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NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana is No. 2 in the NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll announced Tuesday.
It's the highest-ever preseason ranking by a XULA tennis team, male or female. The Gold Rush, 17-8 a year ago, were No. 2 in the 2016 postseason poll after becoming the first XULA team in any sport to reach the championship round of an NAIA national tournament. The Gold Rush lost the final 5-2 to Georgia Gwinnett at Mobile, Ala.
XULA has the longest active streak of NAIA men's tennis top-25 appearances, 78. The streak began April 4, 2007. The Gold Rush ascended to the top of the active-streak list after Auburn Montgomery departed the NAIA this past summer.
Georgia Gwinnett, winner of the last three NAIA team titles, is a unanimous choice for No. 1. The Gold Rush and the Grizzlies will meet Feb. 19 at GGC's Grizzly Invitational.
The XULA men will play their first dual matches of the spring semester Saturday at NCAA Division I Louisiana-Lafayette. The Gold Rush and Ragin' Cajuns will play at 10 a.m. and a second time at 2 p.m. The home opener will start at noon Sunday at XULA Tennis Center against city rival Loyola, which received poll votes.
The next top 25 will be announced Feb. 14. NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses — records from previous season)
Rank Team Record Points Last
1 Georgia Gwinnett (13) 26-0 343 1 2 Xavier 17-8 332 2
3 Lindsey Wilson 17-4 321 3
4 Keiser 20-4 305 7
5 Northwestern Ohio 16-4 304 tie-5
6 Coastal Georgia 13-4 287 8
7 William Carey 13-8 275 9
8 Westmont 10-9 261 13
9 Cardinal Stritch 17-8 242 12
10 San Diego Christian 9-3 234 NR
11 Aquinas 23-8 226 10
12 Cumberlands 13-8 216 14
13 Lewis-Clark State 12-10 206 11
14 Olivet Nazarene 15-9 195 16
15 Warner 16-5 189 15
16 Reinhardt 14-4 172 18
17 McPherson 13-6 165 17
18 William Woods 8-8 162 NR
19 Mobile 11-8 146 19
20 Campbellsville 14-11 135 23
21 Bethany (Kan.) 13-4 114 20
22 Middle Georgia 11-9 111 21
23 Marian (Ind.) 16-10 92 RV
24 Tennessee Wesleyan 18-5 85 24
25 Cumberland 8-9 76 RV
Dropped from rankings: No. 4 Dalton State, No. 5 (tie) Auburn Montgomery, No. 22 Pikeville, No. 25 IU Southeast
NORFOLK, Virginia – Norfolk State head football coach Latrell Scott announced his team's 2017 football schedule on Wednesday, a slate that includes six home games for the first time since 2013 and a road game at defending FCS national champion James Madison.
In addition to four MEAC home games, the Spartans also have home dates with Virginia State in the Labor Day Classic and a return game against in-state foe the College of William & Mary. Those two non-conference games kick off NSU's 2017 slate. VSU returns to the Spartans' schedule as the teams renew their Labor Day Classic rivalry at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 2. The old CIAA rivals played every Labor Day weekend from 1991-2009, then again from 2011-12. The game will also be Scott's first against a VSU program which he led from 2013-14, and the 51st meeting all-time between the programs.
The matchup with William & Mary kicks off at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9. The teams played on Sept. 17 of last season in Williamsburg, with the Tribe coming away with a 35-10 victory. The 2017 meeting is the seventh all-time between the two schools. 2017 NSU Football Schedule
Date
Opponent
Location
Time/Result
9/2/2017
Virginia State (Labor Day Classic)
Norfolk, Va.
6 p.m.
9/9/2017
William & Mary
Norfolk, Va.
6 p.m.
9/16/2017
James Madison
Harrisonburg, Va.
TBA
9/23/2017
*
Delaware State
Dover, Del.
TBA
10/7/2017
*
Florida A&M
Norfolk, Va.
2 p.m.
10/14/2017
*
Hampton (Battle of the Bay)
Norfolk, Va.
2 p.m.
10/21/2017
*
North Carolina Central
Durham, N.C.
TBA
10/28/2017
*
Savannah State (Homecoming)
Norfolk, Va.
2 p.m.
11/4/2017
*
North Carolina A&T (Senior Day)
Norfolk, Va.
1 p.m.
11/11/2017
*
Howard
Washington, D.C.
TBA
11/18/2017
*
Morgan State
Baltimore, Md.
TBA
NSU concludes its non-conference schedule with the program's first-ever meeting with James Madison. The game will be played in Harrisonburg on Sept. 16. The Dukes went 14-1 en route to the Division I FCS national championship this past season. Scott served as an assistant coach at JMU in 2012.
"We are excited about our non-conference schedule," Scott said. "Bringing back our old rival for the Labor Day Classic is a great way for our team and our fans to start the season. Then playing one of the top CAA programs in William & Mary, and the defending national champion in JMU, should be great tests for our team and will prepare us for our conference season."
NSU and Delaware State open their respective MEAC schedules on Sept. 23 in Dover. The Hornets return to the Spartans' schedule this season after two years off in the league's unbalanced schedule.
After a bye week on Sept. 30, NSU begins October with two consecutive home games. NSU hosts Florida A&M – which also returns to the Spartans' schedule after two years off – on Oct. 7 at Dick Price Stadium. The following week, the Spartans host Hampton in the Battle of the Bay on Saturday, Oct. 14. Both games kick off at 2 p.m.
The Spartans' lone road game in October is at MEAC champion North Carolina Central on Oct. 21. That game is actually the only road contest in a five-game span for the Spartans, who host Savannah State for Homecoming on Oct. 28 at 2 p.m. and North Carolina A&T on Nov. 4 at 1 p.m. for Senior Day.
NSU concludes the year on the road for the fourth straight season. After finishing the 2016 season with three straight road contests, the Spartans wrap up 2017 with two consecutive road dates – at Howard on Nov. 11, and at Morgan State on Nov. 18.
"The MEAC schedule is always difficult because there are no easy wins," Scott said. "But we expect our players will be up to the challenge." Matt Michalec, Asst. AD/Communications NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
DURHAM, North Carolina – With three straight conference championships and a trip to the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl to build on, North Carolina Central University's 2017 schedule features three newcomers, two Triangle area foes and six home games inside O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium.
The 2016 Eagles collected the most wins in the program's Division I era with a 9-3 overall record and an unbeaten 8-0 mark in league play, finishing the season as the 19th ranked team in the FCS Coaches Poll. NCCU defeated nationally-ranked North Carolina A&T to capture the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championship and earn the league's bid to the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
NCCU broke the school's single-season record with 4,614 yards of total offense, averaging 384.5 total yards per game, and became the second-highest scoring team in school history with 347 points. The Eagles made more history by becoming the first NCCU football team to win a third consecutive conference championship, and are riding a 15-game win streak against MEAC teams entering the 2017 campaign.
NCCU kicks off the 2017 season on Sept. 2 against Durham neighbor Duke University in the Bull City Gridiron Classic. The Blue Devils have won all five contests in the series with the Eagles that started in 2009, including last year's 49-6 outcome.
The Eagles' first home game is on Sept. 9 versus Shaw, a former Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) opponent, in the "Prince Hall Shriners Diabetes Classic" at 6 p.m. inside O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium. NCCU holds a 30-8-1 series advantage over the Bears. The Eagles own a 20-game win streak versus Shaw, including 21-12 victory in the last meeting on Sept. 9, 2006 in Durham. Shaw's last win in the series was a 20-0 shutout on Nov. 19, 1949. Second-year Shaw head coach Adrian Jones is a Durham, North Carolina native and former NCCU football student-athlete and coach.
Following a bye week, NCCU will begin its quest for a fourth consecutive MEAC title by hosting South Carolina State on Sept. 23 at 4 p.m. The Eagles last played the Bulldogs in 2014, resulting in a 48-35 NCCU road victory. The last time S.C. State visited O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium was in 2013. The Bulldogs lead the series 12-10 since the first match-up in 1927.
The Eagles then leave Durham for the first time with back-to-back road games, first visiting the Sunshine State for a Sept. 30 clash against Florida A&M. The Rattlers lead the series 6-3-1, but the Eagles have won the last two outings, including last year's 17-13 victory played in treacherous weather conditions during Hurricane Matthew.
NCCU travels to the nation's capital to challenge Howard on Oct. 7. The Eagles have downed the Bison in five straight contests to take an 11-9-1 advantage in the series, including last season's 30-21 triumph.
The Eagles return to the Bull City for three consecutive home games, starting with a non-conference match-up with Gardner-Webb of the Big South Conference on Oct. 14 at 2 p.m. NCCU and the Runnin' Bulldogs have met four times, from 1996-99, with each winning on the road for a 2-2 series tie. Gardner-Webb won the last contest 16-0 on Sept. 11, 1999.
NCCU returns to MEAC action by hosting Norfolk State on Oct. 21 at 2 p.m. The Eagles edged the Spartans 34-31 in Virginia last season for their fourth straight win over NSU to improve their series advantage to 9-5.
The Eagles wrap up a three-game home stand by celebrating homecoming with a confrontation against Delaware State on Oct. 28 at 2 p.m. NCCU has won eight of the last nine meetings against the Hornets, including four in-a-row, to improve its series lead over DSU to 17-6. The Eagles also boast a record of 62-19-2 (.759 winning percentage) on homecoming since 1931.
Hampton returns to the NCCU schedule for the first time since 2014 in a Nov. 4 showdown in Virginia. The Pirates lead the series 18-6 since the teams first met in 1924. Hampton has won eight of the past 10 meetings, but NCCU took the last meeting 47-13 in Durham.
NCCU will salute its seniors on Nov. 11 prior to a 2 p.m. kickoff against Bethune-Cookman in the final home game of the season. The Eagles snapped a six-game losing skid to the Wildcats with a 31-14 win in Daytona Beach last year.
The Eagles close out the 2017 regular season with the 89th meeting against rival North Carolina A&T on Nov. 18 in Greensboro. In each of the last three seasons, NCCU wrapped up the campaign with wins over the nationally-ranked Aggies with the conference title on the line. Last year's 42-21 victory propelled the Eagles to the second annual Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl.
The Eagles look to make a return trip to the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl to help christen the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta against the champion from the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
NCCU will hold its spring football game on Saturday, April 22 at 1 p.m. inside O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium.
Details about NCCU football season tickets will be announced on Friday, Jan. 27.
NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
SALEM, Virginia -- There is a chance the CIAA could sign a three-year deal with Salem, Virginia for the city to host its football championship game.
While no announcement has been made yet by the CIAA, the city and the conference have been in talks.
“We did meet with Salem representatives a couple of weeks ago to recap the 2016 football championship and discuss future opportunities,” Bri Funte, an assistant commissioner in the CIAA who runs strategic communication, said in an e-mail. “However, there is no currently signed agreement.”
The championship game was moved out of Durham a month before last November’s game because of the controversy surrounding the HB2 law. The CIAA was impressed with the way the game went at the Salem Football Stadium, which has a scenic view, artificial turf, and more than enough parking.
After the game, won by Winston-Salem State 43-33 over Bowie State, commissioner Jacqie McWilliams of the CIAA and administrators from both schools raved about the facilities.
JACKSON, Mississippi -- Jackson State coach Tony Hughes and his staff put together another productive weekend as they build their 2017 recruiting class.
After weeks of bringing in recruits on the defensive side of the football, Jackson State is starting to get commitments from skill position players on offense. After hosting 20 recruits for official visits over the weekend Hughes added nine more prospects to his list of commitments Sunday, which included two quarterbacks, two receivers, two tailbacks, two defensive backs and a tight end.
The quarterbacks —Niceville (Fla.) prospect Jeff Toney and Harrison Central star Tavis Williams — each provide a different skill set. Toney, a 6-foot-6, 225-pound pro-style quarterback is more of a thrower and Williams, a 6-2, 190-pound dual-threat signal caller, is a guy that hurt opposing teams with his ability to run as he did with his arm.
Toney flew under the radar a bit, but was at one point being heavily recruited by Mississippi State. He completed 67.5 percent of his passes for 2,657 yards with 29 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 11 games as a senior. He also ran for four touchdowns but managed just 51 yards on 58 carries.
ATLANTA, Georgia -- Eric Weems became the fourth former Bethune-Cookman football player to advance to the Super Bowl Sunday when the Atlanta Falcons beat the Green Bay Packers 44-21 in the NFC championship game. Weems joins Larry Little (Super Bowls VI, VIII and VIII), Maulty Moore (Super Bowl VII) and Nick Collins (Super Bowl XLV) as Wildcats who have played for an NFL championship. Little and Moore played the Miami Dolphins' undefeated team of 1972 that defeated the Washington Redskins, and Little went on to win his second Super Bowl the following year when the Dolphins repeated with a win over the Minnesota Vikings.Collins had an interception return for a touchdown in the Green Bay Packers' 31-25 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2011.
Weems, the former Seabreeze Sandcrab and Wildcat star in his 10th NFL season is averaging 23 yards per kickoff return and 11.4 yards per punt return, including a 73-yarder against Oakland earlier in the season. On Sunday, he contributed one kickoff return for 23 yards and a punt return for 14 for the Falcons, who got 378 yards and four touchdown passes from Matt Ryan.D His Wildcat legacy includes 178 receptions, 2,533 receiving yards, a combined 24 touchdowns, a four-touchdown game against Savannah State in his 2003 debut, and a game-winning touchdown against Florida A&M in the 2006 Florida Classic. Rookie #30 Deji Olatoye, a 25-year old 6-1/200 cornerback and former Aggie from North Carolina A&T State University will also be making the trip as a Falcons active roster player. Olatoye was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Baltimore Ravens. Super Bowl LI is slated for February 5th in Houston. BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Florida -- Palm Beach County William T. Dwyer High School linebacker Emmanuel Yisrael announced his commitment to Florida A&M University Rattlers on Sunday. Yisrael announced his intentions via Twitter.
Yisrael, who helped carry Dwyer to the District 13-7A championship and a berth in the regional semifinals, is No. 41-ranked player on the Palm Beach Post’s Class of 2017 Big Board. Joining Yisrael to the Rattlers signing party is No. 28-ranked offensive lineman Antawn Lewis, who stated on this Twitter account:
"I would like to thank all the coaches that recruited me and gave me the opportunity to play at their school. With that being said I've talked it over with my mom and I would like to say that I have verbally committed to Florida A&M University."
Blessed to be apart of the rattler family I have verbally committed to famu #strike17#gorattlers. Photo: FAMU Head Coach Alex Wood and Recruit Emmanuel Yisrael.
NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana pulled away in the fourth quarter Saturday to earn a 59-46 women's basketball victory against Edward Waters.
The Gold Nuggets (12-6, 3-0 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference) have won six straight and nine of their last 10 games.
XULA gained six turnovers during a 13-1 surge that extended its lead from 40-38 to 53-39 with 3:37 remaining. The Lady Tigers (15-5, 3-2) never got closer than nine points thereafter.
Jayla Nichols, a midterm transfer who played her first game with the Gold Nuggets Monday, led XULA in scoring for the second consecutive game. Nichols had 10 points and a game-high nine rebounds. Her seven offensive rebounds are the most in a game by a XULA player this season.
Gina Smith scored nine points for XULA, Ireyon Keith had eight points and three steals, and Maya Trench produced seven points, five assists, five steals and one turnover in a team-best 34 minutes.
Bianca Thornton had 12 points and six rebounds for Edward Waters, and Jermisha Collins scored nine. Thornton, who entered the game No. 3 in the NAIA in 3-pointers made per game, was 1-of-6 from behind the arc.
XULA led 27-21 at halftime. A Mikayla Bates basket at 6:33 of the third quarter put the Gold Nuggets ahead to stay, 29-28.
Edward Waters outshot XULA 41.5 to 30.6 percent from the floor, but the Gold Nuggets were plus-14 in turnovers and plus-7 in rebounds. XULA made 19-of-26 to free throws to the Lady Tigers' 11-of-19. Edward Waters committed 30 turnovers, its most in a game since November 2014.
XULA will travel to Little Rock, Ark., to play GCAC opponent Philander Smith at 5:30 p.m. Monday. Then the Gold Nuggets will return home to face Dillard in the Crosstown Classic at 3 p.m. Saturday at XULA's Convocation Center. BOX SCORE
NEW ORLEANS — Freshman guards Mike Williams and Donovan Armstrong keyed a second-half rally Saturday that lifted Xavier University of Louisiana to a 72-69 men's basketball victory against Edward Waters.
The Gold Rush (7-11, 3-0 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference) have a season-best four-game win streak.
Williams scored all his points midway through the second half — 3-pointers on consecutive possessions that erased an Edward Waters lead. Williams' second trey, at 10:43, put XULA ahead to stay at 53-51.
Armstrong scored a game- and career-best 19 points, 14 in the second half. Armstrong had five assists and one turnover in 32 minutes.
Innocent Kukulu scored 11 points and made three 3-pointers for XULA, and Leland Alexander grabbed a career-high-tying 11 rebounds. Elex Carter blocked four shots to match his career best.
Keith Williams scored 18 points and made three 3-pointers for the Tigers (9-11, 3-2), and Josiah Crawford scored 10. Brandon Miller of Edward Waters missed a 3-pointer on the game's final possession.
XULA led 37-35 at halftime. The Gold Rush finished at a season-low 35.8 percent from the floor but limited Edward Waters to 34.6 percent. The loss was the Tigers' first in four games.
XULA will travel to Little Rock, Ark., to play GCAC opponent Philander Smith at 7:30 p.m. Monday. Then the Gold Rush will return home to face NAIA No. 14 Dillard in the Crosstown Classic at 5 p.m. Saturday at XULA's Convocation Center. XULA and Dillard are the only unbeaten teams in GCAC games. BOX SCORE Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director XULAgold.com XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA twitter.com/xulagold www.facebook.com/xulagold
Jerseys of James “Red” Allen, L.C. Greenwood to be retired
PINE BLUFF, Arkansas -- Football legend “Mean Joe” Greene and Basketball great Willis Reed will headline as special guests for the Ultimate Honor Jersey Retirement that will honor the late James “Red” Allen and the late L.C. Greenwood. The semi-formal affair will be held Friday, February 24 in the William Grant Still Ballroom of the Robinson Center. Festivities will begin with a VIP reception at 6 p.m. followed by a dinner and program at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $100 per person for dinner only, and $150 per person for the VIP reception and dinner.
A former member of the Pittsburg Steelers, Greene played in 181 out of a possible 190 games and recorded 78.5 sacks in his 13-year career with the Steelers, leaving a legacy that is still marveled at today.
Reed helped lead the New York Knicks to a franchise-best 60 wins during the 1969-70 season as the Knicks set a single-season NBA record with an 18-game win streak. He became the first player in NBA history to be named the NBA All-Star Game MVP, NBA regular-season MVP and the NBA Finals MVP in the same season.
The retirement of jerseys is considered one of the highest honors that can be bestowed upon a former student-athlete. This highly-acclaimed recognition is given to stellar past performers who meet high standards such as having achieved national or international acclaim while at the University by becoming an NCAA (or NAIA) record-holder, national champion or national category leader, or membership on a medal-winning Olympic team. Now in its second year, the first two jerseys retired were those of former basketball stars Harold Blevins and Jessie Mason in 2016. This year, two honorees will be recognized posthumously: the jersey of football great L.C. Greenwood and basketball great James “Red” Allen. Proceeds from this event will go to benefit the University’s athletics scholarship fund.
One of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s most prolific basketball players of all time, James “Red”Allen possessed an exceptional shooting skill and was a natural defender. That combination that made him one of the finest players to ever come out of the state of Florida. A native of West Palm Beach, Florida, Allen led UAPB (then Arkansas AM&N) in scoring four straight seasons (1960-1964). He was a four-time All-Southwestern Athletic Conference selection who also earned NAIA Division I All-America honors. Allen finished his career at UAPB scoring 2,837 career points and is the school’s all-time leading scorer. Allen was also selected to play on the United States All-Star team that performed against the Russian All-Star team, where he led the American All-Stars in scoring. After he graduated from Arkansas AM&N, Allen toured five years with the Harlem Clowns. He made five commercials for Nike which were featured in the Soul of the Game by John Huet. Allen was a 1999 inductee into the Palm Beach (Florida) County Sports Hall of Fame and a 2006 inductee into the SWAC Hall of Fame.
L.C. Henderson Greenwood was a four-year letter winner in football at Arkansas AM&N College (now the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff) from 1965 to 1969. He was a four-year starter on the Golden Lions’ defensive line and was a 1968 Ebony All-American and an All-Southwestern Athletic Conference selection. Greenwood was selected in the 10th of round of the 1969 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. In his 13-year career with the Steelers, he was a member of the team’s famed “Steel Curtain” defense and a member of four Super Bowl championship teams (IX, X XII, XIV). In the 1971 season with the Steelers, Greenwood led the team in quarterback sacks with 8.5. He finished his career in Pittsburgh with 73.5 career sacks and is only the second player in franchise history to accomplish such a feat. A native of Canton, Miss., Greenwood has been enshrined and honored on several occasions. In 2006, his high school, Canton High School, honored him by retiring his number 71 jersey and inducting him into their Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the SWAC of Fame in 2004, the Black College Football Hall of Fame in 2015, the MEAC/SWAC Legends Hall of Fame; the Mississippi Hall of Fame in 1996; the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 1997 and the Arkansas AM&N/UAPB Hall of Fame in 2000.
Tickets may be purchased at www.uapb.edu/ultimatehonor or in the Development Office, located in Childress Hall at UAPB, or by phone at 575-8701 or 575-8703.
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT PINE BLUFF MEDIA RELATIONS
ATLANTA, Georgia -- For Shomari Willis and his fellow Benedict College band mates, their Honda Battle of the Bands performance doesn’t begin when they take the field at the Georgia Dome. It begins the minute they arrive in Atlanta and step off the bus.
“You never know who will be watching,” he says.
Tens of thousands of people are expected to visit the Georgia Dome to watch as marching bands from historically black colleges and universities put their showmanship on display.
The Honda Battle of the Bands is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year with the theme “Celebrate the History, Create the Future.”
Eight bands will prance onto the field with the hopes of entertaining and inspiring on Jan. 28. R&B singer NeYo will perform during the showcase.
Bethune-Cookman University’s Marching Wildcats have been a part of that history for over a decade.
“In sports you have Super Bowls for football, the National Championship for Basketball and March Madness for College Basketball. For HBCU bands that’s what Honda is to us,” Donovan V. Wells, band director, said.
JACKSON, Mississippi -- Coming to Jackson in late January is becoming a tradition for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The Canadian Football League franchise has held a tryout in the capital city for the last three years.
Scouts for the Blue Bombers trekked to Jackson on the Saturday of the Senior Bowl (Jan. 27) after spending the week there scouting players. Winnipeg spends a week in Mobile, Ala., looking for talent that the NFL might not take in its spring draft.
The Blue Bombers also hold free agent tryouts across the country for talent that has slipped through the cracks. Winnipeg has held a tryout for the last three years at Smith-Wills Stadium.
The team is returning to Smith-Wills for a fourth year on Saturday, Jan. 27, for another free agent tryout. This marks the second year in a row the tryout will take place at night under the lights of the stadium.
HOUSTON, Texas -- Once he was invited to play at the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, the first thing Lenard Tillery did was hit the internet.
Tillery had never heard of the showcase game, but it seemed like a big deal once everyone started to congratulate him.
It was an illuminating experience.
“I didn’t realize the magnitude the game had,” Tillery said. “After a while with everyone saying, ‘Congratulations, congratulations,’ I had to look the game up and I was like, ‘Wow, this is an opportunity. This is a big deal.’
“I was happy, but more than anything I was stressed. I had to make sure I was right back on it, making sure I get my workouts in and everything.”
For players like Tillery or former Grambling wide receiver Chad Williams, who will also play in Saturday’s game, the annual showcase, now in its sixth year, highlights some of the top and second-tier NFL draft-eligible players for a week of practice and interviews in Los Angeles.
Tillery and Williams will line up for the National team, led by former St. Louis Rams coach Mike Martz.
NEW ORLEANS — The winner was the team with the final run.
That was Xavier University of Louisiana, whose 17-2 spurt during the last eight minutes clinched a 61-53 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball decision against SUNO at the Convocation Center.
The Gold Rush (6-11, 2-0) have won a season-high three in a row. A familiar theme in the streak: XULA allowed fewer than 60 points in regulation in every game.
"Our guys are buying in on defense," XULA coach Alfred Williams said. "It's been the key to our success."
XULA's final defensive stand brought it back from a 47-42 deficit. Season scoring leader Jalen David produced three steals during the rally, and there were six additional SUNO turnovers during that time.
The Gold Rush went ahead to stay with 5:12 remaining when David passed to freshman Mike Williams for a basket. Williams finished with 16 points and became the first this season to lead XULA in scoring in back-to-back games. He had four assists for the second straight game to equal his career best.
SUNO opened the game with an 8-1 run. XULA answered with a 30-5 run and led 31-16 at halftime. But the Knights (4-11, 1-2) regained the lead with a 21-3 run.
In addition to Williams, XULA's other three season scoring leaders reached double figures. Seth Jackson scored 13, Leland Alexander had 11, and David had 10. Alexander grabbed a career-high-tying 11 rebounds in his team-leading third double-double this season and second in the last three games. David's four assists were a career best.
"This was a really good team win for us," Alfred Williams said.
Marcel Daniels scored 19 points and had six steals for SUNO, and Dominique Suggs scored 12. Daniels is a younger brother of XULA student assistant RJ Daniels, a four-year Gold Rush letterman from 2012-16.
XULA outshot the Knights 43.5 to 35.4 percent from the floor — 47.6 to 17.9 in the first half — and outrebounded them 34-29. It was the fifth consecutive game that the Gold Rush won the boards.
Next for XULA will be a GCAC matchup at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Convocation Center against Edward Waters. The Tigers are 3-1 in conference and won their last three, including a 90-75 home victory Monday against Talladega, the GCAC regular-season champion the past two years.
NOTES: For just the second time in its last seven home attempts, XULA swept a doubleheader against SUNO. The Gold Nuggets won 73-60 . . . Alexander grabbed nine first-half rebounds . . . Jackson is 10-of-14 from the floor the last two games, 3-of-3 on 3-pointers . . . SUNO coach Dale Valdery, who led the Gold Rush from 1990-2002, is 5-14 against his alma mater in nine seasons with the Knights. BOX SCORE
JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Maryland -- Former President Barack Obama addresses a crowd at Joint Base Andrews in Camp Springs, Maryland, bidding them farewell before heading to California for vacation 1/20/17.
First and second families, former and new, posed for a photo on the U.S. Capitol steps before the Obamas and Bidens departed on 1/20/17.
NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana maintained Tuesday its position, 35th, in the fourth NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Coaches Top 25 Poll of the season.
Unlike the previous poll two weeks ago, the Gold Nuggets share the spot with Montana Tech. Both teams received three points. Freed-Hardeman is No. 1 for the third consecutive poll. The next poll will be announced Jan. 31.
XULA is 11-6 overall and 2-0 in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference. The Gold Nuggets have won a season-high five straight and eight of their last nine games. Next for XULA will be a 3 p.m. Saturday GCAC game against Edward Waters (15-4, 3-1) at XULA's Convocation Center.
NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Coaches Top 25 Poll (first-place votes in parentheses — records through Jan. 15)
Rank Team Record Points Last
1 Freed-Hardeman (9) 17-0 250 1
2 Lewis-Clark State (1) 19-0 242 2
3 Westmont 16-1 233 3
4 Lindsey Wilson 17-0 227 4
5 Vanguard 16-1 218 6
6 Shawnee State 19-1 206 10
7 Oklahoma City 14-1 201 8
8 Campbellsville 17-3 193 7
9 Lyon 13-2 190 9
10 Baker 13-3 178 14
11 Montana State-Northern 14-3 171 11
12 Columbia (Mo.) 14-3 164 12
13 Central Methodist 14-2 156 16
14 Cumberland 13-4 140 15
15 Benedictine (Kan.) 11-5 135 19
16 MidAmerica Nazarene 10-5 133 5
17 Bethel (Tenn.) 11-7 108 21
18 Our Lady of the Lake 12-6 106 22
19 Wayland Baptist 13-2 104 RV
20 The Master's 12-4 99 17
21 Biola 13-4 82 RV
22 Pikeville 13-6 79 23
23 John Brown 11-6 73 18
24 Lindenwood-Belleville 12-5 66 24
25 Montana Western 14-3 63 RV
Dropped from previous rankings: No. 13 Great Falls, No. 20 Loyola (N.O.), No. 25 Carroll (Mont.)
Others receiving votes: Loyola (N.O.) 60, Martin Methodist 28, Carroll (Mont.) 27, Great Falls 14, LSU-Shreveport 12, Talladega 9, William Penn 8, Harris-Stowe 7, William Woods 7, XULA 3, Montana Tech 3
WILLIAMSBURG, Virginia -- William & Mary doesn't have to leave Virginia for the highlight matchups on its 11-game 2017 schedule announced Thursday.
The Tribe will kick off coach Jimmye Laycock's 37th season with a visit to the University of Virginia on Sept. 2. They will play five home games at Zable Stadium in Williamsburg, including an Oct. 21 Homecoming date against 2016 CAA Football and national champion James Madison. The Tribe will wrap up the regular season in the Capital Cup at Richmond on Nov. 18.
William & Mary is coming off a 5-6 season, including 3-5 in the CAA.
2017 William & Mary Schedule
Sept. 2, at Virginia Sept. 9, at Norfolk State CONTINUE READING
NORFOLK, Virginia -- The Dukes’ 2017 schedule features six games in Bridgeforth Stadium, including its first meeting in two decades with East Tennessee State University (Sept. 9) and its first in program history against Norfolk State (Sept. 16).
After a 12-year absence, football returned to ETSU in 2015. The Buccaneers went 5-6 in 2016. Norfolk State went 4-7 and 3-5 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
In-state rival Richmond will also be one of four teams that finished in the CAA’s top 5 in 2016 that will be coming to Bridgeforth in 2017. Three of those four earned FCS playoff berths, including New Hampshire, which JMU beat in the second round and will host for homecoming on Oct. 28.
“We’ll treat our schedule the same way we do every year. Our goal is to win the CAA championship and we’re going to take it one game at a time,” Houston said. “You have to focus on the game right in front of you, so for us, the only game that matters is ECU.”
2017 JMU football schedule
Sept. 2 at East Carolina
Sept. 9 ETSU Sept. 16 NORFOLK STATE
Sept. 23 MAINE *
Sept. 30 at Delaware *
Oct. 14 VILLANOVA *
Oct. 21 at William & Mary *
Oct. 28 NEW HAMPSHIRE *
Nov. 4 at Rhode Island *
Nov. 11 RICHMOND *
Nov. 18 at Elon *
BOLD CAPS – indicates home game
* – indicates CAA game
MIAMI GARDENS, Florida -- The Hurricanes don't know yet what their Atlantic Coast Conference schedule will look like this season, but they know now who they'll face in their non-conference 2017 opener.
For the second time in three seasons, Miami is set to open against Bethune-Cookman, Hurricanes athletic director Blake James confirmed. The game is set for Sept. 2 at Hard Rock Stadium.
It will mark the first time the programs have played since the Hurricanes opened the 2015 season with a 45-0 win over the Wildcats. The two have met three times entering this season's matchup, with Miami winning all three games and outscoring Bethune-Cookman 128-14.
Along with hosting Bethune-Cookman, Miami is set to host two more non-conference games at Hard Rock Stadium with Notre Dame previously announced to visit on Nov. 11 and Toledo set to visit on Sept. 23, according to the website FSBSchedules.com.
The Hurricanes' fourth non-conference game is set to be at Arkansas State. CONTINUE READING
FAMU legendary coach Jake Gaither with "Bullet Bob" Hayes - Tallahassee, FL State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Robert “Bullet Bob” Hayes, undoubtedly the greatest male student-athlete produced by the legendary athletic program at Florida A&M University (FAMU), will be among the 29 historically Black college and university (HBCU) gridiron greats honored in February by the National Football League (NFL) during the Super Bowl LI festivities in Houston, Texas.
In December 2016, the NFL joined the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) at the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia to kick off an enhanced partnership initiative titled, “Strength of HBCUs: Impacting Pro Football Since 1948.” The goal of the partnership is to honor the history and impact of HBCUs and their players and increase career opportunities for students and athletic administrators at these institutions. VIDEO: Bob Hayes - Only Man To Win Olympic Gold & Superbowl | Tokyo 1964 Olympics
The NFL announced that its celebration of the influence of HBCUs and their players will continue at this year’s Super Bowl, where it will honor the 29 Pro Football Hall of Fame players who attended HBCUs, culminating with an on-field, pregame ceremony featuring the Hall of Famers at NRG Stadium on Sunday, February 5, 2017.
Hayes was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in July 2009, seven years after his death in September of 2002, at the age of 59. The legendary two-sport Rattler was credited by many with revolutionizing the game of professional football with his world-class sprinter’s speed. In addition to a successful career with the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys and a stint with the San Francisco 49ers, Hayes was an Olympic gold medalist, and earned the nicknames, “Bullet Bob” and “World’s Fastest Human.” VIDEO:Bob Hayes | Top Ten: Fastest Players | NFL Films
FAMU’s Interim President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., expressed the University’s appreciation for the NFL’s commitment to HBCUs, and for the unique way it will honor one of the institution’s most beloved sons.
“I commend the NFL for honoring Bob Hayes along with the other well-deserving HBCU greats,” Robinson said. “I look forward to representing FAMU and Rattler sports at one of the world’s most widely viewed athletic events.”
He added, “The University has worked with the NFL on several previous occasions, including our Marching ‘100’s’ performance at Super Bowl XLI with the late music legend, Prince. We look forward to a growing and fruitful relationship with one of the most influential brands in the world.”
In a recent statement, NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent said, “the HBCU influence on the NFL goes beyond the evolution of the game and reaches deep into the very fabric of football.”
“Our partnership with the HBCUs is an important initiative which celebrates the tremendous legacy fostered by these institutions that continue to contribute a standard of excellence and character for our game,” Vincent said.
Bob Hayes Jr., will attend the event to witness his father’s recognition.
NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Tennessee State University Director of Athletics Teresa Phillips announced the hiring of Donika Sutton as the next head volleyball coach on Monday.
Sutton brings more than eight years of Division I coaching experience to the new role and will become the program’s seventh head coach. She has been an assistant coach at Tennessee State for the past three seasons and previously served on the staff at South Carolina State University.
“Coach Sutton is a passionate, knowledgeable and driven volleyball coach who has experience as a head coach. She has established relationships with our players and knows our program well. We are excited to have Coach Sutton lead our program into the future.”
As an assistant at TSU, Sutton coached three All-OVC first-team selections, the OVC Defensive Player of the Year, an OVC All-Tournament team member and two OVC All-Newcomer selections. Away from the court, two student-athletes achieved OVC Academic Medals of Honor and six players made OVC Honor Roll.
“I am extremely grateful for this opportunity. I would like to thank President Glover, AD Teresa Phillips, the administration, and the team,” Sutton said, “They have shown confidence in me to lead this program into the future. I am excited and thankful for the support the players showed during this process. Tennessee State is a wonderful institution and this program has a tradition of excelling. More importantly, Tiger volleyball is all about family and that will continue to be the foundation for the program to grow moving forward.”
Before joining the staff at TSU, Sutton served as the head coach at South Carolina State for two seasons. While at the helm of the program, Sutton led the Bulldogs to their first winning season in seven years in 2011. Sutton coached the MEAC Player of the Year in 2011 and 2012. She had four All-MEAC selections in two years. During her tenure, the Bulldogs had 10 All-MEAC academic team honorees and South Carolina State led the NCAA in service aces per set in 2011.
Prior to taking over as head coach at South Carolina State, Sutton served as the assistant coach from 2009-2010, helping the Lady Bulldogs capture their second Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championship and a trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2010.
Sutton began her collegiate playing career at Southwest Missouri State University-West Plains where she competed for one season. During that season she was a member of the Region 16 championship team. That team also competed in the National Junior College Championships. Sutton went on to have a standout career as a middle-hitter at Alcorn State. In her first season (2003) she was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Newcomer-of-the-Year and Second Team All-SWAC.
In her final season (2004) she was named First Team All-SWAC and to the SWAC All-Tournament Team. In that same season she was the recipient of her team's Most Outstanding Blocking Award and was named the team’s captain.
Sutton graduated from Alcorn State University in 2005 where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in political science with a minor in pre-law.
TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
HOUSTON, Texas -- It’s not so much that TSU destroyed Grambling State 76-55 on Saturday night. It’s not so much that Texas Southern is now a perfect 4-0 in SWAC conference play, or even so much that the Tigers have won four straight games. Instead, it’s about this. TSU played its 17th game of the season Saturday night. And it was TSU’s first home game.
TSU is now 8-9, but don’t be fooled by that record because TSU has played a difficult ridiculously difficult non-conference schedule that has included facing No. 1 Baylor, No. 14 Louisville, No. 16 Arizona and No. 22 Cincinnati (all rankings as of Sunday). The schedule has also included games against 14-3 TCU and 12-6 Rice.
Playing all of these non-conference games on the road has become a common occurrence since Mike Davis took over the program five seasons ago. Davis realizes his team should always compete for the SWAC title, and that winning the SWAC tournament means an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. But Davis wants more for his team than just that automatic bid because that usually means getting stuck with a No. 16 seed or a play-in game.
So Davis takes his team on the road. He schedules difficult games. And he does with one goal in mind, raising his team’s RPI as high as it can get before the team gets into conference play.
Antawn Lewis 
