Norfolk State failed to monitor its eligibility certification process

Download the Norfolk State Public Infractions Decision

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana -- Norfolk State University failed to monitor its eligibility certification process, which resulted in improper certifications for student-athletes, according to a decision issued by a Division I Committee on Infractions panel. The university incorrectly applied NCAA progress-toward-degree requirements over the course of four years, resulting in 48 student-athletes competing and receiving travel expenses while ineligible.

This case was resolved through the summary disposition process, a cooperative effort where the involved parties collectively submit the case to the Committee on Infractions in written form. The NCAA enforcement staff and the university must agree to the facts and overall level of the case in order to use this process instead of a formal hearing.

The panel found the university did not monitor its eligibility certification process when it did not establish the proper systems and safeguards to ensure that student-athlete certification met NCAA eligibility standards.

The violations involved student-athletes in the following programs: football, men’s basketball, women’s volleyball, women’s tennis, women’s basketball, men’s track, women’s track, softball, bowling, men’s tennis and baseball.

Penalties and corrective measures include the following:

Public reprimand and censure for the university.

Two years of probation for the university from June 16, 2016, to June, 15, 2018.

A vacation of records in which student-athletes participated while ineligible. After the release of the public report, the university will identify the games affected.

Scholarship reductions during the 2014-15 academic year, self-imposed by the university:
Three scholarships for the football program.

One scholarship for each of the men’s basketball, women’s volleyball, women’s tennis and women’s basketball programs.

Half a scholarship for each of the men’s track, women’s track, softball, bowling, men’s tennis and baseball programs.

A $5,000 fine (self-imposed by the university).

Members of the Committee on Infractions are drawn from NCAA membership and members of the public. The members of the panel who reviewed this case are Michael F. Adams, chancellor, Pepperdine University; Carol Cartwright, president emeritus at Kent State University; Gregory Christopher, athletics director at Xavier University; Jack Ford, legal analyst for CBS News; Joseph Novak, former head football coach at Northern Illinois University; Larry Parkinson, director of enforcement for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; and Gregory Sankey, chief hearing officer, chair of the Committee on Infractions and commissioner of the Southeastern Conference.

NCAA PUBLIC AND MEDIA RELATIONS

BCU's Clay Middleton Drafted by Texas Rangers

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- For the second time in as many days, Bethune-Cookman Baseball saw a catcher selected in the 2016 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft, as redshirt junior Clay Middleton was taken in the 22nd round on Saturday afternoon by the Texas Rangers. Middleton follows classmate Michael Cruz as the second B-CU draft choice, as Cruz was taken by the Chicago Cubs in the seventh round on Friday.

Clay Middleton, a 6-foot, 205-pound catcher from Oviedo, Florida, finished the 2016 season second on the Bethune-Cookman roster in batting average, hitting at a .335 clip on the campaign. The Hagerty High alum earned a spot on the 2016 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) First Team, in addition to helping the Wildcats to their league-leading 18th conference title and a berth in the NCAA Gainesville [Fla.] Regional.

Middleton was the 669th overall selection in this year’s MLB Draft.

Cruz and Middleton join the 2014 MLB Draft class of former Wildcats Keith Zuniga, Montana Durapau and John Sever as players that have served head coach Jason Beverlin, recently completing his fifth year at the helm in Daytona Beach.

In 2016, Middleton played and started in 47 games, most of them coming behind the dish for the Maroon and Gold. He collected 56 hits, adding 31 RBI’s, three home runs and scoring 25 runs. He fielded at a .983 clip, recording 204 putouts and 30 assists.

Across his three-year career, Middleton batted .261 in 138 career games. He added 114 hits and three home runs, all of the latter coming in 2016.

In 2014, Middleton made eight appearances starting behind the dish for the Wildcats before an injury sidelined him for the season, using a medical hardship waiver and a season to rehabilitate. He would go on to earn a medical hardship waiver from the NCAA.

Follow Bethune-Cookman Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/BCUathletics), Twitter (www.twitter.com/BCUDiamondCats) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/BCUBaseball) for all of the latest news and updates. Fans also receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year, via the social media outlets or www.BCUathletics.com.

COURTESY BETHUNE COOKMAN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Riders release ASU's Cyrus after hamstring injury

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- No wonder Malcolm Cyrus' name didn't show up in Saturday's box score.

The former Alabama State star said he injured his hamstring during training camp for Saskatchewan in the Canadian Football League as the Roughriders released him last month.

Saskatchewan opened preseason action Saturday with a 28-16 loss to B.C. Lions.

"It's disappointing because I didn't get to practice but half a day and knowing it came from a hamstring pull," Cyrus said. "But I'm confident that I'll be back next year. It's just the wait that's going to hurt me."

With his speed, moves and shiftiness, Cyrus seemed ideal for the CFL as he has the skill set to take advantage of the wide CFL playing field. The CFL field is 10 yards longer and nearly 13 yards wider than a NFL field.

Cyrus was hoping to get healthy and re-sign with the CFL team, but said he's being sent home. Cyrus pulled his hamstring the first day of camp last month.

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5 most difficult schedules in the SWAC in 2016

JACKSON, Mississippi -- SWAC teams face their share of challenging road games every season.

That's no different this year as conference teams will travel to play strong programs such as Arizona, Auburn, Arkansas and Texas A&M.

Those games highlight some pretty tough schedules, which led The Clarion-Ledger to examine the five most difficult schedules in the SWAC for the 2016 season.

5. Prairie View A&M: The Panthers aren't ducking anyone with their non-conference schedule. They'll face Texas A&M and Rice this season. Much like Alabama A&M's schedule, the rest of the road games aren't too tough, but Prairie View A&M's non-conference opponents are enough to place it on this list.

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XU Athletics website earns 2nd place in NAIA contest

ED CASSIERE

DALLAS, Texas — Xavier University of Louisiana's Ed Cassiere received two awards Monday, including a second place, in the 2015-16 NAIA-SIDA Publications and Media Contest.

Cassiere received a runner-up award for the website xulagold.com and seventh place in winter sports publications for XU's men's basketball media guide.

Cassiere was honored during the NAIA-SIDA Convention, a one-day event and part of the 2016 College Sports Information Directors of America Convention.

Cassiere — who in July will begin his 11th year as Xavier's SID and his 24th as a fulltime college sports publicist — has received 24 NAIA awards the past eight years, including five firsts.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold
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Tuskegee ranked in a pair of Division II preseason polls

TUSKEGEE, Alabama -- With just 82 days before the college football season opens across the country, preseason polls are beginning to be released by several national publications.

Tuskegee, fresh off a quarterfinal appearance in the 2015 NCAA Division II playoffs, has made an appearance in two publications that have been released in the last month.

The Golden Tigers, 10-3 a season ago, are ranked 13th in The Sporting News preseason poll. They are the second-highest rated team from region, behind West Georgia who is ranked third in the preseason poll. The Golden Tigers are ranked one spot ahead of North Alabama - who they defeated in the second round of the playoffs – and two spots ahead of the first round opponent from a season ago, Catawba.

The Sporting News also released its preseason All-American team with Tuskegee junior safety Jonah McCutcheon earning First Team honors.

Meanwhile, Tuskegee also makes an appearance in Lindy's Sports Preseason Top 25. The Golden Tigers are ranked 10th by Lindy's to open the season, five spots behind fellow region opponent West Georgia (fifth). They are ranked just ahead of North Alabama and Valdosta State in the poll.

Tuskegee opens the season on September 3 against Clark
Atlanta on the road. Tickets will go on sale in July in the Tuskegee University athletic ticket office for the home games.

For more information on Tuskegee University athletics, follow us on Twitter/Snapchat/Instagram (@MyTUAthletics), and like us on Facebook.

COURTESY TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Tuskegee Ratliff named ASWA Small College Athlete of the Year

 Jewell Ratliff 

TUSKEGEE, Alabama -- Jewell Ratliff made a name for himself during the 2015 season, topping each performance with another for the record books throughout the record-breaking season for the Tuskegee University football team.

Six months after playing his final collegiate game in the NCAA Division II playoffs, Ratliff was named the Alabama Sports Writers Association (ASWA) Small College Athlete of Year this weekend.

The award joins a long list of awards won by Ratliff this season, as the senior was one of a handful of student-athletes who was named to all of the major Division II All-American teams.

"I just want to thank everyone who voted for me," Ratliff said. "Although this award has my name on it, I know it would have been hard for me to get without my teammates. Those were my brothers out there playing and we always made sure we laid it on the line for Tuskegee."

Ratliff earned accolades on 10 different All-American Teams. He earned honors from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Associated Press Little All-America Team, BOXTOROW, D2football.com, D2CCA, Don Hansen, Football Gazette, HERO Sports, SBN Black College Football All-American and USA College Football.

The New Orleans native was also named the SIAC Player and Defensive Player of the Year this season, recording 148 total tackles. The total was the highest recorded by a Golden Tiger since Jerome Hawkins recorded 168 in 1977.

The total by the Cliff Harris award finalist – award given to the best defensive player in small college football - is the also the fourth highest total by a Golden Tiger since 1973.

For more information on Tuskegee University athletics, follow us on Twitter/Snapchat/Instagram (@MyTUAthletics) and like us on Facebook.

COURTESY TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Morgan State Jailah Mason Finishes 11th At NCAA Championship; Olympic Trials Are Next

EUGENE, Oregon -- The 2016 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships came to an end on Saturday at historic Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon, and Morgan State's Jailah Mason would finish tied for 11th-place in the high jump.

Mason, who was making her second straight NCAA Outdoor appearance and third consecutive NCAA championship run, would end up jumping a height of 5'10" (1.78m) to finish in a four-way tie for 11th-place. She would fail to clear the ensuing height of 5'11.50" (1.82m) to end her championship run.

A native of Sterling, Mich., Mason, who entered the championships ranked seventh in the nation, would earn second-team All-American honors for her efforts. Earlier this season she placed seventh during at the indoor championship and took home first-team All-American accolades.

Despite the collegiate season coming to a close, Mason's sophomore season has yet to end. In less than three weeks, Mason will return to Oregon and Hayward Field to compete in the USA Olympic team trials scheduled for July 1-10.

Mason achieved the Olympic qualifying standard (1.85m) earlie
r this year when she jumped 1.86m (6'1.25") at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Indoor championships to set both a new school and MEAC high jump record.

Results

COURTESY MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

FAMU AD Overton ‘proud’ of fundraising efforts in first year at the helm

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- It’s been nearly a year since Milton Overton Jr. was named Florida A&M’s athletic director.

In that time, he’s made several quality-of-life improvements within the department – like hiring an leadership team to oversee various sports – and wholesale changes like shifting (and firing) certain personnel. He also reacquired game-day parking from the Rattler Boosters.

In a 13-page Power Point presentation that was part of documents given to the university’s Board of Trustees, Overton outlined his first year at the helm of the department and provided details on his future goals.

Overton said FAMU’s athletic department is “trending up,” especially from a financial standpoint. The report shows a projected increase in athletic revenue – from $3.5 million in 2015-16 to $5.7 million in 2016-17.

Revenue generated by the department would account for 64 percent of the overall budget.

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Time for Rutgers football home opener vs. Howard announced

PISCATAWAY, New Jersey -- The first Rutgers football home game in the Chris Ash era is slated for high noon.

The Big Ten Network announced its television schedule for the first three weeks of the 2016 college football season, and the Scarlet Knights' Sept. 10 affair against Howard was set for a 12 p.m. (EST) kickoff.

In addition, Big Ten TV administration commissioner Mark Rudner announced on Twitter that Rutgers' Sept. 17 home game against New Mexico is also slated for 12 p.m. and will air on ESPNews.

Rudner said times and TV information for Big Ten games on Sept. 24 won't be determined until Sept. 12 at the earliest, which means the info on Rutgers' clash versus Iowa that day won't be known until two games into the season.

Rutgers' home opener will come one week after Ash makes his head coaching debut in a 2 p.m. clash at Washington. The Bison open the week before the Rutgers trip against another Big Ten foe, remaining in the D.C. area to play at Maryland on Sept. 3.

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Maryland Football: Season opener to kickoff at noon against Howard

COLLEGE PARK, Maryland -- The Maryland football team is set to begin the D.J. Durkin era in less than three months.

The Terrapins will take the field against Howard on Sept. 3 for a noon kickoff, according to a press release. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.

Maryland has never faced Howard despite the schools being separated by only six miles. The Terps have been victorious in their last six season openers, which have included wins against Florida International, James Madison, and Richmond over the past three seasons.

The matchup with Howard gets the Durkin era started with a relatively easy challenge. The Bison finished the 2015 season with a 1-10 record with their only triumph being a 55-9 rout of Savannah State on Halloween.

Howard plays in the MEAC conference and hasn’t had a winning season since going 6-5 back in 2004.

After facing Howard, Maryland will travel to Miami for a matchup with Florida International. The game will be played on Fri., Sept. 9 and will take place under the lights as kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.

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W. Eric Thomas: Bad parents and struggling colleges

ELIZABETH CITY, North Carolina -- THE GOVERNMENT of each state controls education in that state; this is true for K-12 as well as higher education. The states each have a system of public universities; that makes the state in a sense the owner of these institutions. Ownership means you can do what you choose to with that system. It’s yours.

Two universities in the Carolinas are experiencing especially rocky times, and they happen to be historically black schools.

Elizabeth City State University and South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, S.C. are public institutions, essentially owned by the states.

At the root of ECSU’s problems is declining enrollment. This has caused severe budget reductions necessitating cuts in student services, closure of buildings, elimination of academic programs, and the most severe — faculty and staff layoffs.

The declining enrollment is no accident or happenstance; it is a direct result of state policies. The Board of Governors of the UNC system raised admissions requirements and requirements for continued enrollment knowing it would adversely affect the historically black college and universities in the state. The institution most affected is ECSU. The state knew this would happen.

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Virginia State University's Deshauna Barber Crowned Miss USA

PETERSBURG, Virginia -- Virginia State University is proud to congratulate graduate Deshauna Barber. On Sunday night, Miss Barber was crowned MISS USA 2016. The NC native graduated from the Reginald F. Lewis College of Business at Virginia State University in 2011 with a degree in Business Management and is an IT Business Analyst at the Department of Commerce in Washington D.C. In addition, Deshauna is a Company Commander in the United States Army Reserve. She represented the District of Columbia in the Miss USA Pageant.

“We are exceedingly proud to have a Trojan represent the USA in this capacity,” says VSU President Dr. Makola Abdullah. “Deshauna exemplifies scholarship, leadership, and inner strength. She is a role model for all students.”

Miss Barber beat out 50 other women to claim the title of MISS USA 2016. She secured her position as a top three finalist when she answered a question about the Pentagon's recent decision to open up all combat jobs to women. "As a woman in the United States Army, I think it was an amazing job by our government to allow women to integrate into every branch of the military," said Barber. "We are just as tough as men. As a commander of my unit, I'm powerful, I am dedicated, and it is important that we recognize that gender does not limit us in the United States Army.”

In the final question, to secure the title, Miss Barber was asked to describe what it means to be Confidently Beautiful. "To me confidently beautiful means understanding that it's not always about your appearance. It's not always about who you're around and how they feel you look, where they feel you come from or your economic background," Deshauna explained. "Serving in the military has taught me that being confidently beautiful is about being able to earn respect from people regardless of what you look like. As a woman in the military, people associate beauty with weakness and they learn very quickly that I'm extremely strong, and although I'm small, I'm powerful and confidently beautiful is being myself and being very happy with who I've become."

CONGRATULATIONS Fellow Trojan DESHAUNA BARBER, MISS USA 2016.

SSU Raeburn Announces New Football Staff Hires

HEAD FOOTALL COACH ERIK RAEBURN
COURTESY: SSU ATHLETICS

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SAVANNAH, Georgia -- Savannah State head football coach Erik Raeburn has announced the hiring three new assistant coaches to the football staff.
 
The new staff members include: Bill Rychel, Chad Williams and Nathan Scola.
 
Rychel will be the offensive coordinator and coach the offensive line; Williams will serve as defensive coordinator and coach the linebackers; and Scola will oversee the defensive backs.
 
Prior to SSU, Rychel served as head football coach at Notre Dame College for the 2015 season. Rychel was promoted to head coach after spending six seasons as offensive coordinator/assistant head coach for the Falcons football program.
 
"I'm excited to bring Bill on the staff," said Raeburn. "He's been a head coach on the Division II level and having head coach experience will be an asset to our program."

Prior to moving to College Road, the Cleveland, Ohio native worked at Ohio Northern University, where he coached for three seasons (2006-08), finishing his time with the Polar Bear's as co-offensive coordinator.

Before his time at ONU, Rychel was the offensive line coach, offensive coordinator and assistant head coach for Tri-Sate (now Trine) in Indiana, in 2004 and 2005. Before that, he was the offensive line coach and assistant strength and conditioning coordinator for Coe College (Iowa).

Rychel graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in physical education from Mount Union University in 2001 and received a master's degree in teaching from Coe in 2004.



View Full 2016 Football Schedule
 
Williams, comes to Savannah State from West Alabama where he was named the special teams coordinator and secondary coach in March 2016.
 
"I'm really excited to have Chad in charge of our defense," stated Raeburn. "He has worked at some of the best programs in the state of Georgia. The relationships he has made will help our defense improve and play at a high level."
 
Prior to being hired at West Alabama, Williams spent the 2015 season as defensive coordinator at Valdosta State and before that, he spent the 2014 season as special teams coordinator and linebackers coach at West Georgia. The Birmingham, Ala., native has also had coaching stops at Middle Tennessee State (2013-14) where he was a graduate assistant linebackers coach, Jacksonville State (2013) where he oversaw the linebackers and Morehouse (2012-13) where he was the secondary coach.
 
Williams played in the National Football League as a defensive back with the Baltimore Ravens (2002-06), San Francisco 49ers (2006-07) and Kansas City Chiefs (2007).
 
Williams earned a Coaching and Sports Administration degree at Southern Mississippi, where he was a two-time All-Conference USA safety.
 
Scola, spent the 2014 and 2015 seasons as an assistant coach at Wabash, working with the tight ends and also serving as the strength and conditioning coach.
 
"I'm really excited to bring Nathan to Savannah State," said Raeburn. "He played for me and was one of the very few players elected as captain for their junior and senior years. The energy he brings and his work ethic will be a great addition to our staff."

As a player, Scola earned All-America and North Coast Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors. He participated in the 2014 USA Football Bowl. He was named one of the team captains and the starting middle linebacker for the winning Admirals all-star team. Scola also received the London Fletcher Award as the Outstanding NCAA Division III linebacker participating in the game. The Apache Junction, Ariz., native finished his career in sixth place for all-time tackles for loss in Wabash history and was named the team MVP. Before that, he did several internships at his alma mater. He worked as a volunteer football coach, worked with the athletic equipment office, Dean of students and President's Office and the Admissions office.
 
Scola graduated Cum Laude from Wabash in 2014 while majoring in Rhetoric and minoring in English.
 
Raeburn has some history with Rychel and Scola.
 
Raeburn was an assistant coach at Mount Union while Rychel was a player and later hired him as an assistant when he became head coach at Coe. Raeburn was the head coach at Wabash while Scola was a player and later hired him as an assistant after he received his degree.
 
SSU's 2016 football season will kick off on Sept. 3 when the Tigers travel to Statesboro, Ga., to take on the Georgia Southern Eagles.

COURTESY SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Bowie State Football Hosts College Exposure Camp

BOWIE, Maryland -- Bowie State University will hold a "College Football Exposure" Camp - Monday, June 20th at Archbishop Spalding High School (Severn, Md.) from 5 - 8 p.m. Camp cost is $50 through June 19th and $60 on site (June 20th). This one-day camp is open to ANY and ALL entrants and enrollment is only based on age and grade level. For additional information, contact Antone Sewell at asewell@bowiestate.edu.

CLICK HERE FOR CAMP REGISTRATION FORM

COURTESY BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

FAMU MARCHING 100: A call to honor, a call to greatness!

FAMU Wind Symphony, Conductor, Dr. Shelby Chipman; Alto Sax  BK Jackson

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The standing ovation began before President Elmira Mangum could finish her announcement. The national alumni audience in Tampa was on its feet with cheers and applause.

The cellphones came out and the news took a trip around the world as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and others spread the word that Dr. Shelby Chipman had become director of bands at Florida A&M University.

Sybil Wilkes, co-host of the Tom Joyner Show, informed her audience of more than eight million. Rattler Nation was abuzz with the news.



The reverence for Chipman was so overwhelming because it has been clear for sometime that he has the right stuff. As the new director of the Marching 100, Chipman has received a call to honor and a call to greatness.

A call to honor the past by preserving the signature instrumental expression known as the “FAMU sound.” That lilting combination of percussion, brass and woodwind tonal colors instantly recognized across the globe, mixed in with complex sophisticated forms of music, from concertos and symphonies to contemporary jazz and rhythm and blues, that always reminds us of the power of music to change the world.


ALWAYS WATCH IN 1080p HD, WIDE SCREEN

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Jackson named new Athletic Director at Stillman College

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- Just a few days after Cassandra Morrer announced her resignation from Stillman College to coach women's basketball at American Christian Academy, Stillman confirmed that head basketball coach, Donte Jackson, would replace her as the new athletic director.

"I just really appreciate the whole support from the institution, and I just want to make a difference and that is the bottom line," Jackson said. "You know my whole life has been about trying to make a difference and trying to make things better."

Jackson was named the head men's basketball coach before the 2014-15 season, and has led the Tigers to a 44-16 record over the last two seasons. In just his second season, Jackson's team won the 2016 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title for the first time in 10 years. He was named SIAC coach of the year. Jackson served as the assistant athletic director as well the past two years.

"We are extremely excited about having Mr. Donte Jackson take over as Athletic Director at Stillman College and building upon the good work that was done by Mrs. Cassandra Moorer," Stillman president Dr. Peter Millet said. "He is the right man, in the right place, at the right time. We are confident he will excel in this new role and we look forward to great things with Mr. Jackson and the Stillman athletic program."

Jackson said that he has many things on the horizon to get done. The first task he said will be hiring a new women's basketball coach to fill the vacancy that Morrer left.

"We are going to make sure we get the best person here that is qualified to coach women, win and compete at a high level," Jackson said. "No matter what we want our programs to reflect competing at a high level."

COURTESY STILLMAN COLLEGE ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Alabama State RHP Angel Alicea Drafted by Toronto Blue Jays

TORONTO, Canada -- Alabama State RHP Angel Alicea was selected in the 20th round of the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays.

Alicea (6-1, 200; Jr., Santa Isabel, PR) played one season for the Hornets. After beginning the season as the starting shortstop, he focused on pitching full time in early March. He posted a 3-0 record with a 1.47 ERA with two saves in 17 appearances with three starts.

Alicea becomes the sixth Hornet baseball player drafted in the past three seasons and the eighth since 2014 to sign a professional contract.

Alicea, the 612th overall selection, recorded two of the biggest wins of the season in his first two career starts. He threw seven shutout innings, allowing six hits and walking one while striking out seven in a 3-0 win at Tennessee on April 25.

In the SWAC Championship game, Alicea allowed only four hits and two runs in six innings, striking out a career-high nine in a 7-5 win over Texas Southern on May 22, as the Hornets won their first ever league championship, posting their school record 38th win.

Alicea earned a no-decision in the Hornets' NCAA Tournament game against South Alabama, allowing only three runs and striking out five in seven innings.

In 2014, Alabama State baseball had four players sign professional baseball contracts, with three players selected in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, the most in one draft in school history. SS Emmanuel Marrero (7th round, Philadelphia) became the highest drafted baseball player ever at ASU. OF Richard Amion (19th round, San Francisco) and C Richard Gonzalez (29th round, Houston) were also selected in the draft, while P/1B Dexter Price signed a free agent contract with Arizona.

In 2015, relief pitchers Armando Ruiz (29th round, Oakland) and Jorge Pantoja (30th round, Washington) were drafted, while a third pitcher, Michael Estevez (FA, Toronto) signed a contract.

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Andrew Vernon is first ever NCCU MLB draft pick

DURHAM, North Carolina -- Former North Carolina Central University pitcher Andrew Vernon had a record-breaking senior year and career, and now he’s added another historic entry as he became the first Major League Baseball draft pick from NCCU when he was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the twenty-eighth round on Saturday, June 11.

“I’m ecstatic, this is definitely a dream come true. It’s hard to put into words.” Vernon said about being drafted by the Brewers. “I can’t wait, it’s a great organization, and it’s been my dream ever since I was little. I can’t wait to see what happens, the guys I’ll meet, and the fan base. I’m really excited about everything that’s happening.”

“What a tremendous culmination to a great four year career,” NCCU baseball head coach Jim Koerner said about the reliever. “Andrew has earned everything he’s gotten, and we are very proud of him. His talent, work ethic and determination will take him far.”



A native of Raleigh, North Carolina, Vernon pitched four seasons for the maroon and gray and ended his career as the modern-era leader in career saves with 15 and kept a career ERA of 3.89 which tops the list as well.

Over his four years on the mound Vernon made a career-record 83 appearances with seven starts as he had an opportunity to move from the bullpen to the mound in his senior campaign. He was a 2016 First Team All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference selection after he nailed down four saves and led the league with 85 strikeouts, which set a new single season mark in the modern era at NCCU.

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Student-Athlete Allegedly Raped by KU Football Player Comes Forward in Emotional Video

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. 
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 

CHICAGO, Illinois -- An Illinois woman who is suing the University of Kansas for how it handled her sexual assault allegations is joining a separate lawsuit that accuses the school of misleading the public about the safety of its campus housing.

In a statement released Thursday by her father, Jim McClure, in a Kansas City, Missouri, law office, Sarah McClure said she was assaulted Aug. 29 in a Jayhawker Towers apartment on campus by the same member of the KU football team who had assaulted a fellow rowing team member a year earlier.

Sarah McClure, who lives in suburban Chicago, said the university did nothing for months after she reported the assault in October. She also said she was ostracized by her coaches and feared for her safety after the assault.

“I struggled every day,” she said. “I couldn’t sleep. I didn’t leave my dorm room. I stayed inside with a chair under my doorknob because I felt so unsafe.”



McClure has filed a Title IX lawsuit accusing the school of failing to investigate her assault, failing to protect her from intimidation and allowing her coaches to retaliate against her.

KU police said a report was forwarded to the district attorney’s office for review and the office declined to prosecute the football player. But he was expelled after the school’s Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access found him responsible for misconduct.

On Thursday, McClure, her father and Daisy Tackett, who says she was sexually assaulted by the same player in 2014 and also has filed a Title IX suit against the school, joined a lawsuit filed in March by Tackett’s parents, James and Amanda Tackett.

That lawsuit, which seeks class-action status, asks for a judge to rule that the university violated the Consumer Protection Act by falsely misrepresenting that campus housing is safe, and also order the school to cease representing its dorms as safe until they are “demonstrated” as such.

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Norfolk State Spartans Tap Cornell Brown as Co-Defensive Coordinator

NORFOLK, Virginia -- Norfolk State head football coach Latrell Scott announced a significant addition to his coaching staff on Wednesday with the hiring of former Virginia Tech All-American player and assistant coach Cornell Brown as NSU's co-defensive coordinator.

Brown, who will also coach the Spartan linebackers, will share defensive coordinator duties with Andrew Faison, who was hired in February.

"Adding someone the caliber of coach Brown to our staff is very beneficial to our program. He has strong ties around the state and was a key member of some tremendous defenses both as a player and coach at Virginia Tech," Scott said. "He has won championships at every level and will be a great fit for our defensive staff. He and coach Faison are looking forward to combining their knowledge to strengthen our defense."

Brown comes to NSU from his alma mater, Virginia Tech, where he coached five seasons and enjoyed an All-American playing career. Brown spent five seasons (2011-15) on Frank Beamer's coaching staff at Virginia Tech, working with the Hokies defensive ends and outside linebackers under long-time Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster. Virginia Tech went to bowl games following each of Brown's five seasons on the coaching staff, including the 2011 Sugar Bowl against Michigan.

Brown joined the coaching ranks in 2005 as an assistant working with linebackers for the Cologne Centurions in the NFL-Europe League. Brown became a full time defensive line coach for the Frankfurt Galaxy the following year and helped the team to back-to-back World Bowl appearances, winning the league title in 2006. While coaching the defensive line, he helped develop free-agent tackle Remi Ayodele, who was a member of the New Orleans Saints' Super Bowl XLIV championship team following the 2009 NFL season.

NFL-Europe's schedule allowed Brown to also work as a graduate assistant coach at Virginia Tech during the 2006 and 2007 seasons. He helped develop defensive units that led the nation in total defense and scoring defense in '06 and were ranked third and fourth, respectively, in those categories in '07. He had a helping hand in developing draft choices Chris Ellis, Carlton Powell and Jason Worilds.

Brown attended Virginia Tech and played defensive end from 1993 through 1996, helping the Hokies to a bowl game each season.

Brown became the first Virginia Tech football player to gain consensus All-America honors as a junior when he was named to five first teams in 1995. Brown was a first-team A-A pick by AP, UPI, the Football Writers Association, The Sporting News and Football News. He finished the year with 103 total tackles, including a BIG EAST-leading 14 sacks. He was selected National Defensive Player of the Year by Football News.

In 1996, Brown missed three games, but still earned first-team honors from Walter Camp and second-team recognition from AP. He posted eight sacks, five other tackles behind the line, 19 quarterback hurries and 58 total tackles during the '96 season.

Brown had his Tech jersey retired in 2002 and was inducted into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. He was later inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in April of 2013.

A sixth-round draft pick of the Baltimore Ravens, the Lynchburg, Va., native played seven seasons in the NFL and was a member of the Ravens Super Bowl XXXV champions
hip team.

Matt Michalec, Asst. AD/Communications
NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Livingstone Tabbs Silver As New Head Coach

HEAD COACH TIFFANY SILVER
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
LIVINGSTONE COLLEGE

SALISBURY, North Carolina -- A woman who said she scheduled games against CIAA teams because of her respect for the conference is the new Head Women's Basketball Coach at Livingstone College.

Tiffany Silver, former head coach at Wilmington University in Delaware, was announced Friday by Livingstone Athletic Director Andre Springs during a press conference in the J.W. Hood Building on campus. She becomes the ninth head women's basketball coach for the Blue Bears.

In her brief remarks, Silver thanked Livingstone College President Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins, Sr., Springs and Dr. State W. Alexander, III, executive assistant to the president and vice president for communications & public relations, for the support their support.

"I appreciate you for entrusting me with the responsibility of fostering this program of young women, as athletes and more important as young women," Silver said. "A great
foundation has been laid here by my predecessors, and my mission is to take their success to the next level."

Jenkins said after the press conference he's glad Silver accepted the institution's offer to join the Livingstone family.

"I am excited about Coach Silver," Jenkins said. "I was very impressed with her during the interview, and I'm confident she'll come in and do a great job and the women's basketball program, which has enjoyed success in recent years, won't skip a beat."

Silver replaces Anita Howard, who left Livingstone after two seasons for another coaching position.

Silver comes to Livingstone after four seasons at Wilmington University, which competes in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference. Her overall record at Wilmington was 32-76; however, to her credit the team had won only three games in the season before she became the head coach. And last season, her Wildcats finished 14-14 overall, including a 9-10 conference mark.

Before assuming the head job at Wilmington, Silver worked as an assistant coach at NCAA Division III Johns Hopkins University, where she helped the Blue Jays to a stellar 24-5 record and a berth in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Blue Jays won the Centennial Conference and were undefeated against Top 25 DIII opponents. At Hopkins, Silver focused on developing the guards and post players.

From 2005 to 2011, Silver was the head coach at Western High School in her native Baltimore, where she helped lead the Doves to 20 or more wins in all six of her seasons, compiling a 126-30 overall record. During that time, the Doves went 60-0 against Baltimore City competition and enjoyed three three-straight undefeated seasons. Silver led them to five Baltimore City championships, five regional championships and three state title-games.

In 2009, Silver was selected as the head coach for the premiere game of the McDonald's Roundball Classic All-Star Game, which featured the top talent from Maryland, Virginia, D.C., Delaware and Pennsylvania.

Particularly important to Jenkins, Silver boasted perfect graduation and college-acceptance rates during her time at Western. She also coached at other Maryland high schools, including Towson Catholic High School.

Silver is a graduate of the University of Maryland Baltimore County, where she earned a bachelor's degree in sociology and also played on the women's basketball squad.

Silver has a 4-year-old daughter, Doriyan.

COURTESY LIVINGSTONE COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION

SWAC changing up conference hoops tourney to include host sites

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- The Southwestern Athletic Conference is switching up its men's and women's basketball conference tournament.

The league announced Thursday it is moving from a five-day, 10-team tournament held at the Toyota Center in Houston, home of the Rockets, to a three-day, eight-team event that will feature host sites for the quarterfinal round.

Instead of making a week-long event out of it, SWAC officials will save money by holding the semifinals and finals in Houston for two days while the top four seeds host the quarterfinals.

League officials, presidents and athletic directors, among others, for the 10 members schools met Thursday in Birmingham, Alabama, to approve the changes. The league also announced a three-year extension for the SWAC football championship and SWAC basketball championship to remain in Houston.

The changes will go into effect for 2017 when the tournament starts Tuesday, March 7, 2016, with four quarterfinal games. The No. 1 seed will host the No. 8 seed, the No. 2 seed will host the No. 7 seed, the No. 3 seed will host the No. 6 seed and the No. 4 seed will host the No. 5 seed.

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ASU Marching Band to appear in new movie, Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk, starring Vin Diesel, Steve Martin and Chris Tucker

MONTGOMERY, Alabama --  The Alabama State University Mighty Marching Hornets Band will be seen in a new movie, Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk, starring Vin Diesel, Joe Alwyn, Steve Martin and Chris Tucker.

The film, based on the book by the same name, is about 19-year-old Billy Lynn, who is brought home for a victory tour after a harrowing Iraq battle. Through flashbacks, the film shows what really happened to his squad, contrasting the realities of war with America's perceptions.

“This exposure is giving ASU and the Marching Hornets the national recruiting opportunity to reach out to other states and countries,” said James Oliver, ASU band director.

The band performs two songs in the film by Destiny's Child, Soldier and Lose My Breath.

The movie is scheduled to be released in the U.S. on Nov. 11, 2016.

COURTESY SWAC MEDIA RELATIONS

West Virginia adds Delaware State to 2017 Football Schedule

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia -- West Virginia University Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Shane Lyons has announced that the Mountaineers will play host to Delaware State at Milan Puskar Stadium on Sept. 16, 2017.

This marks the first-ever meeting with Delaware State. West Virginia will face Virginia Tech at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, on Sept. 2 and East Carolina in Morgantown on Sept. 9, to round out the 2017 non-conference schedule.

The Hornets will receive a $500,000 guarantee from WVU, according to a copy of the contract obtained via an FOIA request.

Delaware State is a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Last season, the Hornets finished 1-10 overall and 1-7 in the MEAC.

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