Durant played at a small, historically black school, Hampton University and didn’t anticipate playing in the NFL

FRISCO, Texas -- When Justin Durant decided to play football at Hampton University in 2003, the very last thing he thought about was parlaying that opportunity into a job in the National Football League.

“I didn’t even know that I had a shot of going [to the NFL] until probably my senior year,” Durant said. “When agents started calling and I’m looking at the ratings, I’m like, ‘Is this serious? Is this what’s going on?’ ”

Hampton University is a predominantly black university which doesn’t have the training facilities and equipment – and financial backing from its alma mater – which many of the predominantly white universities have. Durant, a linebacker with the Dallas Cowboys, even admits to the difficulties of trying to get to the NFL via the Historical Black College or University (HBCU) route, yet he knows it’s possible.

“I guess it’s a little bit harder,” Durant said. “But I’ve been trying to tell people that if you have the talent they’re going to find you, especially with all the ways of scouting and how they can get to see you regardless of the different platforms you’re put on.

“If you can do what you need to do, then they’ll come and find you.”

The Jacksonville Jaguars found Durant and chose him on the second round (48th overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft. That year, Durant appeared on the pro scouts’ radar after he became the first player named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year on three different occasions.



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Ben Carson’s Top Adviser Offers To Pay Historical Black College’s (Talladega) Way To Inauguration

Talladega College is still weighing whether to accept Armstrong Williams’ offer to pay $60,000 for the school’s marching band to participate in the Trump inaugural parade

TALLADEGA, Alabama -- Armstrong Williams, a longtime conservative media entrepreneur and adviser to former GOP presidential candidate Ben Carson, said he has offered to pay $60,000 in travel expenses for Talladega College’s marching band to perform at the inaugural parade on Jan. 20.

Williams told BuzzFeed News he hadn’t heard back from the president of Talladega College — the oldest historically black, private liberal arts school in Alabama — since making the offer Friday.

“The issue is: The kids want to go,” Williams said. “I don’t want resources to be a reason they can’t go.”

Of the 41 organizations formally invited by the Presidential Inaugural Committee, Talladega College — founded in 1867 by former slaves — is the only historically black college or university (HBCU). Talladega applied to participate in the event before the election.

Talladega College President Billy Hawkins said Wednesday that the school’s Board of Trustees has told him they’d prefer to raise their own money. Hawkins noted that the school has raised nearly $32,000 of its $75,000 goal through a GoFundMe account.



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Hughes needs time to get Jackson State football right

JACKSON, Mississippi -- When Tony Hughes left Mississippi State to take the head coaching position at Jackson State, he didn’t think he was looking at a complete rebuild.

There was talent on the roster. He inherited a solid group of linebackers and defensive ends and a quality veteran defensive backfield left over from the Rick Comegy era.

Hughes only had 45 days to pull together his first signing class, but he still found a way to make some noise. He signed 31 players, including 28 high school seniors, highlighted by North Pike three-star quarterback Juwan Adams.

But everything since that day has been a learning experience for Hughes, who will officially enter his second year on the job when he wraps up his 2017 recruiting class in two weeks.

Hughes has said he wants to build the program from the ground up — signing at least 25 high school players every year. That sounds great to fans, alumni and administrators within the athletic department, but few know just how big a task that is proving to be.

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Philander Smith College Names New Athletic Director

Little Rock, Arkansas – Philander Smith College has named Nathan Cochran to the post of Athletic Director. Cochran, who started work on Jan. 3, will oversee the institution's sports programs which currently include, Men's and Women's basketball, Women's volleyball, and Men's and Women's track and field.

A native of Boulder, Colo., Cochran comes to Philander Smith from Paine College in Augusta, Ga., where he was the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance and Sports Information Director. Prior to entering athletics administration, he spent fourteen years in collegiate coaching, including stints as the Head Men's and Women's Track and Field/Cross Country Coach at Paine; Assistant Football Coach/Offensive Coordinator in Paine's inaugural NCAA Division II football season; and two years as the Head Football Coach at Lincoln University in Missouri. Additionally, he is a USA Track and Field (USATF) Level 1 certified coach specializing in sprints and jumps.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to serve Philander Smith College, bringing my passion for sports and commitment to educating student-athletes," says Cochran. "As I work to enhance and expand our athletic programs, my foremost concern is to ensure that Philander Smith athletes are successful not only in competition, but also as scholars and well-rounded individuals."

Cochran holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics education from South Carolina State University – where he played football and ran track – and a master's degree in management from Webster University.

About Philander Smith College
Celebrating its 140th Anniversary, Philander Smith College – founded in 1877 – is a small, privately supported, historically Black, four-year liberal arts institution related to the Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church. The College's mission is to graduate academically accomplished students, grounded as advocates for social justice, determined to change the world for the better. Philander Smith College, the only United Negro College Fund (UNCF) member institution in Arkansas, strives to provide a quality education for all regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin or ethnic background. For more information, visit www.philander.edu.

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NFL dreams carry 6 from Grambling to HBCU all-star game

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- All-American wide receiver Chad Williams will get the bulk of the NFL Draft attention among Grambling players during the next several months.

This weekend, however, six departing Tiger players get their shot to further their career in the HBCU Spirit of America Bowl, a showcase game in Virginia Beach that features 110 players from 53 HBCU schools around the country, ranging from the FCS level to NAIA programs.

Wide receivers Verlan Hunter and Dominique Leake, running back Jestin Kelly, offensive lineman Trey Goins and defensive backs Guy Stallworth and Jameel Jackson will suit up for the Pride roster Sunday at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex.

"It's huge because any time you get a chance to put your product out there and play in front of NFL scouts, there's always a chance you can possibly get an opportunity out of it," Grambling coach Broderick Fobbs said. "At the end of the day, all you want is a chance, you want an opportunity. This is another one of those opportunities."

The HBCU postseason game wraps up ...

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XULA Gold Rush rack up points and roll past Rust 97-53

NEW ORLEANS — Freshman guard Mike Williams scored 15 points Friday to lead Xavier University of Louisiana in a 97-53 men's basketball rout of Rust.

The victory gives XULA (5-11) its first two-game winning streak this season.

Williams reached double figures for the first time since Dec. 1 and scored his most points since Nov. 15. He scored 11 in the first half. Williams grabbed a career-best seven rebounds and had four assists and three steals to equal career highs.

Seth Jackson scored 14 points, Chris Ward 13 and Hakeem Simon a career-high 12 for the Gold Rush. Simon was 5-of-5 from the floor and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds, and Elex Carter had eight points, seven rebounds and a career-best five assists. Jackson was 6-of-7 from the floor. Innocent Kukulu had a game- and career-high six assists.

Allen Potts scored 19 points for the Bearcats (2-17), and Dewan Fowler had 17.

XULA outscored Rust 58-28 in the second half and finished with its largest winning margin and most assists (29) since November 2007. All 11 Gold Rush players in uniform produced points and rebounds, and 10-of-11 had assists. XULA committed eight personal fouls, its fewest since November 2004.

"Our guys played with a lot of energy," said XULA coach Alfred Williams, whose team outshot Rust 58.8 to 35 percent from the floor. "I was most excited by our 29 assists and winning the boards by 21."

XULA is an NAIA member, and Rust competes in NCAA Division III. This was the first matchup of these HBCUs since 1993.

The Gold Rush will play city and Gulf Coast Athletic Conference rival SUNO at 7:30 p.m. Monday at XULA's Convocation Center. It'll be a doubleheader; the XULA and SUNO women will meet at 5:30.

NOTES: XULA produced its highest-scoring game and first 50-point half since October 2014 and its highest-scoring half since October 2009 . . . Simon and Carter, both centers, made their only 3-point attempts. It was Simon's first XULA attempt; Carter is 2-for-3 from long range this season . . . Simon's six offensive rebounds matched the most in a game by a XULA player this season . . . XULA is 5-1 this season against HBCUs . . . The losing margin was Rust's largest since December 2013.

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Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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FAMU AD Overton cuts spending, fundraising for Bragg begins

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- There’s still work to do – and funds to find – but Florida A&M Athletic Director Milton Overton Jr. is chipping away at the nearly $1.3 million he needs to cover both a projected 2016-17 budgetary shortfall and repairs to Bragg Memorial Stadium.

Friday, during a BOT budget, finance and facilities committee conference call, FAMU CFO Wanda Ford said Overton reduced spending for the 2016-17 fiscal year by eliminating department positions and reducing administrative travel expenses. He also secured $200,000 from the NCAA.

The measures mean the athletics department is now projected to fall $237,442 short of its $8,937,500 budget – down from the $651,724 shortfall projected in a December meeting of the committee.

Per a presentation given to trustees, Overton saved $177,282 by eliminating mostly part-time positions and by not hiring an additional compliance officer – the salary for that position would have been $55,000. In a phone interview after the meeting, Overton said the $200,000 from the NCAA was a “one-time” payment.

FAMU needs $622K for mandatory repairs to Bragg Stadium.

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Money ball: Financial restraints can keep SWAC basketball teams from reaching their full potential

BATON ROUGE, Louisianav -- The Southwestern Athletic Conference won the first NCAA tournament game it ever played in.

In 1980, back when the Big Dance wasn’t quite as big, No. 8 seed Alcorn State defeated No. 9 South Alabama 70-62 before losing to Dale Brown’s LSU Tigers in the next round.

The Braves won three tournament games in five years in what is undoubtably the most successful postseason run for a SWAC program.

A few years later, Southern became the first team to win a game in the round of 62 when the No. 13 Jaguars toppled Georgia Tech in one of the biggest moments in program history.

Since then, the SWAC has won one NCAA tournament game: a play-in contest between Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Winthrop in 2010.

In 23 years, no SWAC team climbed higher than a No. 15 seed, with nine teams competing in play-in games since the NCAA instituted the round in 2001.

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Delaware State Hornets Announce 2017 Football Schedule

DOVER, Delaware -- Visits to two Football Bowl Subdivision powers and the reigning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champion, along with four home games at Alumni Stadium highlight the 2017 Delaware State University football schedule announced today.

The Hornets will draw national attention next season during contests at West Virginia on Sep. 16 and Florida State on Nov. 18. West Virginia was 10-3 overall and 7-2 in the Big 12 in 2016. The Mountaineers fell to Miami in the Russell Athletic Bowl, and were ranked 17th in the final FBS coach’s poll and 18th in the media poll this past season.



Delaware State will close out the regular 2017 season against the Florida State Seminoles. FSU was No. 8 in the final national polls after finishing with a 10-3 overall record and 5-3 mark in the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2016, which ended with a dramatic 33-32 victory over Michigan in the Orange Bowl.

The Hornets’ 11-game 2017 slate begins on Thursday August 31 at the University of Delaware in the debut of new Blue Hens head coach Danny Rocco. It will be the eighth meeting between the state’s two Division I football programs. Each of the previous games in the series has been played at UD’s Tubby Raymond Field. DSU is seeking its first win in the series. A member of the Colonial Athletic Association, Delaware was 4-7 overall and 2-6 in the CAA in 2016.

Delaware State’s 2017 home schedule begins on Sep. 23 against Norfolk State in the first meeting between the teams since 2014. The Hornets have won their last three games against the Spartans to open up a 16-6 series lead.

The annual homecoming contest is set for Oct. 14 against Howard. The Hornets and Bison have met each year since 1958, and a total of 73 times overall. Howard won last year’s meeting, although DSU is 13-5 in the last 18 battles to lead 37-35-1 in the series.

The Hornets will welcome South Carolina State to Alumni Stadium for the 45th meeting between the teams the following week on Oct. 21.

Delaware State will close out the 2017 home schedule on Nov. 11 against Morgan State. DSU will try to snap a four-game skid against the Bears, who hold a 36-24 lead in the series.

The Hornets’ 2017 road schedule also includes a visit to Hampton in the MEAC opener on Sep. 9.

DSU will also hit the road for MEAC contests against North Carolina A&T on Oct. 7, North Carolina Central on Oct. 28 and Savannah State on Nov. 4.

North Carolina A&T was 9-3 overall and 7-1 in the MEAC last season, coming up short of a third straight conference title with a loss to NC Central in the regular season finale. The Aggies were selected to compete in the 2016 NCAA FCS Playoffs, falling to Richmond in the opening round.

North Carolina Central won its first outright MEAC title in school history and competed in the second annual Celebration Bowl last season. The Eagles, 9-3 overall and 8-0 in the MEAC last season, shared the 2014 and 2015 league titles.

The Hornets and Savannah State renew their series after a two-year break. Delaware State is 4-0 all-time against the Tigers, including a 35-10 victory the last time the teams met in 2014.

Delaware State 2017 game times will be announced at a later date.

2017 Delaware State University Football Schedule
Date Opponent Site
Aug. 31 Delaware Newark, Del.
Sep. 9 Hampton* Hampton, Va.
Sep. 16 West Virginia Morgantown, W.V.
Sep. 23 NORFOLK STATE* HOME
Oct. 7 No. Carolina A&T* Greensboro, N.C.
Oct. 14 HOWARD* HOME Homecoming
Oct. 21 So. Carolina State* HOME
Oct. 28 No. Carolina Central* Durham, N.C.
Nov. 4 Savannah State* Savannah, Ga.
Nov. 11 MORGAN STATE* HOME
Nov. 18 Florida State Tallahassee, Fla.

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Bryant's vision at GSU includes indoor facility, stadium upgrades

GRAMBLING, Louisiana — New Grambling athletic director Paul Bryant felt something was missing as he perused the athletic department during the application process.

It centered around a philanthropic approach he felt was needed at Grambling to grow athletics. It was the missing link of sorts.

"Thank God that has been one of my strengths," Bryant said Tuesday at his introductory press conference.

For a university, along with an athletic department, often strapped for cash, Grambling's new leader in athletics has a lofty vision for improvements to be made in the future. They aren't limited to football, but Bryant, who was hired from South Carolina State, is keenly aware football is the crown jewel.

"Vision is to create a complex that will include an indoor facility, also include field turf for our field and also to include a Jumbotron," Bryant said of potential future upgrades. "When we talk about philanthropic thinking, having a Jumbotron is critical for our success and it's because we can sell sponsorship. People want to be a part of that.

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Yvette Lewis Hired as NSU Assistant Track & Field Coach

NORFOLK, Virginia -- Norfolk State University director of track and field programs Kenneth Giles announced Tuesday that former Olympian and local track and field legend Yvette Lewis has been hired as an assistant coach for the Spartans.

Lewis will primarily work with the hurdlers, jumpers and sprinters on the Spartan women's track and field team.

"Yvette has a winning pedigree in her. She's won everywhere she's been, from high school to the professional level," Giles said. "I think that she'll provide a lot of experience and know-how to our women's program. We feel we hit a grand slam with this hire."

A two-time NCAA national champion and 2016 Olympian, Lewis spent the last four years as an assistant track and field coach at her alma mater, Hampton University. Lewis' main area of emphasis was Hampton's hurdlers, jumpers and multi-event athletes while also serving as the team's strength and conditioning coordinator. Lewis helped the Hampton women win a total of six MEAC indoor and outdoor titles while the Pirate men won two.

Lewis' stint at Hampton coincided with the final years of her own successful track career. Lewis competed primarily in the 100-meter hurdles as a professional. Her personal-best time was 12.76 seconds, which she clocked in 2011 – the same year she won a gold medal representing the USA at the Pan American Games. Later in her career, Lewis represented Panama, qualifying for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Brazil.

Lewis won NCAA Division I national titles during the 2006 indoor season and 2007 outdoor season in the triple jump while at Hampton. In all, she was a six-time All-American in the triple jump and 100-meter hurdles in a two-year span for the Pirates. She also won six Most Outstanding Performer Awards for scoring the most points at MEAC indoor and outdoor championship meets.

Lewis was born in Germany but raised in Newport News, Va. She attended both Denbigh and Menchville high schools. She was named the 11th-greatest athlete in the history of the Daily Press newspaper, and once won a state indoor high school championship for Menchville by outscoring every other team at the meet by herself.

Matt Michalec, Asst. AD/Communications

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Howard University Introduces Mike London As New Head Football Coach

WASHINGTON, D.C.  —  Howard University President, Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick announced Mike London as the new head coach of the Howard University football team, during a press conference today on the campus of Howard University.

"After an extensive national search, we are especially excited to welcome Mike London to Howard University," said Dr. Frederick. "He joins our football program at an incredible time, and we look forward to seeing him build on the existent foundation that makes Howard University a great institution. The board of trustees and I believe he brings outstanding leadership and experience and is sure to be a tremendous resource to the entire Howard University community."

"We welcome Mike London and his family to Howard University," said Howard Athletics Director Kery Davis. "I believe Mike will be a strong leader and mentor for our student-athletes. He is a widely-respected coach with a resume full of achievements at the highest levels of college football and combines a drive to win with great integrity. We look forward to the future of Howard University football under his direction."

"I would like to thank President Frederick and Kery Davis for their confidence and belief in me," London said. "I am humbled that we have a shared commitment to take this university and this football program to greater heights. Some of the best football talent in the country is right here in the Washington metropolitan area, and I feel blessed to have the opportunity to work with the young men in the Howard football program and build on the strong heritage already in place."

London comes to Howard University after serving as an associate head coach/defensive line coach for the University of Maryland Terrapins. Before coaching the Terrapins, he was the head coach at the University of Virginia and the University of Richmond, respectfully for eight seasons. A highly-regarded recruiter, London helped bring in four top-35 classes during his tenure in Charlottesville and brought in two Virginia-bred five-star recruits in 2014 (247Sports).   London led Virginia to an 8-5 season in 2011 and was named ACC Coach of the Year.

As the head coach at Richmond (2008-09), London captured 24 wins and led the Spiders to the FCS Championship in his first season. He helped 28 Spiders achieve all-conference honors in just two seasons.

London played defensive back at Richmond (1979-1982) before playing one season for the Dallas Cowboys.

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Montana Griz complete 2017 football schedule, add Savannah State

MISSOULA, Montana -- The Montana Grizzlies will once again play a full Division-I football schedule in 2017, with the addition of Savannah State, an FCS program out of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), to complete next season’s slate of games.

The addition of Savannah State on Sept. 16 completes the Grizzlies’ 2017 schedule, with UM playing a total of six home games. Montana opens the season on Sept. 2, hosting Valparaiso of the FCS Pioneer Football League.

The Sept. 16 game against Savannah State marks the first time the Griz have played a team from the MEAC, and only the second time UM has played one of America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the regular season, after hosting Mississippi Valley State of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) in 2016. The Griz hosted Jackson State of the SWAC in the 1989 playoffs.

Savannah State, located in Savannah, Georgia, finished the 2016 season at No. 8 in the MEAC standings. North Carolina Central won the league at 8-0 and finished at No. 22 in the final STATS FCS media poll of the year.

N.C. Central lost to Grambling State 10-9 in the Celebration Bowl on Dec. 17, 2016, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta in front of 31,096 fans. The Celebration Bowl is played annually between the winner of the MEAC & SWAC and is the de facto national championship for HBCU schools.

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Singleton, Smith lead Gold Nuggets past Tougaloo

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana got 20 points from Kelsee Singleton and 14 from Gina Smith, both career highs, in a 72-59 women's basketball victory against Tougaloo Saturday.

Singleton, a fifth-year senior center, made 7-of-8 free throws. Smith, a freshman forward, was 6-of-7 from the floor. Both players grabbed a game-high seven rebounds.

Maya Trench added 12 points and four assists for the Gold Nuggets (10-6, 1-0 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference), who won their fourth straight and their seventh in the last eight games.

Asia Thibodeaux and Jermani Thompson scored 19 points apiece for the Lady Bulldogs (4-4, 0-1), and Tynika Bender had 12 assists.

XULA led 38-34 at halftime and extended its advantage to 54-43 through three quarters. The Gold Nuggets outshot Tougaloo 50.9 to 42.9 percent from the floor and made eight 3-pointers to tie a season high.

XULA's next game will start at 5:30 pm. Jan. 16 at home against SUNO.

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Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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Gold Rush prevail in overtime in GCAC opener

NEW ORLEANS — Jalen David broke out of a scoring slump with 18 points, and Seth Jackson scored seven of his 13 points in overtime Saturday to lead Xavier University of Louisiana to a 74-69 men's basketball victory against Tougaloo.

The Gold Rush (4-11, 1-0 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference) snapped a six-game losing streak, XULA's longest since the 1998-99 season.

David, XULA's season scoring leader, reached double figures for the first time in five games and sent the game into overtime with a basket with 20 seconds remaining. Jackson's 3-point play at 1:50 of overtime put the Gold Rush ahead to stay, 66-65.

Wesley Pluviose-Philip scored 14 points to tie a career high, grabbed a season-high-tying nine rebounds and blocked two shots for XULA. Leland Alexander had his second double-double of the season, 10 points and 11 rebounds, and freshman point guard Donovan Armstrong had eight assists and no turnovers in 38 minutes.

Andravious Smith had 29 points and 12 rebounds for the Bulldogs (5-7, 0-1), Anfernee Parker scored 20, and Jarmell Anderson had 10 assists.

Tougaloo entered the game averaging 82 points, but XULA limited the Bulldogs to 59 in regulation. The Gold Rush outshot Tougaloo 49 to 33.3 percent from the floor. In overtime XULA made 11-of-15 free throws, a significant improvement from 14-of-25 in regulation.

XULA beat Tougaloo for the 12th consecutive time. The Gold Rush eliminated the Bulldogs in double overtime in the opening round of the GCAC Tournament last season.

XULA's home stand will continue with a 7 p.m. game Friday against NCAA Division III's Rust and a 7:30 p.m. game Jan. 16 against GCAC and city rival SUNO.

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Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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The Sioux Falls Storm sign rookie QB Drew Powell (Livingstone)

SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota -- The Sioux Falls Storm is thrilled to announce the signings of quarterback Lorenzo Brown and rookie quarterback Drew Powell for the Storm in 2017.

Brown (6'0, 205lbs) will be entering his seventh season with the Sioux Falls Storm. He is a versatile player both through the air and on the ground. During the 2016 season, Lorenzo completed 183 passes out of 295 attempts for 2,428 yards and 56 touchdowns. He also rushed 152 times for 724 yards earning 21 rushing touchdowns. Brown earned the United Bowl Most Valuable Player and made the IFL's Honorable Mention list during the 2016 season.

Powell (6'3, 220) was a four-year starter for Livingstone College.  He tallied 10,861 total yards (conference record), 732 career completions (conference record), 1,312 career attempts (conference record), and 100 total touchdowns (school record) during his collegiate career. Drew was the 2015 Hero Sports D2 Offensive Player of the Year, the 2015 Conference Player of the Year and received 2015 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) First Team quarterback honors.

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TSU Lady Tigers Come Back to Defeat Skyhawks, 85-80, in O.T.

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  -- After trailing by double-digits, the Tennessee State University women’s basketball team fought back to defeat UT Martin, 85-80, in overtime Saturday night in the Gentry Center.

TSU (6-7, 1-2 OVC) trailed by as many 14 points heading into the fourth quarter before outscoring UTM (4-13, 1-3 OVC) 30-18 in the final frame. The Lady Tigers also outscored the Skyhawks 13-8 in the extra period to claim the victory.

Tia Wooten led TSU with a career-high 21 points while I’mani Davis and Kaliya Griffin each tallied 20 points. Davis’ 20-point performance lifted her to her 1,000th career point. Jayda Johnson finished the game with a double-double of 14 points and 13 rebounds.

UTM had four players in double-digits led by Kendall Spray’s 29 points. Myah Taylor (13), Emanye Robertson (12) and Ansley Eubank also notched double-figures for the visitors.

Five quick points by UT Martin got the game started but Tennessee State maintained its composure and pulled even a few plays later. The score was a close, 8-7, in favor of UT Martin and both teams were shooting 43 percent from field at the first media timeout

Out of the break, however, TSU took control. The home team fired off nine unanswered points to capture the lead, 16-8. The Lady Tiger defense held the Skyhawks scoreless for the last seven and a half minutes of the quarter.



A steal followed by an old fashioned three-point play by Diamond Beatty opened the second frame and gave TSU a double-digit advantage.

The Lady Tigers were up, 29-18, when the Skyhawks, used a 7-2 run to cut TSU’s lead down to 31-25 just before the half.

The visiting team did not waste time erasing the deficit in the second half and pulled to within one shortly before taking the lead.

TSU moved back on top, 39-37, when Tia Wooten connected in the paint, got fouled then made the ensuing free-throw.

The Lady Tigers then suffered through a scoring drought that saw them fall behind, 45-39. At the 1:02 mark, the Skyhawks extended their advantage to, 50-40 before carrying a 54-42 edge into the final stanza. The Lady Tigers were outscored, 29-11, in the third quarter and committed nine turnovers.

In the fourth frame, the Lady Tigers came out with a sense of urgency and used timely buckets and defensive pressure to pull within five with just two minutes ticked off the clock.

A break-away lay-up by Tia Wooten closed the gap to three points, 57-54 and forced a UTM timeout.

With 4:59 left to play, a three-point bomb from the top of the key by Kaliya Griffin made the score, 61-59, in favor of the home team.

In a fiercely contested back-and-forth battle, the score was knotted 65-65 with 2:06 on the clock.

With the shot clock winding down and TSU trailing, 68-67, Kaliya Griffin drained a three-pointer to put TSU on top, 69-68 with 46.3 seconds remaining.

On the next possession, UTM’s two shot attempts were off the mark and were forced to foul.

Jayda Johnson stepped up to make two clutch free-throws but the Skyhawks’ Kendall Spray answered with a three-pointer on the next possession. She was also fouled on the attempt and made the free-throw to put UTM up, 72-71, with 21.7 seconds remaining.

On the next play, Kaliya Griffin was fouled attempting to go the basket and made one of two to tie the game 72-72. UTM missed its final two shot attempts and the game went into overtime.

In the extra period, TSU took advantage of consecutive turnovers by UTM and I’mani Davis scored on back-to-back layups. TSU managed to build a 78-72 lead but UTM clawed back to within three.

With 27.9 seconds remaining, TSU was up, 82-80, and UTM was once again forced to foul. This time Kaliya Griffin made both to give TSU an 84-80 edge with 24.6 on the clock.

TSU got a crucial defensive stop on the next trip down the floor then sealed the win with another made free-throw.

Both teams shot at least 40 percent from the field and committed 28 turnovers in the contest. TSU held the advantage in points scored in the paint, 50-18, second chance points, 21-6, and bench points, 26-7.

Tennessee State returns to action on Wednesday, Jan.11 at home versus Morehead State. Game time is set for 6 p.m. in the Gentry Center.

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PHOTO GALLERY

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TSU Tigers Take Down UT Martin, 76-65; McCall Reaches 1,000

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Balanced scoring carried the Tennessee State men’s basketball team to a 76-65 win over UT Martin at the Gentry Center on Saturday night in Ohio Valley Conference action.

Delano Spencer (Atlanta, Ga.) led TSU (11-5, 2-1 OVC) with a career-high 19 points as Tahjere McCall (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Wayne Martin (Brooklyn, N.Y.) added 17 points apiece.

UT Martin (11-8, 1-3 OVC) led by as many as 12 points in the first half and had a 30-26 halftime edge before the Tigers outscored the Skyhawks by a 50-35 margin in the second half.

McCall, who played his first two collegiate seasons at Niagara, scored his 1,000th career Division I point on the night. The redshirt senior scored 330 points at Niagara and now has 683 for TSU for a total of 1,013 points. McCall had another all-around strong game with 17 points and seven rebounds while tying a career high with eight assists.

The Tigers dug themselves a 12-point hole just over 11 minutes into the game with the Skyhawks holding a 21-9 advantage. TSU clawed back into the game, cutting the deficit to single digits on a layup from Jordan Reed (Philadelphia, Pa.).

Tennessee State continued to battle, closing the half on a 7-0 run to trim UT Martin’s lead down to 30-26 at halftime.

Out of the break, TSU was able to take the lead less than two minutes into the half thanks to a pair of jumpers from Darreon Reddick (Belleville, Ill.). A 14-3 run gave the Tigers a double-digit advantage at 49-38 with 12:13 showing on the second half clock.

TSU would go on to lead by as many as 12 points on two occasions later in the half.

UT Martin closed the gap to five points with 6:34 remaining, but the Tigers regained their footing and stretched the advantage up to 11 in the last four minutes.

TSU forced 15 turnovers on the night and shot 48.3 percent (28-for-58) on the offensive end.

Fatodd Lewis paced the UT Martin offense with 11 points on the night.

TSU returns to action on Thursday, Jan. 12, with a road test at Eastern Kentucky.



GAME NOTES: Redshirt senior Tahjere McCall (Philadelphia, Pa.) scored his 1,000th career point on a dunk with 6:34 left in the first half. McCall scored 330 in two seasons while playing for Niagara before transferring to TSU… TSU is now 33-25 in the all-time series versus UT Martin… The win snapped UT Martin’s three-game winning streak in the series… Third-year Head Coach Dana Ford has now beaten the 11 other OVC teams.

TSU Head Coach Dana Ford

“It is a good win for us. I have a lot of respect for that program and what they have been able to do the last two plus years now. I think over the last two years ourselves and them have the most wins in the OVC. I thought our players did a really good job of attacking the zone in the second half not so much in the beginning. If we are going to win we have to get stops and rebound and I thought in the second half we did a much better job. We were down by seven on the glass at half time and we finished the game plus two. That is our standard and that’s what we are going to win with. We are going to live and die with defense and rebounding.”
- Opening Statement

“I thought he was awesome and that’s why he started the second half. He struggled with his shot a little bit this year; but he made a big shot for us late in the half. He is a really good player, he puts a lot of pressure on himself. We love him to death. He makes us a better team. It is a long season, this second half of the season hopefully he steps up and plays well for us every game. We know he is capable of it. He is really just finding his way.”
- On the Play of Armani Chaney

“His number one role is leadership. If he does not lead us then we are not going anywhere. He had a couple of games there where he was not being a good leader. Those are two games we did not win. The last two games he has really been a leader for us. Tonight we needed him to be a play maker, and give us a spark in that zone. The basketball part is easy. He can do that every day of the week. It is the mental things the leadership, his mindset, his commitment to do it every single day. Those are the things that can make him a great player.”
- On Tahjere McCall’s Role

“We brought him here to make some shots. Last year we had a kid by the name of Marcus Roper to make shots. This year that is supposed to be Delano Spencer. He does not have the luxury that Rope had last year of being in the program for a year, and what we want, and how to get it done. It has taken him a little time to do that. This is like his third or fourth game hitting like five threes. He makes us a better team. He is a guy that can get us 12 to 13 points off the bench.”
- On the Play of Delano Spencer

“He was awesome tonight. It was a total team effort and his game was the epitome of that. I do not think he scored a basket but he helped on their guards. He rebounded, he defended, he deflected balls, he protected the basket, he got loose balls, he handled the ball against the press. It was just a total team effort. When I told him he was not starting the second half he just kept on doing what he does. That speaks to the character of the kid and that is why we won tonight.”
- On the Play of Christian Mekowulu

Sophomore, Armani Chaney
“I was just trying to be very aggressive for the team. They started off pretty hot, so I was just trying to get everybody involved and knock down the open shot. I am kind of a quick pace guard. I like to get into transition a lot, so that is how we normally go.”
- On His Spark to the Team



Redshirt Senior, Tahjere McCall
“I love playing with him. When he comes in, it brings a different pace. He is good in traffic and does great getting in cracks. And with their zone, it is a really good zone, it is tough to penetrate because they fly around and match up so well. When he came in, it allowed me to get off the ball and cut with him. He is a great passer. Playing with him really opens up the passing lanes. We just know we have to cut and get open and he will find us.”
- On Armani Chaney’s Play

“I wish I could put a price on it. When you have shooters like (Delano Spencer), Darreon (Reddick), Armani (Chaney); Ken’Darrius (Hamilton) didn’t get to shoot that much today, but when you have shooters knocking down shots it is hard to stay in a zone. So, you need people to extend the zone so the people that slash have a chance to get in cracks and find our way. Delano was big for us today, as he has been all year. It is always somebody different each game. We just need to keep having a team effort.”
- On the Play of Delano Spencer

“Darreon (Reddick) is more than just a shooter. When he picked his spots, we weren’t surprised. We expect that out of him. When he’s playing like that, it is pretty hard to stop everybody on our team, because everybody brings something different. So when you have to stop a shooter that can also drive, it is pretty hard to stay in front of him.”
- On the Play of Darreon Reddick

“It means a lot. Many people do not get to do that, so it just goes to show how much my teammates mean to me. It was my 1,000th point, but we celebrate together. Especially here at Tennessee State with the family I have grown to love and they love me. It’s priceless.”
- On Scoring his 1,000th Career Point

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TSU Lady Tigers pull away late in win at Prairie View A&M

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – Texas Southern University's Lady Tigers scored 11 of the game's final 15 points during the last two minutes of Saturday's contest at Prairie View A&M to defeat the Lady Panthers 70-62.

Joyce Kennerson scored a game-high 25 points and handed out three assists and four steals to lead the Lady Tigers (9-5), who improved to 3-0 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play. Kennerson shot 7-of-10 from the floor and made nine out of her 10 free throw attempts.

Kaitlyn Palmer scored 14 points and handed out four assists for Texas Southern, while Artavia Ford scored 12 points and blocked two shots for the Lady Tigers.

Alexus Parker scored a game-high 22 points for Prairie View A&M (5-10, 0-3 SWAC).

Texas Southern trailed by as many as seven points early in the second half, but scored 13 unanswered points between the 9:24 and 5:00 marks of the third quarter to take a six-point lead. Palmer scored seven points during that run, including one of her two 3-pointers.

The teams battled back-and-forth during a forth period that saw five lead changes before Ford knocked down a layup off a Kennerson pass with 52 seconds remaining to give TSU a four-point lead. The Lady Panthers would get no closer as the Texas Southern sealed the game at the free throw line.

Kennerson is averaging 24.0 points per game over the course of TSU's three conference games. The Lady Tigers claimed their fourth consecutive win over Prairie View A&M dating back to the 2014-15 season.

The Lady Tigers play their conference home opener next Saturday when they host Grambling State. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

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TSU Tigers overcome second-half deficit in 87-82 win at Prairie View A&M

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- The Texas Southern University Tigers erased a 10-point halftime deficit Saturday as they scored 56 in the second half en route to an 87-82 win at Prairie View A&M.

Zach Lofton scored a team-high 21 points to lead four TSU players scoring in double figures. The Tigers (7-9) improved to 3-0 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play.

Jalan McCloud came off the TSU bench to score 16 points, which included a 12-for-12 showing at the free throw line. Kevin Scott and Marvin Jones scored 15 points apiece for the Tigers.

Tevin Bellinger scored a game-high 24 points to lead Prairie View A&M (3-14, 0-3 SWAC). Zachary Hamilton chipped in 13 points for the Panthers.

The visiting Tigers trailed 41-31 at halftime but wasted no time chipping away at the deficit as they scored seven unanswered points in the first two minutes of the second time. Jones ignited the run with five points in the first 44 seconds of the half.

TSU seized momentum later in the half during a 15-4 run between the 16:57 and 12:45 marks of the period. Scott scored seven points during the run, which was highlighted by back-to-back 3-pointers from him and Tyree Bynum.

A 10-1 TSU run between the 11:58 and 9:04 marks of the half gave the Tigers a 12-point lead, their largest of the game. Stephan Bennett capped the run with a layup while getting fouled, and then hit the subsequent free throw to stretch TSU's lead to 68-56.

The Tigers held a seven-point lead with barely three and a half minutes remaining in the game, but PVAMU fought back with a 6-1 run to cut the visitors' advantage to 79-77. A steal and fast-break layup by Bellinger made it a one-possession game.

The Panthers then forced another turnover to give themselves a chance to tie, but a steal and subsequent pair of free throws by McCloud stretched TSU's lead back to four with 1:22 left to play. The Tigers sealed the victory at the free throw line, while the Panthers would not get closer than five points for the rest of the contest.

After opening the season with 16 consecutive road games, the Tigers make their home debut Saturday when they host Grambling State. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

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Kings of FCS! James Madison Tops Youngstown State 28-14 for 2nd Football National Championship

Attendance: 14,423 + National TV audience 

FRISCO, Texas - James Madison held Youngstown State to 292 total yards on Saturday afternoon and rolled to a 28-14 victory, as the Dukes captured the FCS 2016 NCAA Division I Football Championship, the second title in program history.

The Dukes, who finished the season 14-1 and undefeated against FCS foes, saw their defensive line dominate from start to finish, holding the Penguins (12-4) to just 21 rushing yards after YSU entered the contest averaging 257.5 yards on the ground.

Senior linebacker Gage Steele paced an all-around dominant performance by the JMU defense, racking up six tackles, including five solo stops, a pair of sacks and a pass breakup as the Dukes forced a pair of crucial turnovers in the third quarter to put the game away.

No defensive player had more tackles for the Dukes than junior defensive back Jordan Brown's seven, but nine different players had at least three, while sophomore defensive back Curtis Oliver picked off his second pass of the season and sophomore Darrious Carter scooped up a fumble.

Senior running back Khalid Abdullah ended his career in style, rushing 26 times for 101 yards and a pair of scores for an afternoon that put him atop the JMU record books in career touchdowns, single-season touchdowns and single-season rushing yards.

The Dukes needed just 12 passes to take home the trophy, as junior quarterback Bryan Schor went 7-of-12 for 112 yards with a pair of first-quarter touchdowns to junior tight end Jonathan Kloosterman and senior wide receiver Rashard Davis.

JMU put the Penguins in an early hole, as Abdullah stretched the lead to 21-0 on a 1-yard touchdown plunge with 8:17 to play before halftime, though YSU responded with a touchdown of its own less than five minutes later.

Abdullah scored from two yards out with 10:10 to play in the third quarter for an advantage that proved to be all the Dukes' defense needed, as Youngstown State managed just one more scoring drive that ended with 10 seconds left before the final whistle.

TITLE HISTORY
JMU captured its second NCAA Division I Championship in program history, joining the 2004 team that defeated Montana 31-21 in Chattanooga. The Dukes are the eighth FCS program to earn multiple national titles and the first ever with multiple in the Colonial Athletic Association. JMU ended the five-year national-title run by North Dakota State and became the first CAA national champion since Villanova in 2009.

HOUSTON'S HEIGHTS
Head Coach Mike Houston earned his first career national championship, having finished runner-up in the NCAA Division II title game at Lenoir-Rhyne in 2013. Houston improved to 5-1 all-time in the FCS playoffs, 4-0 at JMU thanks to the 2016 run.

FINAL NUMBERS
JMU won its 12th game in a row for the longest active streak in FCS football and second-longest in all of Division I behind Alabama (26)
JMU's 14-1 overall record included a perfect 14-0 mark against FCS opponents and set a new school record for victories
JMU finished as the nation's leader in scoring margin at +25.5 points per game, second in points per game (46.7) and 16th in points allowed (21.2)
JMU went 6-0 vs. ranked opponents this season, all during the last seven contests

CLIMBING THE CHARTS
Abdullah became JMU's single-season rushing record holder with 1,809 yards, passing record-holder Rodney Landers (1,770 in 2008).
Abdullah increased his school records for season (22) and career (41) rushing touchdowns as well as his records for combined rushing and receiving touchdowns for season (25) and career (45)
Abdullah is also JMU's season (150) and career (270) record holder for scoring
Schor climbed to eighth in career total offense with 4,697 yards
Schor tied for fifth in career touchdown passes with 35
JMU set CAA records for single-season rushing offense (4,125), total offense (7,612) and first downs (380)

DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS
JMU finished the season 16th nationally in points allowed after ranking 77th in 2015 in that category. In addition to allowing 21.2 points per game, the Dukes limited opponents to 16.4 points per game over the last eight games and 15 per game in the playoffs, all against ranked teams. Also, 21 of the 60 postseason points allowed came in the final two minutes of games in which the outcome was already decided.

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Howard University World-Class Brand Sealed the Deal in QB Caylin Newton Football Commitment

His father says strength of campus culture and academics played into the decision

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In true signal-caller fashion, Caylin Newton opted to call his own play — and break his own news, on Twitter, no less.

On Jan. 5, Cam Newton’s little brother announced to the world that he’s taking his talents to Washington, D.C., to attend Howard University — and, presumably, play quarterback for the Bison.

“The [recruiting] process started before the season,” former Howard coach Gary Harrell told The Undefeated. “Caylin’s father [Cecil Newton Sr.] wanted something different for him. He could have gone anywhere in the country, and they could have paid his tuition anywhere. But they wanted an HBCU [historically black college or university], and they figured if it’s going to be an HBCU, why not the school that is considered to be the highest of all HBCUs.”



Having been down the recruitment road before with Cam, who was drafted as the first overall pick by the Panthers in the 2011 NFL draft, the Newtons wanted no parts of a drawn-out process.

“We’re happy to be Bison,” Cecil Newton Sr. told The Undefeated. “Howard was a great institution before we got here. We’re all on board – Cam, my oldest son, Cecil Jr., the whole family. We’re all in this together.”

Football alone was not the only factor that made this decision easy, Newton Sr. noted. “It was a combination of campus culture, strong academics, as well as an opportunity to play football,” said Newton Sr., an alumnus of Savannah State.

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Ex-Florida 4-Star QB Treon Harris transferring to Tennessee State

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Former Florida quarterback Treon Harris visited Tennessee State during the fall and has decided to continue his career with the Tigers.

Harris is expected to enroll at TSU on Monday and participate in spring practice, coach Rod Reed said....

Harris was suspended three times at Florida and was not enrolled in school in the fall. He will be eligible in the fall and has two years of eligibility remaining.

Harris, a 5-foot-11, 201-pound Miami native, started In six games at Florida in 2014 and nine in 2015.

In two seasons he completed 174 of 346 passes for 2,695 yards with 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

He also rushed for 570 yards and three TDs.

"Back during the fall when (Harris) didn't return to Florida and we were dealing with some injuries at quarterback and needed a guy that could come in, we started a conversion with him," Reed said. "He came up and visited for our game against Eastern Kentucky and liked what he saw. We stayed in contact after that."



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Former Mississippi State 4-Star QB Elijah Staley Commits to Morgan State Bears

Elijah Staley ‏@ES14_  Jan 2

I have officially committed to Morgan State university & am very excited to go play for @CoachFredT ! #GoBears @MsuBearFootball

3-Star QB Juwan Adams' transfer leaves Jackson State in a bind

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Even before quarterback Juwan Adams decided to transfer following his freshman season at Jackson State, the Tigers had question marks on the offensive side of the football.

When they couldn’t get a push up front, which was all too often for a run-first offense, they struggled to score. A lot of that had to do with injuries to key personnel, but it was also the result of pedestrian quarterback play.

Tony Hughes and his staff hoped that Adams — a three-star recruit from North Pike and the crown jewel of their first recruiting class — was going to change that. That hope disappeared earlier this week with the freshman’s decision to transfer to Southwest Community College.

“He let us know Tuesday that he had decided to transfer,” Hughes said. “We’re disappointed, but we know he’s doing what he feels is best for him and his family at this point in time.”

Adams has not commented publicly and did not respond to multiple calls and texts requesting comment for this story, leaving us to speculate on the reasons behind his decision to leave.

He'll rejoin his former high school teammate Javian Jackson, who originally signed with Jackson State before landing at Southwest.

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