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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Howard University men's and women's swimming and diving teams released its 2016-17 schedule, as announced by head coachNicholas Askewon Tuesday.
The season will get started on Sept. 10 at 1 p.m. with the annual Bison Swim-A-Thon held on campus at the Burr Gymnasium Pool.
Howard will remain local for the first half of its schedule, hosting its Alumni Meet on Oct. 21 before visiting American (Oct. 28) and George Washington (Oct. 29).
The program gets into Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA) action against UMBC on Jan. 7 in Baltimore, Md. Howard heads to the Garden State to take on league foes Drexel, St. Peter's and NJIT at a quad-meet on Jan. 15.
The Bison will host its final meet of the season when they welcome their neighbor, Catholic University, on Jan. 28, before traveling to Athens, Ga. for the CCSA Championships on Feb. 21-26.
Full schedule listed below:
DATE
OPPONENT
LOCATION
TIME
9/10/2016
Bison Swim-A-Thon
Washington, D.C.
1 p.m.
9/30/2016
Potomac Relay Invitational
Washington, D.C.
3 p.m.
10/21/2016
Alumni Meet
Washington, D.C.
6 p.m.
10/28/2016
American University
Washington, D.C.
6 p.m.
10/29/2016
George Washington
Washington, D.C.
1 p.m.
11/4/2016
Mt. St. Mary's
Emmitsburg, Md.
5 p.m.
11/5/2016
Barton College
Washington, D.C.
1 p.m.
11/19/2016
Loyola (Md.)
Baltimore, Md.
1 p.m.
12/2-3/2016
Yellow Jacket Invitational
Ashland, Va.
9 a.m.
1/7/2017
UMBC*
Baltimore, Md.
3 p.m.
1/13/2017
Randolph-Macon
Washington, D.C.
6 p.m.
1/15/2017
Drexel, NJIT, St. Peter's*
Newark, N.J.
1 p.m.
1/20/2017
Marymount
Arlington, Va.
6 p.m.
1/28/2017
Catholic
Washington, D.C.
10 a.m.
2/21-26/2017
CCSA Championships
Athens, Ga.
10 a.m.
Home Games in Bold
*Denotes Conference Meets
COURTESY HOWARD UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
BALTIMORE, Maryland -- When Andrew King finished his final year at Morgan State last fall, the wide receiver caught 27.3 percent of the team’s passes, had 25.7 percent of the receiving yards and scored 33.3 percent of the touchdown catches and led the offense in each of those categories.
Replacing that production could be difficult, but Ricky Fisk is up for the challenge.
“I looked up to him when I was a junior and he was a senior,” Fisk recalled Friday from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football media day in Norfolk, Va. “When we were in practice, he would tell me how to do this and how to do that. He was quiet to everybody else on the team, but he wasn’t quiet to me.
"We would talk about how things were supposed to be done. So I do feel like now that he’s gone, I’m the next one. I was right under him, and he taught me things, and I feel like I can teach the younger guys things. There’s no pressure, but I do feel like I have to step up.”
HAMPTON, Virginia -- As the 2016 Summer Olympics are fast approaching in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, so is the preparation deadline for Belizean athlete Brandon Jones. Jones, along with colleague Katy Sealy will be representing the Jewel at the tournament in less than a month, after they were both selected as ‘wildcards’ based on their performance over the years of competition.
28-year-old Jones was born in the state of Virginia in the United States of America (USA). His father, Kent Smith is a Belizean and a resident of Belize City, who met his mother Carmen Jones-Smith while living in the USA. From a very young age, Jones became active in sports, excelling in track and field, long jump and triple jump. He holds the record for indoor triple jump at the Hampton University in Virginia, and surpassed expectations in the 60m indoor dash and 200m outdoor dash at the said institution.
In 2011, he qualified for his first USA indoor championship, and that same year he qualified for his jumps after excelling in the triple jump with 15.62m. Even though his performance at this first championship did not go as expected, Jones did not give up and continued working hard. That paid off as the following year, he was called by the Belize Athletic Association (BAA) to represent Belize in Nicaragua at the Senior Central American Championships.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- When Clark Atlanta University announced this summer that it was suspending its men’s track and field program, alarms were sounded in some corners of the historically black colleges and universities landscape — as well in the community at large.
Here is a school in Atlanta, which hosted the Summer Olympics just 20 years ago. Those games featured gold medal-winning sprinter Michael Johnson and long jumper Carl Lewis.
Was there not sufficient momentum built to sustain a viable track and field program for at least a couple of generations?
Isn’t there an almost unlimited number of potential men in the Atlanta area alone who can run and jump?
As it turns out, the truth is much more complicated, according to commissioners and athletic directors responsible for managing the musical chairs known as HBCU athletics.
FRANKFORT, Kentucky -- Kentucky State University has announced former men's basketball head coach, KSU Athletic Hall of Famer and current director of the William Exum Center, William Graham, as the new director of athletics.
"This is a program I'm very familiar with, and it's one I'm a product of," said Graham. "I'm looking forward to making a difference in our student-athletes lives', adding to the program, and raising the bar of expectations."
Graham has served three stints at KSU totaling more than 30 years. In 1967, he was a student athlete playing basketball under Lucias Mitchell. During his time as a student-athlete, Graham was a part of two NAIA National Championship teams in 1970 and 1971, serving as captain and the team's "Most Inspirational Player" in 1971. He would later be drafted by both the Denver Rockets of the ABA and the Phoenix Suns of the NBA in 1971, to sign eventually with the Suns.
In 1976, Graham returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach for men's basketball and baseball. Following his two-year coaching stint with the Thorobreds, Graham served as an assistant men's basketball coach at Alabama State until 1989. While at ASU, he assisted James Oliver, helping lead the Hornets to a #1 NAIA National team ranking and runner-up in the NAIA National Championship tournament in 1980.
He returned to KSU in 1989 to serve as the head coach of men's basketball, a position he held until 1996. Following his time at the helm of the Thorobreds, he was named as the assistant director of the William Exum Center. In 2004, Graham was appointed the director of the William Exum Center, a position he held for more than 12 years.
Graham currently serves on numerous boards and committees including the National Association of Basketball Coaches, Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches, Kentucky State University Alumni Association, Kentucky State University K-Club Vice President, American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (Shape America), and National Intramural-Recreation Sports Association.
"I'm a part of the Frankfort community and have been for a long time," said Graham. "I think KSU is a valuable asset to this community. As we move forward, we want our programs to be more involved with the city of Frankfort."
A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he is married to Lillian Graham, and they are the parents of daughters Erica and Courtney, and son William III.
COURTESY KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
HU has as many as four candidates for the QB1 job, including senior J.J. Williamson and FBS transfer Malik Wat
NORFOLK, Virginia — Following its best finish since 2011, Hampton University went into the offseason with momentum. But with their opener just five weeks away, the Pirates have uncertainty at the worst possible position.
Asked about the quarterback situation during the MEAC's media day Friday, HU coach Connell Maynor acknowledged there is still no set starter. He also suggested he might need to observe the first two games of the season — Old Dominion and William and Mary, both non-conference — before knowing.
"We have three or four capable guys that can go out and win football games for us," Maynor said. "But we want to narrow it down to one, and we want to have a backup ready to play. We've got two non-conference games against two good opponents, and that'll tell me a lot. They'll be playing against some good competition, and that'll tell me a lot about their maturity, their pocket presence, their leadership, and whether they'll quit when they get behind. … A quarterback is tough to find, and a lot of times you don't know until he gets in a game."
DURHAM, North Carolina – The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) and its Football Coaches Association announces the 2016 CIAA Football Predicted Order of Finish and the Preseason All-CIAA Team.
Under the leadership of new head football coach, Reggie Barlow, the Virginia State University (VSU) Trojans are predicted to finish fourth in the conference, third in the Northern Division.
"I am glad to be kicking off the 2016 season with my new Trojan Family and with the CIAA," said Coach Barlow. "Although predicted to finish fourth in the conference and third in the division, we will stay focused on our "One Team, One Dream" motto and not focus on preseason rankings."
Last season, VSU finished the season with a 6-4 overall record, 4-3 in the conference.
Representing the Trojans on the Preseason All-CIAA Team is senior linebacker George "Geo" Feggins. The South Hill, VA native collected 73 total tackles, 55 unassisted, during the 2015 season. In the close 2015 win over the Elizabeth City State Vikings, Feggins earned a season single game high of 14 total tackles.
The CIAA Football Media Day kicked off on Thursday, July 21, 2016 in Durham, NC with interviews from all twelve CIAA institutions. Catch all the action by following the CIAA on Facebook (The CIAA), Twitter (@CIAAForLife), and Instagram (@CIAASports).
The Trojans will kick off the 2016 season on the road in Hickory, NC to take on Lenior-Rhyne. Game time is set for 2pm.
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Looking ahead, the CIAA Football Championship is scheduled for November 12, 2016 in Durham, NC. The nationally televised championship game will be played at Durham County Memorial Stadium and feature the CIAA Northern and Southern Division champions.
For more information on VSU Trojans football, follow Trojans Athletics on Twitter @VSUsports, or call 804-524-5030.
2016 Predicted Order of Finish
Winston-Salem State University
Bowie State University
Virginia Union University
Virginia State University
Fayetteville State University
Chowan University
Livingstone College
Elizabeth City State University
Johnson C. Smith University
Shaw University
Lincoln (Pa.) University
Saint Augustine's University
Predicted Divisional Order of Finish Northern Division
Bowie State University
Virginia Union University
Virginia State University
Chowan University
Elizabeth City State University
Lincoln (Pa.) University Southern Division
Winston-Salem State University
Fayetteville State University
Livingstone College
Johnson C. Smith University
Shaw University
Saint Augustine's University 2016 Preseason All-CIAA Football Team Offense
TE #17 Victor Tabbs* ECSU 6-4 230 Sr. Sutland, MD
OL #62 Jac'que Polite* WSSU 6-5 300 Sr. Ridgeland, SC
OL #70 Tim Samuels WSSU 6-3 240 Jr. Charlotte, NC
OL #75 Justin Nester* BSU 6-3 276 Sr. Dayton, MD
OL #78 Abraham Garcia VUU 6-6 340 Sr. Fort Lauderdale, FL
OL #78 Victor Tamba BSU 6-5 335 Jr. District Heights, MD
WR #8 Nyme Manns* BSU 6-4 212 Sr. Baltimore, MD
WR #16 Jordan Garrison BSU 6-2 229 Sr. Baltimore, MD
QB #12 Shawheem Dowdy VUU 6-4 218 Sr. Baltimore, MD
RB #5 Stephen Scott* LUPA 5-8 205 Sr. Baltimore, MD
RB #9 Hakeem Holland* VUU 5-10 180 So. Baltimore, MD
PK #47 William Johnson WSSU 5-11 175 Sr. High Point, NC
KR #9 Hakeem Holland VUU 5-10 180 So. Baltimore, MD Defense
DL #7 Miles Pace VUU 6-2 250 Sr. Miami, FL
DL #46 Armond Cox LC 6-3 240 So. Teaneck, NJ
DL #53 Paulin Miano* VUU 6-6 265 Sr. Washington, DC
DL #99 Sean Copeland BSU 6-0 325 Sr. Baltimore, MD
LB #20 Demetrius Newberry CU 5-11 225 Sr. Brunswick, GA
LB #34 Geo Feggins VSU 6-1 210 Sr. South Hill, VA
LB #44 Kevaugn Townsend* BSU 5-8 203 Sr. Ft. Washington, MD
DB #8 Carlo Thomas* JCSU 6-2 185 Jr. East Orange, NJ
DB #21 Rodeshawn Joseph VUU 6-1 185 Sr. Pompano Beach, FL
DB #26 Travis Scales FSU 6-0 200 Sr. North Carolina
DB #37 Eric Henderson* FSU 5-8 170 Sr. Charlotte, NC
P #57 Christopher Palmer BSU 6-2 274 Sr. St. Mary's, MD
PR #12 Robert Chesson BSU 5-10 179 So. Annapolis, MD *2015 All-CIAA First Team Members
COURTESY VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS
ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL 2016 SCHEDULE DATE OPPONENT LOCATION
Sept. 4 at Bethune-Cookman Daytona Beach, Fla. Sept. 10 Alabama State* Lorman, Miss. Sept. 15 Arkansas Pine-Bluff* Lorman, Miss.
Sept. 24 at Grambling State* Grambling, La.
Oct. 1 at Arkansas Little Rock, Ark.
Oct. 8 at Alabama A&M* Huntsville, Ala. Oct. 15 Texas Southern* (Homecoming) Lorman, Miss. Oct. 29 Southern* Lorman, Miss.
Nov. 5 at Prairie View A&M* Prairie View, Texas
Nov. 12 at Mississippi Valley State* Itta Bena, Miss. Nov. 19 Jackson State* Lorman, Miss.
Dec. 3 Toyota SWAC Championship Game Houston, Texas
COURTESY ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS
DEREK HORNE DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY (COURTESY: ALCORN STATE ATHLETICS)
LORMAN, Mississippi -- Alcorn State University Athletics Director Derek Horne has received a three-year contract extension that will keep him at the helm of Alcorn Athletics through 2019. Horne was hired in August 2014.
The Alcorn Braves have won conference championships in football and tennis under Horne's watch. And a Black College National Championship in football and made an appearance in the 2015 inaugural Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl.
President Alfred Rankins Jr. acknowledged Horne's commitment to Alcorn and its student athletes.
"Derek has brought stable leadership to our athletics program. He has raised expectations for our athletics staff and has our athletics department functioning at a higher level, which has resulted in gains in the overall student athlete experience at Alcorn," Rankins said.
In 2014, the football team successfully won the Southwestern Athletic Conference East Division and their first SWAC Championship in 20 years. Shortly after claiming the SWAC title, the team was named the 2014 Black College Football National Champions. The following year, the Braves would dominate the conference again by repeating as SWAC East Division Champions and reclaiming the SWAC Championship for a consecutive year.
Under Horne's leadership, Alcorn State University National Alumni President and Alcornite of the Year Neddie Winters '72, has witnessed the success of Alcorn Athletics firsthand.
"It's a huge responsibility to lead any athletics program in this 'win now' mentality present in our society," Winters said. "Horne hit the ground running, hiring staff and coordinating the efforts of various sports. His ability to listen calmly and address challenges while focusing on our student athletes' success on and off the field at the highest level is substantial."
The Lady Braves tennis team earned a trip to the 2015 Women's NCAA Tennis Tournament, a monumental feat for the team. The Lady Braves returned to the tournament in 2016 after securing the SWAC Championship in April. Tennis coach Anthony Dodgen was named SWAC Coach of the Year. The basketball and softball programs have also flourished. The Braves men's basketball team finished in second place during the regular season. The softball team also completed their season in second place of the East Division. Softball Coach Josef Rankin was named SWAC Coach of the Year.
Under Horne, 91 student athletes received SWAC honors for making the honor roll in 2014. The accomplishment helped Alcorn athletics win the 2014 Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association (FCS ADA) Academic Progress Rate (APR) Award for the SWAC. The next year, the number of scholars increased to 123 students who received SWAC honors for their commitment to their studies.
Alcorn quarterback Lenorris Footman respects the accountability that Alcorn Athletics demands of its students. "I work hard to achieve academic honors. Other than my professors, I know my coaches, academic advisors and even AD Horne will monitor my progress. When AD sees you, he wants to know 'how you are doing in the classroom?' All of the concern and family support, motivates me to do my best work."
Horne credits his team and President Rankins for a successful two years. "I would like to thank Dr. Rankins for the opportunity to continue serving as Alcorn's director of athletics," Horne said. "The past two years have been a rewarding experience. I look forward to working with a dedicated team as we serve our student athletes, staff and alumni.
Horne, a former University of Mississippi student athlete, came to Alcorn after leading the athletics program at Florida A&M and an impressive 15-year tenure at his alma mater in athletics administration.
NORFOLK, Virginia -- Savannah State seniors Marquis Smith and John Barron have been named to the Preseason All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Third Team.
Smith, a linebacker from Prince Georges County, Maryland, was second on the team last season with 57 tackles. He led the squad with tackles for losses (7) and also had one interception, one sack, one forced fumble and one blocked kick.
For his career, he enters the season with 241 tackles, having got 124 as a freshman in 2013 and 60 as a sophomore during the 2014 campaign. He has 10 career sacks, two interceptions, three pass breakups, three fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles and one blocked kick.
Barron, who is sharing preseason honors with South Carolina State kicker Tyler Scandrett, is a native of Marietta, Georgia. Last season, Barron made 11 of 13 extra point attempts and converted 11 of 17 field goal attempts for a team-leading 44 points. He kicked a career-long 44 yard field goal against Colorado State. Barron also handled the kickoffs where he had 36 for 2,012 yards for a 55.9 yard average. Ten of those went for touchbacks.
NORFOLK, Virginia -- South Carolina State has been picked to finish fourth in the MEAC, according to the preseason poll of MEAC head coaches and sports information directors.
North Carolina A&T State received 13 first-place votes, to receive the first place ranking, while Bethune-Cookman was picked second and North Carolina Central third followed by SC State to round out the top four spots of this year's preseason predicted order of finish.
All-MEAC linebacker redshirt junior Darius Leonard was named Preseason MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, along with earning All-MEAC First Team honors for the second straight year.
Leonard (6-3, 200) finished the 2015 season recording 70 total tackles, one forced fumble, one recovered fumble, two quarterback hurries, four passes deflected and two breakups. He notched two interceptions, one for a touchdown, and 13.5 tackles for a loss. Leonard was second on the team in sacks (5.0) and interceptions.
NORFOLK, Virginia -- Coaches often feel either shortchanged or concerned about overconfidence when preseason polls come out.
Second-year Norfolk State football coach Latrell Scott figures that the league’s coaches and sports information directors got the Spartans’ spot right this year.
NSU, on the heels of a 4-7 overall and 4-4 MEAC mark, was picked sixth in the 11-team poll released Friday as part of the MEAC’s media day. Of the five teams picked ahead of the Spartans, only one – rival Hampton – lost to them last season.
“I think if you look at it, it’s right where we should be,” Scott said. “If we want to be ranked high, we need to beat those teams.”
Defending co-champions North Carolina A&T, Bethune-Cookman and N.C. Central, respectively, were the top three picks. N.C. A&T won a tiebreaker and represented the MEAC in the inaugural Celebration Bowl , where the Aggies defeated SWAC champion Alcorn State.
For the long-struggling frontrunners, being picked to win the league again is an honor.
NORFOLK, Virginia --Ten North Carolina Central University Eagles have been voted to the 2016 Preseason All-MEAC Football Team, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference announced Friday. Leading the way for NCCU on the All-MEAC First Team are senior quarterback Malcolm Bell (Richmond, Va.), senior center Carl Jones (Nashville, Tenn.), senior offensive lineman Desmond Cooper (Stafford, Va.) and senior linebacker Jeremy Miles (Durham, N.C.). All-MEAC Second Team distinction was awarded to sophomore running back Dorrel McClain (Cary, N.C.), senior offensive lineman Tarrance Wells (Oxon Hill,, Md.), junior defensive lineman Antonio Brown (Jacksonville, Fla.), sophomore defensive back Davanta Reynolds (Tucker, Ga.) and senior return specialist LaVontis Smith (Maben, Miss.). Junior defensive lineman Ja'Quan Smith (Miramar, Fla.) rounded out NCCU's selections with a spot on the All-MEAC Third Team. In a vote by the conference head football coaches and sports information directors, NCCU is picked to place third the predicted order of finish, which was unveiled during the MEAC Football Press Luncheon in Norfolk, Virginia on Friday afternoon. NCCU, back-to-back conference co-champions with an 8-3 overall record and a 7-1 league mark last year, received four first place votes and 388 total points, while second place Bethune-Cookman captured three first place votes and 447 points, and predicted MEAC champion North Carolina A&T amassed 13 first place votes and 489 points to claim the top spot. The Eagles were followed by fourth place South Carolina State (351), then Hampton (265), Norfolk State (239), Morgan State (192), Florida A&M (164), Delaware State (121), Howard (90) and Savannah State (48). For more information about NCCU football, the complete season preview is available online atNCCUEaglePride.com. COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
NORFOLK, Virginia -- After a volatile offseason in which the Morgan State football team lost its head coach and an opportunity to play in the postseason, the Bears are looking forward to opening training camp Aug. 7 and trying to capture the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title.
“We still can win the MEAC,” senior wide receiver Ricky Fisk said Friday at the conference's media day in Norfolk, Va. “Nobody really talks about the postseason. At the end of the day, it's about who was the conference champion. We're striving to be the conference champion and go out with a bang.”
The hazy and humid conditions normally associated with August are almost a welcomed respite for the program. In February, Lee Hull left after two years to become the wide receivers coach for the Indianapolis Colts. Two months later, the NCAA banned the team from postseason play after failing to meet a satisfactory score in the Academic Progress Rate report.
But Morgan State can still win the MEAC crown for the second time in three years, and Fred Farrier, the offensive coordinator who was promoted to interim head coach, said that goal takes precedence.
NORFOLK, Virginia – North Carolina A&T State running back Tarik Cohen was selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while South Carolina State linebacker Darius Leonard was selected as preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
All votes are submitted by the MEAC’s head football coaches and sports information directors/football contacts.
Cohen, the two-time defending Player of the Year, led the MEAC in rushing with 977 total yards in 2015. A two-time MEAC Offensive Player of the Week, Cohen led the conference with 122.1 rushing yards per game, carrying the ball 183 times, with nine touchdowns in eight games. He finished first in the MEAC in touchdowns and all-purpose yards (141.1 avg./g). He helped lead the Aggies to a share of the conference title and a win at the inaugural Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl. Cohen rushed for 295 yards for three touchdowns during the nationally televised win over Alcorn State.
Leonard was named to the 2015 All-MEAC First Team, as a linebacker. A one-time MEAC Defensive Player of the Week, Leonard finished the season recording 70 total tackles, one forced fumble, one recovered fumble, two quarterback hurries, four passes deflected and two breakups. He notched two interceptions, one for a touchdown, and 13.5 tackles for a loss. Leonard was second on the team in sacks (5.0) and interceptions.
Listed below are the 2016 Preseason All-MEAC teams:
NORFOLK, Virginia -- North Carolina A&T State received 13 first-place votes, to receive the first place ranking in the conference’s preseason poll for the 2016 MEAC Football season.
All three teams (North Carolina A&T State, Bethune-Cookman, North Carolina Central) that earned a share of the conference title last year rounded out the first three spots of this year’s preseason predicted order of finish.
2016 MEAC FOOTBALL
PRESEASON PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana has a trio of Intercollegiate Tennis Association Scholar-Athletes for the second consecutive year. Earning that honor for 2015-16 were Sha'Nel Bruins and Tess Guarino on the women's team and Karan Salwan on the men's. The ITA announced the awards this past week.
ITA Scholar-Athletes must be varsity letterwinners and have a 3.50 GPA for the most recent academic year.
Bruins, from Colfax, La., and a graduate of Grant High School, was an XU junior this past season. Guarino was a freshman from Billere, France. Salwan was a junior from New Delhi, India, and a graduate of Modern School.
Xavier's men ranked second and the women 19th in the 2016 NAIA postseason coaches polls. The Gold Rush were the first XU team in any sport to reach the championship round of an NAIA national tournament.
NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana men's cross country has signed three high school seniors to scholarships for the 2016-17 academic year. It'll be the largest Gold Rush freshman class in five years. The signees are: • Robert Clayton of Woodland Hills, Calif., and Chaminade College Preparatory High School. • Clydarius Everett of Meridian, Miss., and Meridian High School. • Oji Wells of Florissant, Mo., and Hazelwood Central High School. Clayton was a member of Chaminade's 1,600-meter relay team which placed third in the California Interscholastic Federation state meet in June. During seventh grade he qualified for the Junior Olympics in the 100-meter hurdles. At 6 feet 4 inches, Clayton is the tallest distance runner during Joseph Moses' 12 seasons as head coach. Clayton will major in computer science at Xavier. Everett was Meridian's second-fastest finisher at the 2015 Class 6A state meet. He finished 42nd overall and helped the Wildcats finish 11th in the team standings. As a junior in outdoor track and field, he was a district and regional champion at 1,600 and 3,200 meters. His best times include 17:32.15 for the cross country 5K, 11:05.12 in the 3,200 and 5:01.88 in the 1,600. Everett will major in biomedical engineering. Wells — his first name is pronounced oh-gee — qualified for Missouri's outdoor state meet in the 800 and the 1,600 relay his senior year. As a junior and sophomore he qualified for state in the 3,200 relay. He achieved three best times his senior year: 1:57.91 in the 800, 4:45.46 in the 1,600 and, in cross country, 17:59.81 for the 5K. Wells will be a biology/pre-medical major and is interested in studying physical therapy. Clayton, Everett and Wells also will compete for Xavier in outdoor track and field during the spring. The first Xavier meet of the 2016 cross country season will be the Xavier Big Easy Opener Aug. 26 at City Park in New Orleans. Joining the signees will be returning runnersChristopher August, Ammiel Williams and Darrick Williams. Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director XULAgold.com XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA twitter.com/xulagold www.facebook.com/xulagold
JACKSONVILLE, Florida -- Former All-SWAC and Jackson State wide receiver Jimmy Smith will become the sixth and newest member of the Pride of the Jaguars when he is inducted on December 11, 2016 by the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars. The team’s owner Shad Khan made the announcement.
Prior to being selected in the second round of 1992 the NFL Draft to the Dallas Cowboys, Smith registered 42 receptions for 894 yards and nine touchdowns for JSU. In his final season with Tigers, he hauled in 43 catches for 801 yards and three touchdowns. Smith finished his college career with 110 receptions, 2,073 yards and 16 touchdowns. The two time Super Bowl Champion graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration and in 2011, he was named to the Jackson State University All-Century team.
Smith is one of just three players to play more than ten seasons for the Jaguars, from 1995-2005, still owns 11 team records 10 years after his retirement in 2006.
A five-time Pro Bowl performer, Smith was a key to the Jaguars’ early success when the team earned four straight playoff appearances from 1996-99 and played in eight postseason games including two AFC Championship games. He was the Jaguars’ leading receiver seven times and was voted to the AFC Pro Bowl team five consecutive years from 1997-2001.
Smith joined the Jaguars as a free agent in 1995, and over the next 11 seasons he produced marks for receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns that still stand today. His 171 games played and 150 games started both rank second in team history, and his 11 seasons played is tied for second along with Josh Scobee and Fred Taylor behind Brad Meester’s 14 seasons. All of that was accomplished despite the fact that Smith did not become a starter until midway through the 1996 season.
Among the Jaguars records Smith still holds are team marks for receptions in a career (862) and season (116); receiving yards in a career (12,287), season (1,636) and game (291); receiving TDs in a career (67) and game (3); consecutive games with a reception (80); highest average yards per reception (14.3); and 100- (46) and 200- (2) yard receiving games.
In addition, Smith still ranks second in team history in all-purpose yards (12,875) and yards from scrimmage (12,286), third for TDs scored (69), and fourth for points scored in a career (418).
The current members of the Pride of the Jaguars are OT Tony Boselli, who was inducted in 2006, former owners Wayne and Delores Weaver (2012), RB Fred Taylor (2012), and QB Mark Brunell (2013).
On the December day of Smith’s induction, the Jaguars are scheduled to host the Minnesota Vikings in a 1 p.m. game at EverBank Field.
Alabama State coach Brian Jenkins says he’s not thinking about facing two-time defending conference champion Alcorn State right now.
“I’ve got UTSA,” said Jenkins at SWAC Media Day this month in Birmingham as the Hornets open the 2016 season Sept. 3 at FBS school Texas-San Antonio. “Now Alcorn is a phenomenal football team, but to put my focus on Alcorn right now would be a disrespect to the team we have to play first.”
I can respect that, but the outcome of the Sept. 10 matchup in Lorman, Miss., will likely determine the SWAC East representative in the Dec. 3 league title game in Houston.
Alcorn State was picked to win the division. ASU finished second in the voting by the league’s head coach and sports information directors. The Hornets have lost two straight to the Braves, but this is the year to pull off the upset and take the early driver’s seat to play for a conference championship.
