about seeing our name flash up on the screen after playing a great weekend of softball in the tournament, ASU head coach Chris Steiner-Wilcoxson told WSFA sports reporter Maria Martin. 
 
The 64-team field was selected from 283 NCAA Division I institutions sponsoring the sport of softball.
 
Of the 64 teams, 32 teams received automatic qualification while the remaining best 32 teams were selected on an at-large basis. Sixteen teams were seeded and each of the seeded teams earned the right to host at one of the regional sites.
 
At each campus site, a four-team, double-elimination tournament will be conducted and the 16 winning teams will advance to the Super Regionals.
 
The Lady Hornets made school history after winning its first SWAC softball championship by defeating Texas Southern 18-8 in the SWAC Championship on Saturday in Irondale.
 
It was the most runs that ASU had scored in a game since March 8, 2008 when it put up 18 runs against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. 
 
Alabama State (28-25) pounded out a SWAC Championship game record 19 hits and had an unforgettable second inning in which the team sent 14 batters to the plate as part of a nine-run inning.

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Howell Nabs a Pair of Titles, Morgan Bears Capture First-Ever IC4A Outdoor Championship

PRINCETON, New Jersey -- One week after posting an eighth place finish in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championships, the Morgan State men's track and field team rebounded with a historic victory on an even bigger stage.
 
The Bears finished with 68 points on the third and final day of the at the IC4A Outdoor Championship, claiming the team title by 11 points over second-place Cornell at Princeton's Weaver Stadium this weekend. It marked Morgan State's first-ever IC4A Outdoor Championship, and the first-ever by a MEAC school.
 
LIU Brooklyn finished in third place with 55 points, followed by Hampton (4^th, 41 pts) and Princeton (38.33 pts).
 
The first of Sunday's (May 15) titles came from Deyvon Howell who edged out teammate Desean White to win the 100-meters. Howell crossed the finish line with a time of 10.63, while White came in second place with a 10.66.
 
Less than two hours later, Howell would also take first place in the 200-meter dash with a personal best of 21.11, this time finishing in front of Bear teammate Desean White who placed second with a 21.31.
 
By himself, Howell earned 20 total points for the team this weekend.
 
The men's relay teams also turned in solid performances on the final day. The 4x400-meter relay team, which featured Evan Johnson, Stephen Varella, Donovan St. Louis and was anchored by Joel Roberson, finished second in 3:12.51.
 
The men's 4x100-meter relay team comprised of Fonyi Agendia, Desean White, Deyvon Howell and Joel Roberson ran a 40.64, good enough for fourth place.
 
The Bears also got points from in the 400-meter dash where Joel Roberson turned in a second place time of 46.66. Evan Johnson also posted a second place finish by recording a time of 52.15 in the 400-meter hurdles.

Complete Results | Past IC4A Champions

2016 IC4A Championship Results
Weaver Field
Princeton, N.J.
Winner: Morgan State, 68 pts
 
Morgan State Finishers
 
100m Dash
1. Deyvon Howell, 10.63
2. Desean White, 10.66
6. Fonyi Agendia, 10.64
Semi-Finals
4. Deyvon Howell, 10.63
5. Fonyi Agendia, 10.60
8. Desean White, 10.66
 Preliminaries
6. Deyvon Howell, 10.70
7. Desean White, 10.63
13. Fonyi Agendia, 10.67
 
200m Dash
1. Deyvon Howell, 21.11
2. Desean White, 21.31
--. Joel Roberson, 21.58
Preliminaries
1. Deyvon Howell, 21.38
4. Desean White, 21.55
7. Joel Roberson, 21.58
12. Donovan St. Louis, 21.73
28. Kevin Leach, 22.25
 
400m Dash
2. Joel Roberson, 46.66
Preliminaries
1. Joel Roberson, 46.69
23. Donovan St. Louis, 48.79
 
400m Hurdles
2. Evan Johnson, 52.15
10. Stephen Varella, 53.04
 
4x100 Relay
4. Morgan State 'A', 40.79
(Fonyi Agendia, Desean White, Deyvon Howell, Joel Roberson)
Preliminaries
4. Morgan State 'A', 40.64
 
4x400m Relay
2. Morgan State 'A', 3:09.19
(Evan Johnson, Stephen Varella, Donovan St. Louis, Joel Roberson)
2. Morgan State 'A', 3:12.51

COURTESY MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

MEAC: Augusta University returns to familiar course for regionals appearance

AUGUSTA, Georgia -- The site of Augusta University’s next regionals appearance will be a familiar one for those who know the history of the men’s golf program, and one that draws favorable memories.

The Jaguars will return to Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Okla., for the first time since 2011 when they won the NCAA National Championship for the second consecutive year. This time, they’re competing for a chance to make the finals for the first time since that year.

The regional will be held today through Wednesday.

“It’s always the goal to get to regionals and, from there, contend and get a chance in the national championship,” Augusta coach Jack O’Keefe said. “We’re getting better each day, and we’re very excited.”

The only member still in the program from the 2011 team is assistant coach Mitch Krywulycz, who had crucial match-play victories for the Jaguars in the two national championships. O’Keefe said Krywulycz will be a “valuable asset” during regionals by offering advice on the course and tournament.

CONTINUE READING

Florida State, Florida A&M to meet in NCAA softball tournament

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- At first, Florida A&M’s softball team was happy there wasn’t another trip to Gainesville in its future.

The Rattlers (27-28) won the MEAC tournament and were anticipating a trip to a place the program hadn’t been before for the 2016 NCAA tournament. Players were hoping for UCLA, Michigan, maybe even Kentucky as they watched the Tournament Selection Show at Dreamland BBQ on Monroe Street.

Instead, the Rattlers will travel around the corner to JoAnne Graf Field to play in the Tallahassee Regional, hosted by the Florida State Seminoles. Both teams will be joined by South Carolina and South Florida.

“I mean, it was crazy. We were excited we weren’t going to Gainesville because for the past few years, we went to Gainesville,” said junior pitcher Kenya Pereira. “It was kind of… I don’t know if ‘disappointed’ is the right word, but it was kind of bummer that we’re not traveling somewhere.”

Florida State earned the No. 8 overall seed in the tournament, and will have the chance to host until the Super Regional round. The Seminoles won their third straight ACC tournament title over the weekend.

CONTINUE READING

Florida A&M Rattlers clinch No. 1 seed in MEAC tournament, post best win total since 2003

JAMEY SHOUPPE
FAMU HEAD BASEBALL COACH

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M’s baseball team closed its best regular season in more than a decade with a showcase of what the group is capable of against MEAC competition.

The Rattlers (30-19, 19-5 MEAC) posted two run-rule victories over North Carolina A&T and swept the Aggies by a combined score of 39-8 over three games at Moore-Kittles Field over the weekend.

FAMU’s weekend capped the first 30-win regular season for the program since 2003. Plus, the team’s 19-5 conference record is the best in program history. The Rattlers also clinched the No. 1 seed in the MEAC’s Southern Division.

Not a bad way to end the regular season.

“We’re doing what we wanted to do,” said head coach Jamey Shouppe. “We’re hopefully getting hot at the right time. It’s always good to win. We clinched the No. 1 seed and that puts our hopes of repeating as MEAC champions in a better position.”

The Rattlers open MEAC tournament play on Friday at noon against the winner of Thursday’s game between Del. State and North Carolina Central.

CONTINUE READING 

S.C. State's Hemingway says hello to Hollywood

OXNARD, California -- It’s a long way away; definitely not right around the corner.

In fact, it’s 2,458 miles to be exact—the distance former South Carolina State standout tight end Temarrick Hemingway traveled from Orangeburg to reach the Rams rookie training camp in Oxnard, California in recent days.

Hemingway, a 6-5, 245-pound tight end, was the 177th overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft on April 30. Since then, he left his dorm room on the SCSU campus, caught a flight headed West, and continued on until he stepped onto the Rams practice field.

Once there, he entered a new chapter in his life, filled with wide-eyed excitement and pride at being a member of the newly minted Los Angeles Rams, after their recent return move from St. Louis after the 2015 season.

Hemingway says he is “ready and willing to work hard for this opportunity of a lifetime.”

When asked about his thoughts as he took the field as a professional for the very first day, Hemingway didn’t hesitate to talk of a close family bond.

CONTINUE READING

Gold Nuggets qualify for nationals in 1,600 relay

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — In Xavier University of Louisiana's final opportunity to qualify for the NAIA National Track and Field Championships in the women's 1,600-meter relay, the Gold Nuggets delivered.
     
The XU quartet of Kailey Williams, Clarke Allen, Chinyere Jones and Kayla Quincyproduced a time of 3 minutes, 56.71 seconds Saturday at the HBCU National Classic to win the event and meet the NAIA's B-qualifying standard for nationals.
     
Xavier recorded its fastest time in this event since Devinn Rolland, Zahri Jackson,Tramaine Shannon and Chartia Hurt finished in a school-record 3:54.13 at the LSU Relays on March 23, 2013.
     
The NAIA national meet will be May 26-28 at Gulf Shores, Ala. Previously qualified from the Gold Nuggets were Chelsea James in the 100, Quincy in the 200 and 400 and the 400 relay team of James, Destini Thomas, Alexis Milton and Martina Wright.
     
Also Saturday, the Gold Nuggets Milton was third in the 100 in a season-best 12.62, and Wright was fifth in 12.80. Keairez Coleman placed third in the men's triple jump in 13.67 meters (44 feet, 10 1/4 inches). Coleman was one-hundredth of a meter from his season best.

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

Florida A&M Captures 2016 MEAC Softball Championship

ORMOND BEACH, Florida  – The Florida A&M University softball team won the 2016 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Softball Tournament championship on Saturday afternoon at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex.

This is the third consecutive title for the Lady Rattlers (27-28) and 12th overall.

Head coach Veronica Wiggins was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Coach for the 10th time. Veronica Burse was also named Most Outstanding Performer.

“I have two new coaches this year, so this championship was really special,” Wiggins said. “We have a great pitching staff and she (Burse) knew her role and she did exactly what she was supposed to do.”

In the double-elimination championship, Bethune-Cookman took the first game, 8-3, to force a deciding game.

In the deciding game, Florida A&M got a solo home run by Kieffi Myrick in the second inning and broke the game open in the third with six runs on seven hits and took advantage of one Lady Wildcat error to grab a 7-0 lead.

Bethune-Cookman (22-31) plated one run in the fifth, but it wasn’t enough as Florida A&M captured its third straight MEAC Tournament crown.

The Lady Rattlers pounded out 12 hits. Jessica Nathan, Tashayla Irvis, Kieffi Myrick, Toni Anderson and Whitney Farris each had two hits.

Burse (10-14) scattered three hits and gave up one run, with three strikeouts and four walks, in seven innings to lift Florida A&M to the win. During the tournament, Burse dominated batters as she worked 15.0 innings and fanned nine. Also, she gave up only three hits and two runs (one earned).

In the opener, Florida A&M jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a two-run homer to left center by Alexis Day in the first inning.

Bethune-Cookman loaded the bases with one out in the top of the second and came away empty handed after a pair of strikeouts by Kenya Pereira. However, the Lady Wildcats loaded the bases in the third and grabbed a 4-2 advantage after a grand slam homer by Brianna Sanders.

The Lady Wildcats added to the lead with four runs in the fourth and cruised to an 8-3 win.

Sanders paced the Bethune-Cookman offense with two hits and four RBIs. Sabrina Anguiano went the distance as she surrendered three runs on eight hits to earn the win.

Pereira took the loss as she gave up seven runs on six hits, with four strikeouts and three walks, in 3.1 innings.

Florida A&M earns the conference’s automatic berth to the NCAA Division Regionals awaits their opponent that will be announced during the NCAA Softball Selection Show Sunday, May 16 at 10 p.m. ET on ESPNU.

2016 MEAC All-Tournament Team

Most Outstanding Player: Veronica Burse, Florida A&M

Most Outstanding Coach: Veronica Wiggins, Florida A&M

All-Tournament Team

Sabrina Anguiano, Bethune-Cookman

Annie Bakenhus, Bethune-Cookman

Sophia Ortega, Bethune-Cookman

Iesha Waters, Bethune-Cookman

Veronica Burse, Florida A&M

Alexis Day, Florida A&M

Jessica Nathan, Florida A&M

Kenya Pereira, Florida A&M

Sandy Hawthorne, Delaware State

Nicole Gazolla, Delaware State

Torrian Wright, Savannah State

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS 

Alabama State wins first ever Softball Tournament crown

IRONDALE, Alabama – Behind five home runs, Alabama State won its first-ever Southwestern Athletic Conference Softball Tournament Championship, downing defending champion Texas Southern 18-8 in the final round.

For the Lady Hornets (28-25), it was the avenging of a defeat at the hands of the Tigers (27-18) in last year’s tournament final. The 18 runs is the most by a team in the finals since Mississippi Valley State put up 16 runs in 2009, and six ALST players collected at least two RBI in the game.

The scoring started early for Alabama State, as tournament MVP Kendall Core (3-for-5, 4 RBI, 2 R) put the Lady Hornets on the board with a two-run shot in the first. TXSO got one run back in the second inning, but the Hornets opened up the game for good with a nine-run outburst, highlighted by another two-run blast from Core and two-run base hits by Laura Aguilar and Brittney Wilson. At the end of it, ALST led 11-1.

Texas Southern showed signs of life in the top of the fourth, as Domonique Tello (2-for-4, R) smacked a three-run double to cut the game to 11-5. But the long ball continued to pay off for Alabama State, as Alexia Boggess and Wilson (2-for-4, 3 RBI) hit back-to-back solo shots to extend the Hornets’ lead. Aleesa Yanez also left the yard for Alabama State.

Maddie Phelps (18-11) threw 3.1 innings, allowing six hits and four earned runs to earn the win. Tyra Williams (7-6) got the loss.

The Hornets now await the news of their first opponent in the NCAA Softball Championship Tournament. The selection show will be broadcast on Sunday, May 15 on 9:00 P.M. (CST) on ESPNU. The all-tournament team is listed below.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM:
Paige Breal, Alcorn State
Shamberlynn Alop, Alcorn State
Imani Largin, Alabama A&M
Kiara Suttles, Southern
Deja Talton, Mississippi Valley State
Haley Smith, Texas Southern
Amber Garza, Texas Southern
Domonique Tello, Texas Southern
Jenna Mae Thorne, Alabama State

Kendall Core, Alabama State
Melissa Christmann, Alabama State

TOURNAMENT MVP:
Kendall Core, Alabama State

Box Score

COURTESY SWAC MEDIA RELATIONS

Black College Football Hall of Fame Finds Permanent Home in Canton, Ohio

CANTON, Ohio -- The Pro Football Hall of Fame (PFHOF) and the Black College Football Hall of Fame (BCFHOF) have announced a historic partnership that provides the BCFHOF with a permanent home at the PFHOF as a part of the new Hall of Fame Village, a $500 million development of the PFHOF’s campus.

The two organizations will also work together on joint programs and events including: hosting the annual BCFHOF induction ceremony at Hall of Fame Village; expanded educational programming and special events at the PFHOF during Black History Month; a travelling exhibition; and post-graduate internship opportunities for graduates of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The partnership also includes a future BCFHOF HBCU Classic to be held at the new Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton and a major permanent exhibition inside the PFHOF.

“So many members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and countless numbers of their teammates had a road to greatness paved through Historically Black Colleges and Universities,” Hall of Fame President David Baker shared. “Their journey is an important part of the history of the Game that must not be forgotten. This partnership with the Black College Football Hall of Fame will provide insight into what shaped the lives of so many Heroes of this Game and will serve as great inspiration to generations of fans.”

Twenty-nine of the 303 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame (nearly 10%) played at an HBCU. Three members of the PFHOF (Mel Blount, Willie Lanier and Art Shell) serve on the BCFHOF’s Board of Trustees. Lanier is also a member of the PFHOF’s Board of Trustees.

The BCFHOF was founded in 2009 by two legendary NFL quarterbacks and African-American pioneers James Harris and Doug Williams. Under their leadership, the BCFHOF has continued to grow, providing a meaningful platform to share the history and stories of the greatest HBCU football players, coaches, and contributors.

A star quarterback at Grambling State University, Harris was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the eighth round of the 1969 combined AFL-NFL Draft. As a rookie he became the NFL’s first African-American to start full-time at quarterback. Later, while with the Los Angeles Rams, he became the first African-American quarterback to be named to the Pro Bowl (1975) and to start and win a NFL playoff game. Harris played with the Bills (1969-1971), the Rams (1973-76) and the San Diego Chargers (1977-79).

“All of us associated with the Black College Football Hall of Fame look forward to working with the team at the Pro Football Hall of Fame to elevate the story of the greatest African-American players, coaches and contributors who persevered and overcame great obstacles to achieve their dreams,” Harris stated.

Williams, who also excelled at Grambling, was taken in the first round of the 1978 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. As a member of the Washington Redskins, he made history as the first African-American quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl. His then-record 340 yards passing and 4 TDs in Super Bowl XXII earned him Most Valuable Player honors, also a first. Williams played with the Buccaneers (1978-1982) and the Redskins (1986-89) and two seasons with the USFL Oklahoma/Arizona Wranglers (1984-85).

“The Black College Football Hall of Fame is thrilled to have its permanent home in Canton, Ohio at the Pro Football Hall of Fame,” Williams offered. “This special partnership will allow us to preserve black college football history for generations to come.”

The BCFHOF Induction will be held in Canton in each year. The BCFHOF’s annual Inductee Dinner and Golf Classic will continue in Atlanta where it has been held since its founding.

Revenue to support the initiatives will be raised primarily through donations, grants, fund raising events, and merchandise sales.

COURTESY BLACK COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME 

Florida A&M Earns First 30-Win Season Since 2003 with Doubleheader Sweep Over NC A&T

Marlon Gibbs recorded his first-career grand slam in walk-off fashion in game one
Courtesy FAMU Athletics

TALLAHASSEE, Florida – Florida A&M (30-19, 19-5 MEAC) posted its first 30-win season since 2003 after sweeping Saturday’s doubleheader over North Carolina A&T (13-41, 6-18 MEAC) by scores of 12-2 and 7-2 at Moore-Kittles Field. The 30-win season is also just the third for FAMU since becoming a Division I program in 1980. The Rattlers tallied 39 runs and totaled 48 hits in the three-game series with NC A&T. On Senior Day, senior left fielder Marlon Gibbs belted his first-career grand slam, in walk-off fashion, to end game one by mercy rule.

With double digit hits in all three games this weekend, FAMU finished the regular season with 10+ hits in 28-of-49 (57%) games. Gibbs went 3-for-5 with a double, home run and five RBI in game one, while Ben Ellzey finished game one going 2-for-4 with a double, home run and two RBI. In game two, five different Rattlers had multi-hit performances as Brian Davis (2-for-3), Dylan Dillard (2-for-3), Jacky Miles, Jr. (2-for-2), Ellzey (2-for-3) and AJ Elkins (2-for-3) all had two hits in the game. Elkins had a double and a triple and tied a career-high with three RBI. Alec Wong and Davis each had home runs in game two as Florida A&M totaled 14 extra base hits in Saturday’s two games.

JoJo Durden (2-2) earned the game one win for FAMU after pitching a complete game and allowing just two runs as NC A&T scattered five hits with five strikeouts and one walk. Chase Jarrell (6-3) picked up the win in game two as he worked six innings and allowed two runs on seven hits with no walks and five strikeouts.

In game one, the Rattlers scored first with an unearned run in the bottom of the second inning to take a 1-0 lead. After Dillard reached on a three-base error as left fielder Ryan Jantsch was unable to make the catch, Miles, Jr. plated Dillard with a sac fly to deep center field for the first run of the day.

Florida A&M tacked on five more runs in the third inning to increase its lead to 6-0. Peter Jackson led off with a double off the fence in left field, moved to second on a fly out to center field from Gibbs and scored on an RBI single to left field from Wong. With two outs, Dillard tripled home Wong with a ball down the left line that kicked out in the corner away from the left fielder. Miles, Jr. followed with his second RBI of the day, this time on a single up the middle that brought home Dillard from third. Ellzey then blasted his fourth home run of the season over the fence in left field to account for the runs in the inning.

FAMU pushed the lead to 7-0 with a single run in the sixth inning as Gibbs recorded an RBI double. Jackson started things off with a double down the left line and scored the only run of the inning as Gibbs followed with another double down the left line.

NC A&T scored their only two runs of the game in the seventh inning as Jarrett Norman hit his third home run of the season, a two-run home run to left field, that cut into the FAMU lead at 7-2.

Game one ended in a special way as senior Marlon Gibbs belted his first-career grand slam on Senior Day to end the game by a score of 12-2 in seven innings. Dillard walked and went to second on a passed ball before Miles, Jr. walked to put runners on first and second with no outs. Dillard then advanced to third when Ellzey grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. After AJ Elkins walked, Ryan Hutson’s RBI single through the left side brought home Dillard for the eighth run of the game. Jackson also drew a walk to load the bases with two outs before Gibbs grand slam over the left field fence ended the game as the mercy rule was in effect.

In game two, the Aggies scored first with a single run in the first inning. Sowell led off the game with a triple into right center and scored on a groundout to short by Timothy Ravare.

The Rattlers would tie the game at 1-1 with a run in the second inning. Dillard led off with a single through the left side and Miles, Jr. was hit-by-pitch to put runners on first and second with no outs. Ellzey then reached on a bunt single to load the bases and Dillard came home for the tying run on a sac fly to right from Elkins.

North Carolina A&T came right back with another run in the top of the third inning to re-take the lead at 2-1. Sowell reached on an infield single with one out, for his second hit of the game, and went to second as Ravare grounded out. Back-to-back wild pitches would allow Sowell to advance two bases and score from second for the Aggies’ final run of the game.

With one out in the third inning, Wong’s towering solo home run to right field tied the game at 2-2.

FAMU grabbed its first lead of game two with two runs in the fourth inning that made the score 4-2. Ellzey led off by reaching on a ground rule double, as his double bounced over the wall in center field, and scored on an RBI triple into the right center gap from Elkins. Hutson then followed with an RBI double off the wall down the left line, right at the foul pole, as Elkins easily came home to score.

Florida A&M took control of the game with three more runs in the fifth inning in what proved to be the final score of 7-2. Davis led off with his seventh home run of the season, over the scoreboard in right center field, to increase the Florida A&M lead to 5-2. Dillard and Miles, Jr. followed with back-to-back singles and with one out, Elkins doubled home Dillard as Miles, Jr. advanced to third on the play. With runners on second and third, Miles, Jr. beat out the throw to the plate to score the final run of the game as Hutson reached on a fielder’s choice.

Senior Kendal Weeks came in to pitch a scoreless seventh inning and allowed just one hit in his final game at Moore-Kittles Field to secure the sweep over North Carolina A&T.

Tevelle Clark (3-4) took the game one loss for the Aggies after he pitched five innings and allowed seven runs (six earned) on nine hits with three strikeouts and three walks. Will Greene (1-9) suffered the loss for NC A&T in game two after giving up four runs on seven hits in three innings of work with one strikeout and one walk.

Florida A&M travels to the MEAC Baseball Tournament next week as the overall No.1 seed out of the Southern Division and will face the winner between North Carolina Central and Delaware State on Friday, May 20, at 12:00 PM.

As always, fans can follow Rattler Baseball on Twitter @BaseballFAMU and on Facebook. Live Stats are also available on the baseball schedule page of FAMUAthletics.com.

BOX SCORE GAME 1

BOX SCORE GAME 2

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Doug Overton is LU New Head Men's Basketball Coach

Doug & Chanel Overton

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pennsylvania -- Lincoln University is proud to announce the hiring of its' new Head Men's Basketball Coach Doug Overton. Coach Overton is a Philadelphia Basketball legend. A graduate of Dobbins Technical High school, Overton helped his team to a city championship playing alongside Philadelphia Hoop legends Bo Kimble and Hank Gathers. From there he went on to star at LaSalle University where he scored more than 1700 points and earned a place not only in the LaSalle University Hall of Athletes but also the Big Five and Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.

After a stellar collegiate career which included leading his team to three NCAA appearances he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary/Special Education. Doug Overton was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in 1992 and had a 12 year career playing for a number of teams including the Washington Wizards and Philadelphia 76ers. After his playing career ended, Coach Overton was the first retired player to enter the NBA Assistant Coaches Program.

His coaching career includes stints with the NBA Basketball without Borders program in Beijing, China, Nike Skills Academy and time coaching youth in Barcelona, Spain and Australia. Throughout his playing career and to this day Coach Overton kept his roots in Philadelphia and continued to give back. He created the DOBC better known as the Doug Overton Basketball Camp in 1992. This camp is the longest consecutively run free basketball camp for inner city youth in Philadelphia history. He is also the founder of the " No Opponent Basketball Academy" a program designed to help students ages 6-17 develop life and basketball skills within the Philadelphia tristate area.

After working with Head Coach Phil Martelli at St Joseph University, Doug Overton is now ready to take the helm of his own program. He brings to Lincoln University the knowledge and experience that can only be gained by someone who has lived the dream that many who come to Lincoln have. His story will resonate with not only our basketball players but also the young men and women who come to Lincoln University from Philadelphia with a dream and hopes of improving their lives.

During the press conference held Thursday May 12, at Lincoln's Center City Campus Dr. Pope introduced Overton to the major media networks who covered him as a star at LaSalle University by saying "we know that Coach Overton has the knowledge and experience necessary to take Lincoln's program to the top of the CIAA conference and we are more than excited. Normally as an AD I look forward to the quiet at the end of a long academic year. Right now I can't wait until October when the basketball season starts". Coach Overton has spoken to the current players on the team and they are excited and have already begun working out for their new coach. They know that on the first day of practice a new era will begin and the expectations of them and the program will be high. That's what Coach Overton brings to Lincoln University and I wouldn't want it any other way".

When Overton spoke he mentioned that early on he dreamed of being a teacher. "I don't feel like this is something I'm not ready for," Overton said. "I'm prepared. I've been preparing myself for a long time for this. I always wanted to be a teacher. I graduated from La Salle as an education major, and here's my chance to teach at the college level." The AD says "the University is excited to have someone with Doug Overton's experience and passion for serving his community. We have someone who can teach and be the example and that is something to be excited about. We are looking forward to this new era in Lincoln Lions Athletics".

The alumni and friends of Dobbins and LaSalle took pride when he made his debut in the NBA. He is certainly someone who knows how to leave a mark. He was a point guard for a reason says Pope. "He makes things happen and creates opportunity for others. This has been his life's work which is evident when you consider the Doug Overton Basketball Camp and The No Opponent Basketball Academy he founded".

It should also be noted, Overton is no stranger to Lincoln University as he spoke emotionally about his uncle Joe who is a Lincoln alum and a niece who just finished her freshmen year. "I had family members that graduated from Lincoln," Overton said. "They were some of the first in our family to go to college. I remember going to those graduations at Lincoln and that inspired me to further myself." Interim President Dr. Green was on hand at the press conference and remarked "I'm looking for great things from you. He went on to say "I can't wait to see how he lifts our program".

Today a new era began for Lion's Athletics and it has its roots in north Philadelphia. Doug Overton, a name that resonates with Big Five fans and NBA rosters has come to Lincoln University to share what he has learned and lead the Lions. Welcome to Lincoln Coach Overton, your arrival and mission is appropriate and fits in well with the old Orange and Blue - An institution that has for more than 160 years continued the legacy of excellence.

Practice begins October 15, 2016. For the Lincoln Lion faithful who want to be a part of this new beginning, the Athletics Director recommends that you get your season tickets early.

COURTESY THE LINCOLN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION