NC Central makes statement, history with win over A&T

DURHAM, North Carolina -- Of all the wins, all the championships in N.C. Central’s proud history, there’s a pretty good argument to be made that none was bigger than this. Because of what was at stake. Because of what was on the line. And, more than anything, because of who it was against: N.C. A&T.

After a third straight win over the Aggies, the Eagles are undisputed, undefeated MEAC champions, and unlike the past two years, that title won’t be shared with anyone else. There are no quirky tiebreakers this year: No. 20 N.C. Central is headed to Atlanta for the Celebration Bowl after Saturday’s 42-21 win over No. 9 N.C. A&T, a margin flattered by an Aggies touchdown in the final seconds but as authoritative a win as the Eagles have had in this series in these players’ lifetimes.

“There’s something about going undefeated in the MEAC and beating the top team that everybody loves so much,” said N.C. Central running back Dorrel McClain, who played at Panther Creek and scored three touchdowns Saturday. “Being the underdog, it’s good to shove it in their face.”

N.C. Central’s wins over A&T the past two seasons earned the Eagles a share of the MEAC title, but they lost a five-way tiebreaker for the automatic FCS playoffs bid in 2014 and a three-way tiebreaker for the Celebration Bowl berth last year – to N.C. A&T, curiously enough.

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Norfolk State wins "Battle of the Bay" for third straight year

HAMPTON, Virginia -- Gerard Johnson inserted himself Saturday.

And then, to make up for a mistake, he asserted himself.

Johnson scored an 80-yard, go-ahead touchdown and Norfolk State’s defense held firm in a 17-10 win over rival Hampton in the annual “Battle of the Bay.”

Johnson, a senior playing in his final college game, carried seven times for 100 yards as the Spartans (4-7, 3-5 MEAC) earned their third straight win over their top rival for the first time since 1978-80.

With NSU ahead by the final margin and the Pirates (5-5, 5-3) driving, safety Bobby Price made a sliding interception of a Jaylian Williamson pass on the Spartans 16-yard line with 26 seconds left to preserve the win.

Price, a freshman out of Bishop Sullivan High in Virginia Beach, was beside himself.

“I can’t explain it right now,” he said. “A loss for words. I’m just happy we won. It’s a great way to end the season.”

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NFL minority head coaches unsatisfied with slow progress in college game

HOUSTON, Texas -- Diversity in coaching has become a less urgent concern in the NFL the last decade, but pro coaches remain bullish about increasing the number of minority head coaches in college football.

Currently there are 14 black head coaches in the Football Bowl Subdivision, the elite tier of collegiate athletics, which is 10.9 percent of all head coaches, according to The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at the University of Central Florida. That percentage more than doubled from 2008, but it has not changed much since 2010, despite having majority black players for many years.

"When there's a struggle in something that's this big, it takes awhile," said Lovie Smith, who was a head coach for 11 seasons in the NFL before taking over at the University of Illinois this year.

RELATED: State of Texas has four black coaches at colleges highest level but room to grow

Smith speaks from a lot of experience. He grew up in Big Sandy, Texas, where his school did not integrate until he reached the 5th grade, and became the first black head coach to lead a team to the Super Bowl. Coincidentally, he shared the milestone with his opponent in Super Bowl XLI, Tony Dungy. Their pioneering matchup routinely is cited for inspiring minority coaches at all levels.

"It definitely had an impact on raising awareness in the hiring process, but more than that it had an impact in the encouragement and the motivation of young coaches. I can speak to that myself," said Dungy, a head coach for 13 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Indianapolis Colts. "It was something they thought they would never see."

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2016 Florida Classic Battle of the Bands (Friday Night)

2016 FLORIDA CLASSIC FOOTBALL 
Florida A&M University Rattlers vs. Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats
SATURDAY GAME TIME: 2 PM EST
LIVE TV: ESPN Classic
INTERNET STREAMING: ESPN3

ESPN3: Chicago State Head to Oakland Today for Conclusion of Road Swing

Chicago State (1-1) at Oakland (2-0)
Date	Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016
Time	3 p.m. EST
Location	The Blacktop at O'Rena (4,000) - Rochester, Michigan
Video	ESPN3
Radio	WDFN-AM (1130) Radio
Live Stats	Oakland GameTracker
Social Media	@GoldenGrizzlies (Twitter)

Oakland Game Notes

OPENING TIP – Chicago State men's basketball concludes its short two-game road swing Saturday in the state of Michigan as it travels to Rochester for a non-conference battle versus host Oakland. The game will take place on ESPN3 from the Blacktop at the O'Rena with the tip-off set for 2 p.m. with Neal Ruhl (Play-by-Play) and Matt Dery (Analyst) calling the action.

SCOUTING CSU – CSU brings a 1-1 record into Saturday's showdown with Oakland following Thursday night's 69-51 defeat at Wisconsin which began the road swing. The Cougars are led by sophomore guard Fred Sims, Jr. (Chicago, Ill./North Lawndale), who is averaging 22.5 points and 2.5 steals per game while shooting 57 percent from three-point range and 48 percent from the field. Senior guard Clemmye Owens V (Toledo, Ohio/Rogers) is second in scoring at 15 points a game and has produced a team-leading field-goal percentage of 52 percent. Junior forward/center Deionte Simmons (Detroit, Mich./Lewisville (Texas)) leads CSU with four rebounds and 1.5 blocked shots per game, while freshman forward/center Patrick Szpir (Wheeling, Ill./Wheeling) is also averaging four boards a game.

SCOUTING OAKLAND – Oakland, heading into its second game of the week on Friday against NAIA member Goshen College, currently sports a 2-0 record after defeating Western Michigan by a score of 77-60 on Monday night. Four players are currently averaging double figure points for the Golden Grizzlies, led by redshirt junior guard Martez Walker at 21.5 points per game. Redshirt junior forward Jalen Hayes is shooting 86 percent from the free throw line and 65 percent from the field to go along with scoring 16 points a game. Redshirt senior guard Sherron Dorsey-Walker is grabbing a team-leading average of 7.5 rebounds a game and sophomore forward Xavier Hill-Mais has recorded a team-best six blocked shots.

SERIES HISTORY – Oakland has produced a 14-5 advantage in the all-time series against Chicago State which dates back to the 1998-99 season when both teams were members of the Summit League (Mid-Continent Conference). The Golden Grizzlies captured a 70-57 home win over the Green and White last season on Dec. 28, 2015 as Sims, Jr. led six CSU players that scored in double figures with 18 points.

SIMS, JR. TIES CAREER HIGH…AGAIN – Sims, Jr. equaled a career high for scoring in Thursday night's game at Wisconsin as he tallied 26 points on 10-for-22 shooting from the field and also connected on 6-for-11 from three-point range. It marked the third time that he had produced that total after doing it last season against BIG EAST Conference foes DePaul and Marquette.

STRIVING FOR NO. 1 – Palmer looks to place his name as one of the school's best offensive rebounders in the program's D-I era as he's currently second on CSU's career offensive rebounds list as he has produced 145 boards to rank second behind Carl Montgomery's total of 214.

STRIVING FOR NO. 1…PART TWO – CSU head coach Tracy Dildy heads into Saturday's game needing three wins to become the program's record holder for most Division I coaching wins. Dildy has amassed 47 career wins and is behind legendary Cougar bench boss Bob Hallberg (49) for the record.

UP NEXT – The Green and White return to the Emil and Patricia Jones Convocation Center on Tuesday, Nov. 22 to battle East-West in their final game of the year 2016 with the opening tip set for 7 p.m.

CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Game Central: Savannah State Men's Basketball at Memphis - ESPN3

Savannah State Tigers (1-2) at Memphis Tigers (2-0)

GAME/TIME: Saturday, November 19, 2016 – Noon (EST)
LOCATION:  Memphis, Tenn.| FedEx Forum
LIVE STATS LINK:  Click Here
LIVE VIDEO LINK: N/A
TELEVISION ESPN3: Click Here
TIGERS ON TWITTER: @savstatetigers  (#HailSSU)
TIGERS ON INSTAGRAM: savstatetigers
SMS TEXT SERVICE: Click Here
Tickets: Click Here

Game Notes: 
· · The Tigers travel to Memphis, Tenn. to take on the University of Memphis in their third road contest of the year. This is the second of four SSU games in the Emerald Coast Classic.

· SSU is currently leading the country in 3-point field goals per game (16.0) and total 3-point field goals made (48). The Tigers are also 5th nationally in assists (65) and 7th in total steals (33).

· After making it to the semifinals of last season's MEAC Tournament, the Tigers were picked to finish 11th in the preseason MEAC order of finish. Howard, S.C. State and Hampton were picked to finish first, second and third, respectively.
 
LONGEVITY
Head coach Horace Broadnax is entering his 12th season as the Tigers head coach. No other SSU men's basketball coach has had a longer tenure.
 
SOUTHERN TIES
All but two members of the team are from the South. Six players hail from Georgia while three are from Florida, two are from South Carolina and one is from North Carolina. Those not from the South include one from New York and one from Panama.
 
NEW FACES
SSU has eight newcomers to this year's squad. Four just graduated from high school, three come from junior college and one is a transfer.
 
PRESEASON HONORS
Troyce Manassa was named to the MEAC Preseason All Conference Third Team.

BREAKING DOWN THE CLASS
SSU has 14 players on the roster which includes four freshmen, three juniors, four sophomores and three seniors.
 
THE SIZE OF IT
The tallest player on the roster is 6-10 Maricus Glenn. The shortest player on the team is Isaiah Felder who is listed at 6-0.
 
OVERSEAS
Lenjo Kilo , who played with SSU during the 2015-16 season, recently signed a professional contract to play with BBC Telstar Hesperange. The team is located in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg and competes in the N2 League.
 
TOUGH SCHEDULE
Of the teams on the schedule, six advanced to postseason play last year. San Diego State made it to the NIT semifinals, Oregon made it to the NCAA Elite Eight and Iowa State made it to the NCAA Sweet 16.
 
Savannah State 2016-17 Game Notes: Click Here
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Standings/Stats: Click Here
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Preseason Awards: Click Here

University of Memphis
University of Memphis Game Notes: Click Here
University of Memphis Website: Click Here

SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

HBCU Football Judgment Day Schedule -- Week 12

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2016

NCAA Division II Championship Playoffs - 1st. Round
Winston-Salem State (9-2) at LIU Post (11-0), 12 Noon,  Free: WATCH LIVE
Tuskegee (8-2) at Newberry (10-1), 1 PM  Free: WATCH LIVE

MEAC
Morgan State at Army, 12 Noon, TV: CBS Sports Network, 
Norfolk State at Hampton, 1 PM, Battle of the Bay,  Live Video: Pirate TV
Delaware State at Howard, 1 PM, 
Savannah State at South Carolina State, 1:30 PM,
Florida A&M vs. Bethune-Cookman, 2 PM, Florida Classic, TV: ESPN Classic/ESPN3
North Carolina A&T at North Carolina Central, 2 PM, TV: ESPN3 (Live), Delayed:10:30 PM - ESPNU

OVC
Tennessee State at Southeast Missouri State, 2 PM

SWAC
Grambling State at Texas Southern, 3 PM, LISTEN LIVE | LIVE STATS | WATCH
Jackson State at Alcorn State, 3 PM, Soul Bowl, LISTEN LIVE l  LIVE STATS l WATCH 
Prairie View at Arkansas Pine Bluff, 3:30 PM, LISTEN LIVE 
Mississippi Valley at Southern, 5 PM, LISTEN LIVE | LIVE STATS | WATCH
Alabama A&M at #15 Auburn, 7:30 PM, TV: SEC Network,  LISTEN LIVE | WATCHESPN

ALL GAME TIMES SHOWN IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME ZONE

Convictions upheld in FAMU drum major death

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Almost exactly five years after Florida A&M University drum major Robert Champion died of injuries suffered in a hazing incident after a game in Orlando, a state appeals court Friday upheld the manslaughter and hazing convictions of another former member of the school’s “Marching 100” band.

A three-judge panel of the 5th District Court of Appeal, in a 16-page ruling, rejected arguments by attorneys for Dante Martin that Florida’s hazing law is overbroad and that a circuit judge made a series of errors such as refusing to exclude autopsy photos from the trial.

Martin, now 29, was found guilty of manslaughter, felony hazing resulting in death and two counts of misdemeanor hazing in the Nov. 19, 2011, death of Champion, who was injured in Orlando during a ritual known as “crossing Bus C.” During the ritual, band members were struck repeatedly as they crossed from the front of the bus to the back, and Martin was “president” of Bus C, Friday’s ruling said.

Champion, whose death drew national attention, passed out after finishing the crossing and later was pronounced dead at a hospital. Martin was sentenced to 77 months in prison after being found guilty by an Orange County jury and is an inmate at the Wakulla Work Camp, according to information on the state Department of Corrections website.

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Morgan State: Army staring at rare opportunity to secure a bowl bid

WEST POINT, New York -- With two games left in its season, Army is staring at a rare opportunity. Despite two straight losses, the Black Knights still have a slim chance to play in a bowl game for only the second time since 1996.

“There’s an opportunity out there if we can get a victory this Saturday,” coach Jeff Monken said. “We’ve got to get one this weekend if we’re going to have any hope.”

Army (5-5) hosts FCS foe Morgan State (2-7) on Senior Day at Michie Stadium, a special moment for a class that’s helped the program move forward in three seasons under Monken.

HOW TO FOLLOW SATURDAY'S ACTION
Time: 12 Noon 
Television: CBS Sports Network 
Announcers: Ben Holden (play-by-play), Jay Feely (color analyst) and John Schriffen (sideline)

“I, as the head coach, have leaned on those guys for leadership in the locker room, and to build the culture that it takes to win,” Monken said. “I’m confident that culture is being built and we are headed in the right direction.”

Army allowed a season-high 44 points in a loss to Notre Dame last week in San Antonio at The Alamodome. The triple option stalled, held to only 229 yards, but the Black Knights remain second in the nation in rushing with an average of 311 yards per contest.

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WSSU takes on LIU Post in NCAA Division II playoffs in New York

GAME TIME: 12 Noon: LIU POST Pioneers (11-0) vs. WSSU Rams (9-2)
FREE "WATCH GAME LIVE" - STREAMING MEDIA: VIDEO/LIVE STATS
FREE VIDEO LINK: http://liupostpioneers.com/watch/?Live=372

BROOKVILLE, New York — Winston-Salem State’s players and coaches were thrilled to get a bid to the NCAA Division II playoffs.

How long the Rams want to stay around in the playoffs will be answered today at noon against unbeaten and 10th-ranked Long Island Post. The game can heard on WEGO (980 AM in Winston-Salem).

The Rams (9-2) are riding an eight-game win streak and have a wave of confidence after winning a shootout with Bowie State 43-33 last Saturday in the CIAA championship game.



“We are a confident team,” said Rams’ running back Kerrion Moore, who has picked up the slack in the running game after the season-ending injury to starter Te’Vaughn Hurse.

What separated the Rams from a lot of schools in the CIAA was depth, but teams in the playoffs, such as the Pioneers, also have depth. The Rams have a deep rotation of running backs with Moore, Justus Pickett and Xavier Quick.

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Tuskegee and Newberry square off in Round One of NCAA Division II Football Playoffs

WATCH GAME LIVE - CLICK HERE

NEWBERRY, South Carolina -- For the fourth consecutive year, the Tuskegee University Golden Tigers qualified for the Field of 28 in the NCAA Division II playoffs. Not only are they in the playoff for the fourth consecutive year, but for the third time in four years, they will hit the road to face their opening round opponent in second-seeded Newberry College (10-1).
For the second consecutive season, the Golden Tigers drew a low seed in the Division II playoffs and drew the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) (ET) Saturday afternoon at Setzler Field, on the campus of Newberry, and can be heard on the Tuskegee Digital Network beginning with pregame at 12:45 pm (ET).

Newberry comes into the contest riding a 10-game winning streak after falling to Florida Tech in the opener, 42-28. They defeated eight of the 10 opponents by double digits, with the two exceptions being North Greenville (29-28) and Wingate (27-22). They are led by quarterback Raleigh Yeldell, the SAC Player of the Year, who threw for 3,087 yards and 27 touchdowns on the season. He also ran for 331 more yards and six touchdowns. His favorite target on the year has been Markell Castle with 64 receptions for 863 yards and six touchdowns, while Braxton Ivery has hailed in 54 catches for 605 yards and four touchdowns. Cole Watson has also been on the receiving end from Yeldell, catching 49 passes for 680 yards and six touchdowns.

• GAME NOTES
• NEWBERRY GAME NOTES
• LIVE STATS
• LISTEN LIVE
• WATCH LIVE (NEWBERRY TV)

Tuskegee (8-2) enters the game having won two of their last three games this season, including wins over Central State and Miles. The Golden Tigers are led by eight SIAC All-Conference selections, while also have two of the superlative award winners. Senior quarterback Kevin Lacey, the SIAC Offensive Player of the Year, will look to rebound after his performance against Virginia State in the regular season finale. The senior has thrown for 1,768 yards and 15 touchdowns, with just six interceptions. His three favorite targets include senior tight end Leo Gilbert (18-371-5), sophomore Javarrius Cheatham (24-322-3) and senior Desmond Reece (41-743-9).

Junior Osband Thompson, the SIAC Defensive Player of the Year, leads the Golden Tigers defense which has been among the nation's best all season. This week, the Golden Tigers enter the contest with the fourth best total defense (251.8) and 12th best scoring defense (16.9) in NCAA Division II. The team is also third in first downs allowed (139), second in fourth down conversion percentage defense (0.083), sixth in third down conversion percentage defense (0.267), fifth in team passing efficiency defense (93.50) and second in passing yards allowed (144.5).

Thompson leads the Golden Tigers with 112 total tackles on the year, while fellow linebacker Quavon Taylor (90) and Kalil Gray (51) are second and third on the team in tackles. The Golden Tigers have recorded 76 tackles for loss, with 33 of those via sacks; while also recording 10 interceptions and forcing eight fumbles.

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

TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Cole Leads NCCU Eagles Over Jackson State with Triple-Double

DURHAM, North Carolina  -- North Carolina Central University redshirt senior guard Patrick Cole (Newark, N.J.) accomplished a feat that no Eagle has done in the Division-I era as he posted a triple-double with 14 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in a 84-75 win over Jackson State University on Friday, Nov. 18 inside McDougald-McLendon Arena.
 
Cole was backed up by senior guard Dajuan Graf (Charlotte, N.C.) who collected his first career double-double at NCCU (2-2) with 15 points and 11 assists, making him and Cole the first Eagles to record double-digit assists in a single game since the 2014-15 season.



Not to be outdone, Rashaun Madison (Norfolk, Va.) splashed eight three-pointers in 10 attempts for a career-high and game-high 24 points, and tied the mark for the third-most treys made in a contest with Anthony McDonald (Dec. 2, 2014 vs. Johnson & Wales) and men's basketball head coach LeVelle Moton (Feb. 18, 1995, vs. Virginia Union).
 
NCCU led wire-to-wire over JSU (1-2) and led by as many as 13 in the first half.  The Eagles shot nearly 60 percent from the floor (28-47), over 50 percent from the arc (10-18) and about 67 percent from the free throw line (18-27).  The Eagles also assisted 23 times on 28 made field goals.
 
Will Ransom (Fort Worth, Texas) chipped in 11 points as a starter, and Pablo Rivas (Phoenix, Ariz.) contributed in a big way from the bench with 15 points over 29 minutes.
 
After playing four games in the course of six days the Eagles will take a breather before heading back on the road to Northern Kentucky on Saturday, Nov. 26.

BOX SCORE

NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION 

Wiley Lady Wildcats Top D-I Sam Houston State

HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The Wiley College women's basketball team needed a fourth-quarter rally but was able to keep its undefeated season alive with a 57-51 victory over NCAA Division I school Sam Houston State University Friday.

"I feel great," head coach Ashley Walker said. "It's a huge win for us."

The Lady Wildcats (5-0) trailed 28-27 at halftime and fell behind by as many as five points in the second half. Wiley College cut the deficit to two entering the fourth quarter. Trailing by three with a little over seven minutes remaining, Malachi McQueen (JR/Leesville, Louisiana) was fouled and hit both free throws to cut the lead to one. Lisa Nealey hit a jumper with 6:10 left to give the Lady Wildcats their first lead since 6:45 left in the third. Nealey scored a career-high 14 points – with 10 coming in the second half. She made all four of her field goal attempts in the second half and shot six-for-nine in the game.

"It was time," Walker said. "She has been struggling and hasn't been able to get going in previous games."

McQueen made a 3-pointer with 4:13 left in the game to increase Wiley College's advantage to four. Ariel Taylor (JR/Houston, Texas) expanded the lead with a layup with 3:18 left. The Lady Wildcats maintained the advantage the rest of the game.

Wiley College jumped out to a seven-point lead in the first quarter but allowed Sam Houston State University to come back, when it had a five-minute scoring drought. The Lady Wildcats shot 21 for 60 and 4 for 15 from 3-point territory.

Alexis Bernstine (SR/Shreveport, Louisiana) was the second highest scorer on the Lady Wildcats with nine points. She also grabbed seven rebounds to lead the team. Sha'Georgia Williams (SR/Dallas, Texas) and Nealey shared the team lead in assists with three each.

The Lady Wildcats will visit another NCAA Division I school in McNeese State at 2 p.m. Tuesday.

BOX SCORE

WILEY COLLEGE ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATION

Ed Hardin: A Celebration awaits the A&T-Central winner

How to follow: ESPN3, WCOG-93.7.

DURHAM, North Carolina -- Saturday is the opposite of homecoming for N.C. A&T.

It's a beginning and an end, a football game that’s somehow more than just a football game.

Everything the Aggies have built in the past four years has led to this – another showdown with N.C. Central, another Aggie-Eagle Classic with nothing riding on it except everything.

The brawl for it all.

The coaches have cautioned all year about looking too far ahead. But the warnings have gone unheeded on both campuses.

A&T will play Central for the outright MEAC title and a berth in the Celebration Bowl on Dec. 17 in Atlanta.

This game has been a distraction for three years now. It’s as if all the other games played in all weeks leading up to this didn’t even happen. After the Aggies’ win last week over Delaware State, Coach Rod Broadway didn’t even seem to be aware of the score. He’d already turned his attention to Saturday.



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Eight Lincoln Blue Tigers Named All-GLVC

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri --  Alex Templeton was named All-GLVC first team, leading eight members of the Lincoln football team who earned all-conference recognition on Thursday (Nov. 17).

Delvon Rouser, who was honored as an offensive utility player, joins linebacker Addison Tucker and defensive back Marvin Holley as All-GLVC second team honorees. Wide receiver Anthony Townsend, offensive lineman Miles Wallace, defensive lineman Noah Johnson and defensive back Lawrence Hogue were each selected All-GLVC honorable mention. Templeton additionally was one of nine recipients of the GLVC's James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Award.

Templeton was 6-for-6 on field goals of 40 yards or longer, including making a game-winning 54-yard field goal against Lane. That distance is both a Lincoln and GLVC record. Templeton made four field goals in that contest, setting LU and GLVC single-game records, and finished with nine made field goals on the season. Templeton also handled kickoffs for the Blue Tigers, averaging 61.7 yards with 14 touchbacks.

Rouser started the season as a wide receiver, but due to injuries eventually began lining up as a fullback, H-back and tight end. Rouser made plays for LU as both a blocker and a receiver, and by the end of the season was lining up for nearly every offensive snap. Rouser tied for second on the team with 24 receptions for 210 yards and a score.

Tucker was Lincoln's leading tackler, making 92 total takedowns, including 52 solo. Tucker also recorded 7.5 tackles for a loss of 16 yards. In addition to consistently tracking down the ball-carrier, Tucker also made an interception, forced and recovered a fumble and broke up two passes.

Holley tied for second on Lincoln's tackling chart, finishing with 62 tackles, including three for loss. Holley, who also had a sack, was LU's top pass defender, recording seven passes defended over the course of the season. Holley made two interceptions, forced two fumbles and recovered a fumble while breaking up five passes.

Townsend was LU's top receiver in terms of yards and touchdown, catching 24 passes for 422 yards and three scores. Townsend averaged 17.6 yards per catch and 47 receiving yards per contest. Townsend also was an asset on special teams, as he was one of four Blue Tigers to block a kick during the 2016 season.

Wallace was rated as Lincoln's best offensive lineman during the 2016 campaign, and was often moved around the line to match up against opposing teams' top defenders. Wallace helped Lincoln quarterback Dennis Vinson break three passing records in LU's Homecoming game against Saint Joseph's, and helped the team compile 2,461 yards of total offense.

Johnson led the Blue Tigers with 4.5 sacks and was second on the squad in tackles for loss with nine. Johnson made 42 total tackles on the year, 24 of which were unassisted. Johnson was also credited with a pair of quarterback hurries as well as a forced fumble.

Hogue was another key member of a Lincoln pass defense that rated among the best in the GLVC all season. Hogue broke up a team-high six passes and helped the Blue Tigers hold opposing offenses to under 200 passing yards per contest. Hogue also made 35 tackles on the season, recovered a fumble and blocked a kick.
 

Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

FAMU eager to top rival Bethune-Cookman, post five-win season

ORLANDO, Florida -- Each year when it comes time for the Florida Classic, everyone says throw out the records, they mean nothing.

This year it's different. The record means everything for Florida A&M. The Rattlers (4-6) are on a roll with only arch rival Bethune-Cookman standing in the way of their first five-win season since 2011.

In the annual football showdown between the state's historically black colleges, the atmosphere and emotions usually help to even the playing field, regardless of records. FAMU, however, is riding a 4-2 stretch that has seen the Rattlers turn an 0-4 start into positive signs for the future under second-year head coach Alex Wood.

Heading into Saturday's game at Camping World Stadium, FAMU, winner of three of its past four games, is already guaranteed its first .500 finish in MEAC play since 2012.

Wood, of course, takes a more subdued approach to both the big game and his squad's recent success.

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Johnson C. Smith football’s shopping list for talent, depth Golden Bulls need boost at QB and both lines

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- It’s never too early to go shopping.

Johnson C. Smith’s football wish list is simple: Recruit players who can improve on a 3-7 campaign, especially when it improves depth in critical areas like quarterback and offensive and defensive lines. Some areas, like linebacker and running back, are stocked with young talent that is putting JCSU coach Kermit Blount’s stamp on the program.

The following is based on observation of performance and classification of rotation players as well as long-term prospects. Each position group is assigned a recruiting priority grade from l (lowest) to 5 (highest).

Quarterback: 5
No doubt this is going to dominate the recruiting board. The Golden Bulls averaged 134.3 yards per game, near the bottom of the CIAA. Losing Jordan Lane with a broken leg in the third game set off a chain of events that highlighted the need for depth at the position.

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WSSU: Benis' long road back has been worth it

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Fullback Michael Benis looked around Bowman Gray Stadium during practice on Tuesday night and realized the end is almost near.

For Benis, a senior at Winston-Salem State, the reality is he won’t have too many more practices and maybe just one more game left in his career. The Rams will take on Long Island Post in New York on Saturday in a first-round Division II playoff game.

“This is a bonus, for sure,” said Benis, a Harlem native who graduated last spring with a degree in criminal justice.

Instead of getting a job in law enforcement Benis decided to take graduate classes and use his final year of eligibility. His determination to get back to the field one last time is a testament to how much he loves playing for WSSU.

Benis, a human bowling ball at 6-foot and 240 pounds, missed all of last season while recovering from a broken leg and a severe knee injury. His injury happened in spring football in 2015, and he admits it was a low time in his life.



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North Carolina A&T Aggies Lose Close Contest At Grambling

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- Grambling took advantage of North Carolina A&T mistakes on Thursday to come away with a 59-55 win at Frederick C. Hobdy Assembly Center. The Tigers scored 23 points off 22 Aggie turnovers to gain an edge in what was a close game. The win for Grambling avenges a loss to N.C. A&T from last season when the Aggies were able to beat the Tigers at Corbett Sports Center.

Junior Davaris McGowens, a junior college transfer, had his first career double-double as an Aggie with 22 points and 11 rebounds. McGowens was 7-for-9 from the floor and 8-for-11 from the free throw line in 36 minutes played. Junior Donte Watson, another junior college transfer, had his best game as an Aggie with 12 points on 5-for-10 shooting. Junior Eliel Gonzalez finished with nine ponts, eight rebounds and six assists.

It was a McGowens layup that gave the Aggies a 42-39 lead with 12:10 remaining in the game. Two minutes later junior point guard Austin Williams found graduate center Aaron Scales underneath for a dunk to give N.C. A&T a 44-43 lead. Albeit slim, the Aggies were able to keep the lead until the 6 1/2 -minute mark of the game. Deonte Hearns scored on a Diontae Jones pass to give Grambling a 48-47 lead. The Aggies were not able to recapture the lead from the there.

Hearns’ layup led to an 8-0 run by the Tigers in which the Aggies turned the ball over four times during the spurt. The run ended with a Hearns free throw that gave Grambling a 55-47 advantage with 2:40 remaining. A three-point play by Eliel Gonzalez kept the Aggies close. After another Hearns free throw, Gonzalez knocked down two more free throws to pull the Aggies to within four at 56-52 with 1:42 to play. A minute later Watson dropped a 3-pointer through the net to put the Aggies down 56-55.

The Aggies would then foul to put the Tigers on the line. Nigel Ribeiro was able to hit only one of two free throws, giving the Aggies a chance to tie or take the lead with their next possession. But the Aggies turned the ball over without getting a shot off. Remond Brown put the game away with two free throws as the Aggies fell to 1-2 on the season.

Grambling was able to improve to 1-1. Brown led three Tigers in double figures with 23 points and six rebounds. Ervin Mitchell and Hearns added 13 and 11 points apiece. The Aggies will return to action on Tuesday when they travel to Western Kentucky for an 8 p.m. contest.

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NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Robinson Appointed Vice President and Director of Athletics at PVAMU

MR. ASHLEY ROBINSON

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- Ashley Robinson has been appointed to the position of Vice President and Director of Athletics, Prairie View A&M University President Dr. George Wright announced Wednesday.

In his fourth year directing athletics at Prairie View A&M, Robinson has played an active role in the design and construction of major athletics facilities projects on The Hill, highlighted by the opening of new Panther Stadium, the 15,000 seat home for PVAMU football which debuted before a sold out crowd and live national television audience on ESPNU.

In Spring 2016, upgrades were completed at Tankersley Field baseball facility: the installation of a new high-definition video message board completed the multi-year project that also included new grandstands, press area and scoreboards. In June, the new athletics administration building in the north end zone at Blackshear Field opened. The three-story complex is the new home for PVAMU Athletics, featuring offices and meeting rooms for all sports, a weight room, class rooms in academic support.

This past summer, the new outdoor track stadium opened and hosted the USA Olympic Track and Field training camp on the PVAMU campus prior to the Rio Olympics. In October, the new soccer complex opened, and hosted the 2016 Southwestern Athletic Conference soccer tournament in November.

Panther student-athletes have excelled in the classroom as well under Robinson's watch. In the latest Academic Progress Rate (APR) report, five teams (baseball, bowling, men's golf, men's tennis and men's track & field) posted a perfect APR score of 1,000 in 2014-15. Last season, Panther football posted the highest single-year APR score in the SWAC with a 975.

All 18 PVAMU athletics teams are eligible for NCAA Postseason play for the 2016-17 season. 

Robinson currently serves as the Chair of the SWAC's Athletic Directors Committee, and is a member of the FCS Advisory Committee.

Always with the goal of improving the student-athlete experience, Robinson implemented the Athletic Director's Club, with membership increasing annually. He has also created and expanded corporate partnerships for the department, broadening the brand exposure of PVAMU Athletics.

He has also revised the department's Policies and Procedure manual while also revamping the department's finances which will directly impact the overall success of the PVAMU student-athlete on-and-off the playing field.  

Robinson's coaching hires have yielded immediate dividends. In his first two seasons, Willie Simmons has led Panther football to back-to-back winning seasons, the first PVAMU football coach to accomplish the feat in his first two years since 1950-51. After naming Byron Smith Interim Head Men's Basketball Coach in late January, 2016, the Panthers posted a winning record in the second half of league play. Smith was named full-time head coach after the season.

Robinson is in his second stint at PVAMU, having previously served as the Assistant Vice President of Athletic Compliance & Academic Advising for three years before a nine-month stint as the athletic director at his alma mater, Mississippi Valley State University. Robinson was a four-year letterman at Valley and is both the single season and career assist holder, and was inducted into the MVSU Athletics Hall Of Fame in 2011.

Robinson has also served as academic coordinator at Delaware State, assistance compliance director and later compliance director at Jackson State, and Assistant Commissioner for Compliance at the Southwestern Athletic Conference office.

 

PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

S.C. State Bulldogs set to tangle with Savannah State Tigers

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- South Carolina State head football coach Buddy Pough isn’t trying to sugarcoat where his Bulldogs' program stands with two games left to play this season.

At 3-6 overall, 3-3 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play, getting a win this Saturday at home in a 1:30 p.m. conference game against Savannah State would go a long way toward restoring some confidence in the team.

With the visiting Tigers also carrying a 3-3 conference record, Pough sees this as a game that will get one team over the hump and give them a reprieve from possibly facing a losing conference record heading into the offseason.



Pough doesn’t see the Tigers as one of the better Savannah State teams in recent years.

“It’s the best Savannah State team I’ve seen, ever,” Pough said this week. “I didn’t see the Bill Davis (coached) Savannah State teams, back when they had Shannon Sharpe there.

“But, I saw them play that year, because I was pretty close to Bill. I remember them being pretty good then. But, since then, I don’t recall there being a team showing this kind of improvement this quickly.

CONTINUE READING

Not your average game, Norfolk State & Hampton get set for Battle of the Bay

HAMPTON, Virginia -- — It’s the marquee game on the calender for our local MEAC football teams. Norfolk State against Hampton, the Battle of the Bay with bragging rights and more on the line this Saturday at Armstrong Stadium.

“We know the guys from the other side of the water are going to bring it,” Hampton wide receiver T.J. Mixson said. “No matter what the records are you’ve gotta expect to go hard.”

“We know those guys, they know us,” said Norfolk State senior Brandon Walker. “The intensity is definitely gonna be ramped up.”

Norfolk State has struggled this season, but the Spartans have won two of their last three games. Saturday is the Spartans final game of the season, Hampton still has a game next week against Coastal Carolina, so for the Norfolk State seniors, this is their final college football game.

“Why not end the season with a win,” NSU senior quarterback Greg Hankerson said. “I feel like this would be a confident boost for the guys coming back next year.”



CONTINUE READING 

Breaking down Prairie View A&M at Arkansas-Pine Bluff

When: 2 p.m. Saturday

Where: Golden Lion Stadium, Pine Bluff, Ark.

Radio: 91.3 FM

Series history: Prairie View leads 46-22-4.

Key players: PV - QB Jalen Morton, RB Caleb Broach,
DT James Harper; UAPB - QB Brandon Duncan,
WR Willie Young, ILB Willie Duncan.

Who has the edge: Offense - Prairie View. The Panthers
are fourth in scoring offense in the SWAC with 30.3
points per game. Pine Bluff is dead last at 14.3. It has
18 TDs on the season. The Panthers have 41.

Defense - Prairie View. The advantage is slighter here.
Both rank near the bottom of the SWAC, with Pine Bluff
last in total defense (484.1). But Prairie View leads the
SWAC with 34 sacks.

CONTINUE READING

FCS CO-GAME OF THE WEEK: NCAT Aggies at NCCU Eagles

The Matchup: No. 9 North Carolina A&T (9-1, 7-0 MEAC) at No. 24 North Carolina Central (8-2, 7-0)

Kickoff: 2 p.m. ET at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium (10,000) in Durham, North Carolina

Television: ESPN2

Series: North Carolina A&T leads 49-33-5 (last meeting: North Carolina Central won 21-16 in Greensboro on Nov. 21, 2015)

The Skinny: It's winner-take-all - the outright MEAC championship and Celebration Bowl bid. The losing team can be considered for an at-large bid to the FCS playoffs. N.C. A&T coach Rod Broadway was N.C. Central's coach from 2003-06. The visiting Aggies have won all of their MEAC games by an average of nearly 24 points. All-American RB Tarik Cohen (1,769 all-purpose yards, 18 TDs) has gone over 100 rushing yards in each of his three games against the Eagles, gaining 203 yards and two TDs in a 2014 loss. N.C. Central QB Malcolm Bell, who has thrown for the most yards (2,007) and touchdowns (15) in the MEAC, will attack an Aggies defense that ranks last in pass defense. DEs Antiono Brown (7) and Henry-Ajudua (6.5) rank third and fourth, respectively, in the MEAC in sacks.

CONTINUE READING

Wolf Pack pull away from Gold Nuggets in 2nd half

NEW ORLEANS — Junior guard Zoie Miller scored all 19 of her points in the second half, including 4-of-4 3-pointers in the third quarter, to lead NAIA No. 24 Loyola to an 81-53 basketball victory against Xavier University of Louisiana.

After leading the Gold Nuggets 31-24 at halftime, the Wolf Pack outscored XULA 28-6 in the third quarter. Miller scored 16 in that period. Loyola increased its lead to 35 in the fourth quarter.

Di'Mond Jackson scored 15 points, Meghan Temple 11 and Kylah Jones 10 for Loyola (3-1). Temple grabbed 12 rebounds and set a school record with eight blocked shots.

Ireyon Keith, with 10 points, was the only double-figure scorer for XULA (3-2). Freshmen Gina Smith and Maya Trench scored seven points apiece.

Loyola outshot the Gold Nuggets 46.4 percent to 28.4 percent from the floor, 51.7 to 29 percent in the second half. The Wolf Pack outrebounded XULA 49-34.

Loyola beat the Gold Nuggets for the third consecutive time and the second time in three years at XULA's Convocation Center.

XULA will travel to Las Vegas, Nev., for three games — two against ranked Frontier Conference opponents — in the Las Vegas Shootout Friday through Sunday. The Gold Nuggets will play NAIA No. 7 Lewis-Clark State at 8 p.m. PST Friday.

BOX SCORE

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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