Florida A&M Rattlers feel stronger, faster thanks to new strength coach

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Parker Brooks’ impact on the Florida A&M football program is already being noticed.

Brooks, FAMU’s new strength and conditioning coach, has transformed players on the team throughout the offseason.

With the Rattlers unable to participate in spring practice due to APR-related sanctions, Brooks and the players got to work. And their efforts are already paying dividends in fall practice.

“We’ve got guys that have gained 20-25 pounds of muscle,” athletic director Milton Overton told members of the 220 Quarterback Club Wednesday. “We’ve got guys who have a higher vertical jump. And they’re faster in the 40. … Eventually what happens is that translates into victories.

“There’s a process in building championship programs, and that process happens when nobody is looking.”

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220 Quarterback Club president produces FAMU football preview magazine

BUY MAGAZINE AT: ej4rattlers.com

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The annual FAMU football preview magazine is out, marking both the return of the popular publication and the final issue with Eddie Jackson as its publisher.

Jackson, president of the 220 Quarterback Club, a support organization for FAMU athletics, said he’s proud of this year’s edition. He added he won’t be at the helm if another is made next year. The magazine is available for $10, it’s available online and Jackson will have it delivered anywhere in Leon County.

This is the sixth edition of the magazine. Besides a look at the 2016 Rattlers, it includes stories about a new scoreboard going up at Bragg Memorial Stadium, new Marching 100 director Shelby Chipman and a look at the time FAMU legends Jake Gaither and Althea Gibson returned to campus in 1976.

Jackson said FAMU Athletic Director Milton Overton Jr. was pleased with the finished product. He added the magazine's expenses are covered by advertisements, not by support from his club.

“I know the athletic director is happy that an early publication was done,” Jackson said. “He’s been very supportive of the effort and he’s very pleased with it. The administration has expressed that they’re very happy with it as well.”

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TSU Tiger Camp 2016: First Scrimmage

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  -- The Tennessee State football team completed its first scrimmage of the 2016 season on Saturday morning at Hale Stadium. Head Coach Rod Reed saw a number of standout performances on the offensive and defensive side of the ball on the day.

The offense moved the ball on the first possession highlighted by a 30-yard run by Erick Evans. The defense, however, would have the better of the play on the next few possessions.

Marvin Maddox recovered a fumble on one drive before the defense came up with a stop on 4th and 1 on the following possession. Defensively, Ebo Ogundeko came up with a sack and Chris Collins had a tackle for a loss next time the offense had the ball.

The offense was able to break through with first down catches from Aaron Cauthen, Dantwaun O’Neal and Steven Newbold leading to a 21-yard field goal by Mitchell Boudreaux.

The defense again came up with a big play on the next possession as Gabe Scott picked off a long pass on the first play of the drive. On one of the final plays of the scrimmage, Marcus Deanes turned a short completion into a 60-yard gain up the left sideline.

Before wrapping up, the offense ran plays in the red zone, which included a touchdown catch by Newbold off a pass from O’Shay Ackerman-Carter.



NOTES: Scrimmage Temperature: 78 degrees… The team will have an off day tomorrow before returning to practice on Monday morning at 9 a.m.

Head Coach, Rod Reed
- General thoughts on the scrimmage
“I thought offensively we started fast then we hit a lull. The defense stepped it up in the middle of the scrimmage and kind of dominated until we got in the red zone. I thought we made some big plays in the red zone. We saw some playmaking ability out of Marcus Deanes and Chris Rowland, that’s something we’ve been waiting to see. Steven Newbold also caught a corner route, so that was good. It was good to see we were able to get some explosiveness out of our offense. Defensively, I thought we played really well in between the 25 to the 25, but we’ve got to be better in the red zone. All in all, I’m pleased with the scrimmage.”

- On the play of the defense
“At this time of the year, if the defense wasn’t ahead of the offense, I always say this, I would be concerned. Defense should be where they are at this point. For the offense, Coach (Jeff) Parker and that staff, they do a great job of making adjustments. I think you’ll see a little different story next scrimmage that we have. It was fun to see our guys get out there and make the adjustments. We had the headsets on today, we had the officials, so we’re trying to make it as game like as possible for our first scrimmage. I thought it went really well.”

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Alcorn basketball out to improve APR rate

LORMAN, Mississippi -- In Montez Robinson’s first season as Alcorn State’s men’s basketball coach, it posted its best record in 15 years and finished second in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

The only problem was, that was as far as it could go.

The Braves are under NCAA sanctions for their low Academic Progress Rate and ineligible for the postseason. So, heading into this recruiting season, Robinson set out to find players who could put the “student” back in “student-athlete” and get the program headed in the right direction both off the court and on it.

Robinson and his staff instituted a minimum 2.5 GPA for all of their 2016 recruits. He said Saturday all of them wound up with 2.8 GPAs, including a transfer from Bethune-Cookman who has already graduated with honors.

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WR Scott seeks strong finish with Delaware State Hornets

DOVER, Delaware — Aris Scott has seen a lot of things at Delaware State.

Most of them have not been good.

One of only seven seniors on the Hornet football team this year, DSU’s top wide receiver has experienced two different head coaches, six different starting quarterbacks and 26 losses in his career.

A new season, though, brings a fresh start. Scott is determined to erase the bad memories and end his career on a positive note.

“We went 1-10 last year,” he said. “That’s all the motivation you need.”

Scott is one of 12 holdovers who were recruited to DelState by former coach Kermit Blount. Blount was let go after the 2014 season and was replaced by first-time head coach Kenny Carter.

The Hornets did lose players during the coaching change. A handful elected to finish their careers elsewhere after Carter’s first season in charge.

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Coach sees improvement in Norfolk State’s first scrimmage

NORFOLK, Virginia -- It didn’t take long for second-year Norfolk State coach Latrell Scott to begin to believe that Saturday was going to be a good day at the office.

On just the third play of the Spartans’ first scrimmage of fall camp at Dick Price Stadium, incumbent senior quarterback Greg Hankerson threw a screen pass to sophomore receiver Marcus Taylor, who took it 75 yards for an eye-opening touchdown.

Scott was immediately pleased.



“You’re excited about that offensively, that you’ve got that kind of offensive firepower,” Scott said. “But I thought the defense kind of buckled down and pressured Greg all day.”

It was that kind of afternoon, even if the heat index on the field did top 110 degrees. As the players sweated their way through a 130-minute series of game-like scenarios, it became apparent to Scott that his team is in better shape — in many ways — than it was late last summer.

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Feggins hopes to get VSU football back to No.1

PETERSBURG, Virginia -- Small town kid, big time talent.

That may be the best way to describe George “Geo” Feggins, Virginia State University’s bone-jarring middle linebacker.

The 6-foot-1, 215-pound senior, who came to the Trojans from Park View High School in South Hill — population 4,541 — is VSU’s lone All-CIAA preseason pick.

“From watching video, Geo was obviously the best defensive player we had last year,” said first-year Coach Reggie Barlow.

“He understands what it takes to play the position. We’ll lean on Geo a lot.”

As a junior, Feggins recorded 78 tackles (55 unassisted) with six sacks, three forced fumbles and one interception.

Many of his determined takedowns were of the ooh and ahh variety. His shaken foes tend to get up slowly.

The sports management major is a perfect gentleman off the field, but turns fierce between the lines.

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Tennessee State Tiger Camp 2016: Day 8

Photo Gallery

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Day eight of the Tennessee State football preseason camp featured two outdoor practices as the Sept. 3 season opener is quickly approaching. The practices were the final tune up before tomorrow’s intrasquad scrimmage at 9:15 a.m. at Hale Stadium.

The first practice at the upper practice field, which got underway at 7:30 a.m., featured a number of drills split up by position. As the practice shifted to offensive plays, Patrick Smith turned a Michael Hughes pass up the right sideline for a significant gain. The first session concluded with field goal attempts for the special teams unit.

The 5:15 p.m. practice at Hale Stadium was highlighted by a 6-on-7 passing drill to open things up. The defense initially had the upper hand with Trevion Duncan coming up with an interception. The offense regrouped with touchdown receptions from Ronald Butler and Ronnie Killings later in the drill.

Special teams was again a focus with field goals, kick off protection and punt return all occurring during the second practice.

NOTES: Practice One Temperature: 83 degrees… Practice Two Temperature: 85 degrees… Tomorrow’s scrimmage is set for 9:15 a.m. on campus at Hale Stadium.

Defensive Coordinator, Osita Alaribe
- On how camp has been going
“We’ve been progressing every day, just trying to learn from our mistakes from the previous practice. We’re trying to work on communication and getting guys lined up correctly.”

- On expectations for tomorrow’s scrimmage
“We’re looking for guys to get their assignment and most of all getting to the football and tackling. Tackling will be the biggest thing because this will be the first live tackling day. The main thing I’m looking for tomorrow is tackling.”

Offensive Coordinator, Jeff Parker
- On the progression of the offense
“It’s been going well. We’re very pleased with some of our freshmen who have come in and are helping us immediately. We’re really trying to focus on the running game and making sure we execute that part of our offense. Things are going well.”

- On the focus of tomorrow’s scrimmage
“Making the calls, blocking multiple fronts in the running game as well as the protection. I’m sure we’ll see some blitzing from the defense tomorrow. Just making sure they execute on their calls, locate the blitzers and keep the quarterback upright.



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Southern looking for receivers to complement Willie Quinn, Randall Menard

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- The Southern football team has to replace the majority of its receiving corps from last season after losing five of the 14 Jaguars who caught a pass in 2015 and only two of those were wide receivers.

The explosive Willie Quinn returns as the leader of the group while Randall Menard is expected to step into the No. 2 option for quarterback Austin Howard.

Beyond those two, wide receivers coach Chris Coleman said he wants about four to six other players that can compliment the returning veterans.

When almost anyone in the program is asked who those young players could be, there’s one name that seems to be on everyone’s list.

“Curtlan Williams,” Howard said.

“Curtlan Williams is doing well,” said Southern coach Dawson Odums.

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'My thing is to do what people say I can’t do': Southern's Aaron Tiller motivated to prove the doubters wrong

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- It doesn’t really matter that he led the Southwestern Athletic Conference in sacks last season; doubt still fuels Southern defensive end Aaron Tiller.

That’s because the source of that doubt — his height — isn’t going to change any time soon. Tiller is listed on the official Southern roster at 6-foot-1, but he might have been measured in cleats that day.

He does not fit the prototype on the defensive line. He heard that during his recruitment, and he made sure he never forgot it.

“I’ve got a motivational push: I’m considered undersized for my position, so I’ve got to fill in where my height is not,” Tiller said. “I’ve got to use my strength to my advantage, my quickness to my advantage. I’ve got the strength of someone that is ‘supersized.' ... I’ve got the quickness to move with anybody. If I combine the two, I can be a complete defensive end. That’s what I’ve been relying on to push and get better.”

That extra push has worked well for Tiller in two seasons with the Jaguars. He had 4.5 sacks as a true freshman, then dropped the quarterback seven times last season.

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College Football Preview 2016: JSU

Jackson State University
Head coach: Tony Hughes (0-0 record, first season as head coach)
2015 record: 3-8 overall (3-6 SWAC)
Radio: 95.5 WHLH FM
Stadium: Veterans Memorial Stadium

This Season Overview

JSU hired Mississippi State University assistant head coach, safeties coach and recruiting coordinator Tony Hughes as the Tigers' new head coach in December. Hughes is the fourth head coach for the program in four years.

The 56-year-old career assistant is finally getting his shot at being a head coach—and possibly his last chance. Because of the quick rate of turnover at the position, Hughes needs to be given time if there are signs of success. He will be playing mainly with players left over from the Rick Comegy and Jackson era. The current coach has only brought in one recruiting class. If he can keep the losses close and win some games, though, it will help keep the rumbling down in year one.

The good news for Hughes is that the Tigers have eight returning starters on defense and nine returning starters on offense, including quarterback LaMontiez Ivy, wide receiver Daniel Williams, and offensive linemen Frank Carter and Markus Cook.

Linebacker and defensive end Javancy Jones is the star of the defense. Last season, Jones had 91 total tackles and nine sacks. Defensive tackle Cornelius Henderson will join him on the front seven.



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STATS FCS predicts Grambling to win SWAC West

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- At least one major publication believes Grambling will play for the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship in 2016.

STATS FCS, an online website that covers the Football Championship Subdivision, predicted Thursday that Grambling will repeat as the SWAC West Division champs over rival Southern and Prairie View A&M.

The predicted order of finish in the West varies from the preseason poll as voted on by SWAC coaches, which listed Prairie View as the favorite with Grambling finishing second.

STATS FCS and the SWAC coaches both agree Alcorn State is the team to beat in the East Division. The Braves are in of their third straight league title.

Grambling and Alcorn played for the 2015 title last December with the Braves coming away with a 49-21 win.

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Alcorn State tries for SWAC 3-peat with new coach

LORMAN, Mississippi -- Alcorn State is the king of the Southwestern Athletic Conference after back-to-back league titles.

Now the Braves must try for the three-peat with a new coach and a revamped roster.

Fred McNair is in charge at Alcorn State after taking over for Jay Hopson, who left to become the head coach at Southern Mississippi. McNair, who was promoted after four seasons as Alcorn State's quarterbacks coach and assistant head coach, is the brother of arguably the school's most famous alumni - quarterback Steve McNair.

The Braves have 11 starters returning from last season, including dual-threat quarterback Lenorris Footman, who threw for 1,106 yards and 14 touchdowns last season after taking over for the injured John Gibbs Jr. He was also second on the team with 1,023 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns.

''The good thing is he's won a lot of games and has a SWAC championship under his belt,'' Fred McNair said. ''Now he just needs to be a little more consistent with his passing.''



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A&T Williams Announces Her Resignation

JENNIFER WILLIAMS
Courtesy NCA&T Athletics

GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- Jennifer Williams, who has served as the associate athletics director for development for North Carolina A&T athletics as well as executive director for the Aggie Athletic Foundation for four years, has resigned effective immediately. Williams will take over as the deputy athletics director at Alabama State.

“I would like to thank my Aggie family for a wonderful four years,” said Williams. “The decision to resign was bittersweet, but I could not turn down an opportunity to advance professionally in the field I love. NC A&T is a special place, and I will always hold my experiences and the relationships built close to my heart.”

Under Williams, Aggie Athletics was able to consolidate various fundraising efforts for athletics under the umbJella of the AAF. Those efforts helped the official fundraising arm of Aggie Athletics raise more than $500,000 in donor contributions for two consecutive years. Donor support increased by 16.5 percent, and the AAF exceeded their donor-revenue goal three consecutive years.

Williams’ primary duties consisted of strategically implementing plans to maximize fundraising efforts for the athletic department; securing annual, major, and endowed gifts; and branding the AAF through various forms of media. Williams also served as the liaison between IMG sports properties and has oversight of the NC A&T Marketing Department. The AAF boast of more than 800 members, and has been recognized as a model booster organization by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CAE) and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).

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North Carolina A&T Women's Basketball Releases Tough 2016-17 Schedule

GREENSBORO, North Carolina – The North Carolina A&T women’s basketball team released a 2016-17 schedule that includes three teams that finished in the Top-25 last season. Four teams on the schedule advanced to the NCAA tournament with one of those teams reaching the Sweet 16.

There are also three postseason WNIT participants from the 2015-16 season on the schedule. Twenty-sixteen and 17 is also highlighted by an SEC school and a Pac-12 visiting Corbett Sports Center to face the Aggies. Even one of the Aggies Division II foes reached the NCAA Division II Elite 8. But the Aggies are not without their own accolades heading into a tough 2016-17 season thanks to a 2016 NCAA appearance and a 2016 MEAC title in their possession.

The defending champs open the season on the road in Statesboro, Ga. to take on Georgia Southern on Nov. 11 before returning to Greensboro to open their home schedule at Corbett Sports Center against Tennessee Martin on Nov. 14. The non-conference games continue as N.C. A&T faces SEC foe Auburn at home on Nov. 17 at 5:30 p.m. Like the Aggies, the Tigers clinched a spot in the NCAA Division I tournament in 2016. The Tigers finished the season 20-13.

Over Thanksgiving break, N.C. A&T will compete in three games at the Savannah Invitational Thanksgiving Tournament. The Aggies open the tournament against West Virginia on Nov. 22 and play Ball State the following day. The Big 12 Mountaineers finished the season ranked 23rd in the nation, while Ball State finished 22-10 and competed in the WNIT. The tournament wraps up against Marist on Thanksgiving. The Red Foxes were 16-16 last season but closed the year 12-5.

N.C. A&T’s other non-conference opponents include at Appalachian State on Nov. 30, at the University of Florida on Dec. 11, at Florida Gulf Coast on Dec. 14, at home for three straight games against Division II Slippery Rock on Dec. 17, UCLA on Dec. 20 and Ohio University on Dec. 28. The Florida Gators finished ranked 25th in the country while FGCU opened last season with a 60-36 win over N.C. A&T before finishing the season in the WNIT finals. UCLA finished ranked 10th in the country, and Ohio went 26-7 and won two games in the WNIT postseason. The Aggies finish 2016 at home on Dec. 31 against Francis Marion. The Patriots (24-9) competed in last season’s NCAA Division II Tournament in Sioux Falls, S.D., before being eliminated in the quarterfinals.

The ringing in of 2017 means the MEAC portion of the schedule is set to begin for the defending regular-season co-champion Aggies. The team will play at Hampton, a perennial power in the MEAC, on Jan. 4 prior to a two-game conference home stretch on Jan. 7 and 9 against Delaware State (2 p.m.) and Maryland Eastern Shore (5:30 p.m.). The Aggies conference regular-season closes with a three-game homestand against Savannah State (Feb. 25), 2015 MEAC champions; Bethune-Cookman (Feb. 27), 2016 MEAC regular-season co-champions; and archrival North Carolina Central (March 2).

N.C. A&T head coach Tarrell Robinson’s team is coming off a 19-2 season that included a 12-4 mark in the conference. They won their three MEAC tournament games by an average of 15 points before facing No. 1 seed Notre Dame of the Lexington, Ky., region in South Bend in what was the school’s first NCAA tournament appearance in seven years.

NCAT MBB 2016-17 SCHEDULE

DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME (ET) 
Fri, Nov 11 Georgia Southern at Statesboro, Ga. TBA
Mon, Nov 14 Tennessee Martin Corbett Sports Center 5:30 PM
Thu, Nov 17 Auburn Corbett Sports Center 5:30 PM

Savannah Invitational Thanksgiving Tournament
Tue, Nov 22 West Virginia at Savannah, Ga. 7:00 PM
Wed, Nov 23 Ball State at Savannah, Ga. 2:00 PM
Thu, Nov 24 Marist at Savannah, Ga. 2:00 PM

Wed, Nov 30 Appalachian State at Boone, N.C. 12:00 PM
Sun, Dec 11 Florida at Gainesville, Fla. TBA
Wed, Dec 14 Florida Gulf Coast at Fort Myers, Fla. 7:00 PM
Sat, Dec 17 Slippery Rock Corbett Sports Center 2:00 PM
Tue, Dec 20 UCLA Corbett Sports Center 12:00 PM
Wed, Dec 28 Ohio Corbett Sports Center 2:00 PM
Sat, Dec 31 Francis Marion Corbett Sports Center 2:00 PM
Wed, Jan 04 Hampton * at Hampton, Va. TBA
Sat, Jan 07 Delaware State * Corbett Sports Center 2:00 PM
Mon, Jan 09 Maryland Eastern Shore * Corbett Sports Center 5:30 PM
Sat, Jan 14 Coppin State * at Baltimore, Md. TBA
Mon, Jan 16 Morgan State * at Baltimore, Md. TBA
Sat, Jan 21 Howard * Corbett Sports Center 2:00 PM
Sat, Jan 28 N.C. Central * at Durham, N.C. TBA
Mon, Jan 30 Norfolk State * at Norfolk, Va. TBA
Wed, Feb 01 Delaware State * at Dover, Del. TBA
Sat, Feb 11 Florida A&M * Corbett Sports Center 2:00 PM
Mon, Feb 13 S.C. State * Corbett Sports Center 5:30 PM
Sat, Feb 18 Howard * at Washington, D.C. TBA
Mon, Feb 20 Maryland Eastern Shore * at Princess Anne, Md. TBA
Sat, Feb 25 Savannah State * Corbett Sports Center 2:00 
Mon, Feb 27 Bethune-Cookman * Corbett SpoBrts Center 5:30 PM
Thu, Mar 02 N.C. Central * Corbett Sports Center 5:30

BOLD: HOME GAME

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For HBCU Coaches & Athletes, It's on Your Marks, Get Set...

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- The black HBCU coaches attending the 2016 Summer Olympics had 99 problems to worry about in preparing for Brazil.

But the Zika virus isn’t one.

There are at least three coaches representing historically black colleges and universities in Rio de Janeiro this week, anticipating the start of track and field competition Friday.

Those coaches are George Williams, head track coach and athletics director at the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association’s (CIAA) St. Augustine’s University in Raleigh, North Carolina; Maurice Pierce, head track coach at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s (MEAC) Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia; and Lenox Graham, head track coach of the CIAA’s Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Those many worries leading up to the games have included travel, crowds, accommodations, the seemingly endless preparations, the time change and the huge anticipation for their athletes to achieve successes that they worked their entire lives to achieve.

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NSU, HU may have rough going in MEAC football season

NORFOLK, Virginia -- After dominating CIAA football, coaches Latrell Scott and Connell Maynor have found MEAC a tougher nut to crack.

Coach Scott, 41, is in his second year at Norfolk State University following two banner seasons as the head football coach at Virginia State University.

Coach Maynor, 47, is starting his third season at Hampton University after a brilliant four-year run at Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina.

At last week’s MEAC Media Day in Norfolk, Hampton University was picked to finish fifth this season and Norfolk State sixth in the 11-school FCS conference. Voting was among MEAC coaches.

North Carolina A&T State University was picked to finish first after tying with Bethune-Cookman and North Carolina Central universities in last year’s final standings.

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St. Augs Crum Named Full-Time Women's Basketball Head Coach

RALEIGH, North Carolina -- On Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, the Saint Augustine's University (SAU) Department of Athletics announced the promotion of Jarita Crump as full-time Women's Basketball Head Coach.

Crump coached the Lady Falcons on an interim basis during the 2015-16 season. She was the women's assistant basketball coach for the previous four seasons and the 2010-11 season.

"We are pleased Coach Crump has accepted the position," said Athletic Director George Williams. "She inherited a team last season which lost several key players and did a good job. We think it is right to give her a chance with her own student-athletes and help them reach their goals."

Last season, her top player, Sycoya Dorsey, was named to the Division II All-State team by the North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA). As a Lady Falcons' assistant, Crump helped guide the basketball team to four consecutive CIAA Team Highest Grade Point Average awards.

"I am excited and honored to begin this journey and lead the Saint Augustine's women's basketball team," said Crump, a Raleigh, N.C. native. "The opportunity to help our Lady Falcons excel academically and competitively is a great privilege. I would like to thank President Everett B. Ward and Athletic Director George Williams for their belief in me."

Assistant coaches Wyndell Holmes and James "Art" Richmond will also return this season. This will be their second season on the Lady Falcons' coaching staff.

Before starting her college coaching career, Crump was the head varsity girls basketball coach at Word of God Christian Academy from 2008 to 2010. During her tenure at Word of God, the girls basketball team won its first state title in 12 years in 2010, and finished as state runner-up in 2009. Word of God, a private school located in Raleigh, N.C., never lost a conference game under Crump, who was a two-time conference coach of the year winner.

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TSU Tiger Camp 2016: Day 7 - Special Teams

Photo Gallery

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- The special teams unit is similar to the other groups throughout the Tennessee State football team, as they return key components from last year’s team. The team’s top kicker, Lane Clark, and punter, Austin Rowley, enter with experience under their belt.

Clark will return for his third season after scoring 50 points on 26-of-29 extra points and 8-of-14 field goals. The Hays, Kan. native is just one of 16 returning kickers in the nation who converted on a field goal of 50 yards or more in 2015. The junior split the uprights from 50 yards at Nissan Stadium versus Eastern Illinois.

Rowley returns after averaging 38.5 yards per punt, including seven of which traveled over 50 yards, in his first season as a Tiger. Redshirt-freshman Mitchell Boudreaux will provide depth and can be used in kickoffs, as a place kicker or in a punting role.

Local product Colby Green comes from Ensworth High School to TSU to provide more competition for the incumbents.

Coach Rod Reed has felt secure with his long snapping duties over the past eight years. Hunter Howard (2008-11) and Aaron Woods (2012-15) handled the position at a high level during that time period. Howard was a respected force who served as a team captain. Woods picked up where Howard left off converting all of his snaps during his career and was selected as a captain in his final season.

The Tigers will turn to freshman Thomas Newberg from Independence High School to fill the shoes of Woods and Howard, holding the spot for another four seasons.

Patrick Smith will once again be the primary returner for punts, while Gabe Scott and Marcus Deanes will be potential options on kickoffs for the second consecutive year. Incoming freshman Chris Rowland will be called upon to handle returning duties as well.

Lane Clark K 5-11 170 Jr.
Austin Rowley P 6-2 180 So.
Mitchell Boudreaux K 5-5 150 R-Fr.
Colby Green P 6-1 190 Fr.
Thomas Newberg LS 6-4 190 Fr.

Redshirt-Freshman Kicker, Mitchell Boudreaux
- On the group
“Competition is a lot fiercer than it was last year. Now that we have more recruits, and it’s making us better. I can see everyone trying to make themselves better and trying to make the team better so when specialists need to make the big impact, we will.”

- On the readiness of the special teams
“It’s still the beginning of camp. We still have little tweaks to fix and everything. When it comes to game time, we will be game-focused and we will be ready.”

Freshman Long Snapper, Thomas Newberg
- On the progression of the special teams unit
“The difference coming from high school is mainly the intensity. It’s incredible. Watching all of these guys coming out here to work hard every day, it motivates us to take our game to the next level. Right now, we’re really just focusing on becoming a seamless unit. We really don’t want people to notice when we come onto the field, we just want to be another part of the game. We want to be the unit that the whole team can rely on so they know we can bail them out or we can come in and finish the job.”

Freshman Kicker, Colby Green
- On transitioning from high school to college
“I thought it would be a much bigger change. Being a kicker, you come out and it’s pretty much the same. We do our job. The only real difference is the amount of talent. It’s a lot of competition and it’s a lot of fun.”

- On having veterans to learn from
“It’s really nice, especially with Lane (Clark) and Austin (Rowley) here. They’ve been a really big help. They’ve been nothing but encouraging. They’re able to calm me down and just get me where I need to be.”



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BLACK COLLEGE NEWS: Playmakers make 2016 eminently watchable

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania -- One thing there is no shortage of this year in black college football is playmakers. And, as usual, one of the primary keys to how the year goes is play at the quarterback position. North Carolina Central’s Malcolm Bell, Prairie View A&M’s Trey Green, Tuskegee’s Kevin Lacey, Virginia Union’s Shawheem Dowdy, Miles’ David Whipple and Norfolk State’s Greg Hankerson are prolific, experienced starters and seniors to keep your eyes on. Bethune-Cookman’s Larry Brihm and Alcorn State’s Lenorris Footman are talented back-ups from a year ago moving to the fore to lead their teams this year. Coming onto the scene at the controls will be playmaking A&T sophomore Kylil Carter and heralded Ole Miss transfer Deonte Kincade at Grambling.

But they are hardly the only players to watch. If excitement is your thing look no further than A&T’s Tarik Cohen. The 5-8, 180-pound senior dynamo enters the season looking for his fourth straight 1,000-yard season and needing just under 650 yards to become the all-time leading rusher in MEAC history. Of his 15 touchdown runs a year ago, the miniature Adrian Peterson had five of over 30 yards.

Excitement also comes in the small package (5-8, 175) of ...

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With Moses Skillon gone, quarterback competition shaping up at Morgan State

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- Chris Andrews has not wasted much time asserting himself with the Morgan State football team.

In less than a week of training camp, the transfer quarterback from Wagner College overtook sophomore Khalil Trotman on the team's depth chart and ran the first-team offense. Andrews is still adjusting to the accelerated progression, but he is fully embracing the opportunity to lead the Bears offense.

"It's real good for me," said Andrews, a graduate student who is pursuing an MBA. "I know I've just got to keep learning the playbook. I know my first couple days, it was just me learning and coming out here and performing so that I can play better with the ones."

Andrews, Trotman, freshman DeAndre Harris and sophomore Randolph Norwood are vying for the chance to line up under center when Morgan State opens the season Sept. 3 against Holy Cross at Hughes Stadium in Baltimore. The program, which is just two years removed from capturing a share of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship and representing the league in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, was picked to finish seventh out of 11 in the conference's preseason poll.

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Licking Heights grad Tiller emerging as Southern star

PATASKALA, Ohio -- Aaron Tiller rarely gets overwhelmed by the moment.

So with the bright lights on, it should not be surprising the Licking Heights graduate was as cool as a cucumber. Tiller was one of Southern University's two representatives at the Southwestern Athletic Conference Media Day in July.

"I didn't know I was going to get picked for it, so it was kind of shocking," Tiller said. "It didn't bother me. I am used to it. I am used to being in the spotlight."

It was a surprise in that Tiller is only a junior and the event usually is attended by seniors. Tiller, however, certainly was deserving having led the SWAC in sacks during the 2015 season, and he recently was named to the conference's preseason second team.

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In second year, Carter molds Delaware State Hornets into his own team

DOVER, Delaware — Kenny Carter’s makeover of the Delaware State football program took an even bigger step this offseason.

The second-year coach has given the team a new look for fall camp ahead of the Hornets’ season opener on Thursday, Sept. 1, at Delaware.

Only 12 players who were recruited by the previous coaching staff are left on the roster.



“That wasn’t a goal of ours; that’s just life,” Carter said. “Life happens sometimes. We pretty much have the guys that we wanted to bring in and we’re really happy with what we’ve got.”

The Hornets enter the season with just six seniors.

Aris Scott is the top returning wide receiver, center Ernest Mengoni will anchor the offensive line and the defense has seniors Rashawn Barrett at linebacker along with William Burton and Gary Melton Jr. in the secondary. Third-string quarterback Gilbert Rivera is the final senior on the team.

There are only 11 juniors on the squad too, led by All-MEAC linebacker Malik Harris, who is one of the 12 holdovers from the Kermit Blount era.

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HU men's basketball schedule features shorter non-conference road trips

HAMPTON, Virginia -- With a veteran team last year, Hampton University men’s basketball coach Buck Joyner scheduled trips across the country. Arizona, Texas, Colorado, Nevada ... it was a fun experience that paid off. The Pirates doubled up as Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament champions.

But this season, having lost five of his top six scorers, Joyner is taking a different approach with his non-conference schedule. The farthest places Hampton will go are Princeton, N.J., and Manhattan, Kan. The remaining six non-conference road games are in Virginia or North Carolina.

“We want to make sure they’re athletically acclimated but also academically ready for the rigorous (MEAC) schedule we have,” Joyner said. “We’re going to be young this year, no doubt about that. I feel like the schedule should progress us through the year and get us ready for the MEAC.”

Hampton, which went 21-11 last season and won its second consecutive MEAC championship, will play at Princeton and Kansas State on the road before Thanksgiving. Princeton finished second in the Ivy League last year and lost to Virginia Tech in the National Invitation Tournament. HU’s season ended with a loss to No. 1 seed Virginia in the NCAA tournament.

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Howard Bisons Play Season for Respect

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- These are tough times at Howard University which is personified by the fiscal crisis manifesting itself in the troubles of the football program. With the university recovering from a multi million-dollar deficit and the athletics department dealing with NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) sanctions, Bison football prepares for a season where there is nothing to play for other than respect.

That is something the rest of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) doesn’t show Howard these days. The Bison are picked 10th in the 11 team MEAC, just above Savannah State, which hasn’t made a mark in conference play since moving from Division II. They are 6-17 over the last two years and are facing significant challenges in their quest to regain respectability in the league.

“In this generation we don’t feel disrespected at all,” said Howard coach Gary Harrell. “We are trying to stay on track and move the program forward”,

“I know we are going to have a good football team this year. We feel like we can go from 1-10 to a first place record”.

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