Coppin State Women's Basketball Signs Downs & Corbie For 2017-18 Season

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- Coppin State women's basketball head coach DeWayne Burroughs announced the signing of guards Camille Downs and Tsahai Corbie on Wednesday, April 12th. Downs and Corbie will join the Eagles women's basketball program for the 2017-18 season.

"With the signing of both Camille Downs and Tsahai Corbie along with Nadia Davidson, we are looking for immediate success and taking the program to another level in the upcoming 2017-18 season," Burroughs comments.

Camille Downs is a 5-7 guard from Stafford, VA who attended Colonial Forge High School. She led the Eagles to a 25-6 overall record as a senior in 2016-17 averaging 12.2 points per game along with 3.4 steals. Colonial Forge won the first women's basketball championship in school and county history with a 52-38 victory over the Oakton Cougars. Downs scored 21 points including all 14 of her team's first quarter points. She finished with nine rebounds, four steals, three assists and two blocks to go along with her game-high 21 points.

"Camille is very versatile on the court. She will be a great addition to our team since she can play the lead guard position all the way through to the power forward. Camille finds a way to score the basketball and you can see her love for the game every time she plays. I believe that she will come in and be an immediate impact."

Tsahai Corbie is a 5-7 guard from Brooklyn, NY who attended South Shore High School. Corbie was named the Girls PSAL MVP at the 2017 NYC Mayor's Cup and is ranked as a three-star recruit by ESPN. She won three PSAL Basketball Championships (2015, 2016, 2017), was named the 2017 PSAL MVP and earned the PSAL Basketball Champion Academic Achievement Award in 2015 for the highest GPA on the team. Corbie also garnered the Conrad McCrae AAU Tournament Student-Athlete Award in 2016, National Honor Society Inductee in April of 2015 and 2016, the Victory Collegiate Instagram Founders High Climbers Award in 2016, the Victory Collegiate Michael Jordan Student Athlete Academic Award in 2015 and also won the Rose Classic Super Jam Basketball Sportsmanship Award in 2015.

"Tsahai is a threat from long range and can shoot the three-pointer well. On the court she can play anywhere from the lead guard to a small forward. She is an all-around player that can score, rebound, assist and is always looking to make her teammates better. In addition she plays with a very high IQ for the game and loves to play the game and looks like she is having fun."

COPPIN STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Cal basketball has hired Coppin State's Keith Brown as Director of Basketball Operations

BERKELEY, California -- A California source has confirmed a report by Jeff Goodman of ESPN that head Bears basketball coach Wyking Jones has hired former Coppin State assistant Keith Brown as Director of Basketball Operations.

A special assistant to the head coach at Mount St. Mary's in Los Angeles during the 2015-16 season, who analyzed practices and games, Brown is a data-crunching analytics-centered mind.

He spent this last season as an assistant at Coppin State.

Brown spent six seasons at Nevada, helping to coach the Wolf Pack to the 2012 WAC title, as well as coaching teams that made the 2010 and 2012 NIT, with the 2012 team finishing 28-7.

Before Nevada, Brown served as an assistant at Seattle for two seasons, during which the Redhawks went 21-8 in 2008 -- the most wins by the program since the 1984-85 season. Prior to Seattle, Brown spent 2002-06 at Portland.

While with the Pilots, Brown helped guard Eugene Jeter become the second-leading scorer in program history, en route to earning first-team All-West Coast Conference honors in 2004 and 2006. Jeter and fellow guard Donald Wilson became the second-highest scoring tandem in Portland program history.

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JSU Pro Day: Javancy Jones DE/OLB

Overton: FAMU 'a couple of weeks' from basketball hire

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M Athletic Director Milton Overton Jr. on Saturday said FAMU is still "a couple of weeks out" from naming a new head basketball coach.

Overton said more than 150 people applied for the job, more than he expected.

He said the sheer volume of applicants caused athletic department officials to open the application process more than he anticipated.

He added the search is taking long than he thought it would take, and right now the school is in the process of vetting backgrounds.

"We have a lot of people who want this job," Overton said.

"Even though we had some folks who we were kind of keying on, because we had a really good pool, we just extended the time. It's not optimal, but we have to find the right fit here."

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2017 FAMU Tampa Classic To Renew Rattlers Rivalry with Tennessee State Tigers

RETURN OF THE FAMU TAMPA CLASSIC

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- – Confidence is high around the Florida A&M University (FAMU) Football Program as they prepare for the upcoming 2017 campaign, and that optimism is due in part to the tremendous fan support from Rattler Nation at Bragg Stadium.

Sparking the uptick in fan and alumni support has been the innovative INVESTING IN CHAMPIONS Annual Giving Program, a fundraising initiative which features a six donor levels, assuring patrons both football and basketball season tickets along with stadium parking, and other amenities all in one package.

This year’s campaign drive to raise $600,000 for Athletics to address Bragg Stadium renovations, as well as underwriting scholarships for student-athletes, and funding summer school tuition, has reached the $300,000 halfway point, thanks to the generous gifts of the Rattler faithful through the INVESTING IN CHAMPIONS program. Go to www.FAMUAthletics.com to Invest today.

The Rattler Nation commitment to athletics was a major factor in helping FAMU finish third (3rd) in NCAA Division I FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) in Home Attendance, averaging 19,710 fans for the four home games in 2016, finishing ahead of such national stalwarts as North Dakota State, Jackson (Miss.) State, Delaware, Grambling and North Carolina A&T.

That 19,710 average was tops among Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), marking the first time FAMU had surpassed traditional attendance kings, Jackson (Miss.) State and Southern-Baton Rouge out of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).

An added benefit for donors to the INVESTING IN CHAMPIONS Program will be the opportunity to purchase advance priority seating for the renewal of the FAMU Tampa Classic featuring longtime rivals FAMU and Tennessee State, which will be played in Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, September 16, 2017.

FAMU Tampa Classic Tickets go on sale Tuesday, April 18th 2017 for Investing In Champions Members for an exclusive buying opportunity until the public on-sale. Go to www.FAMUAthletics.com to become a champion member or renew your Investing In Champion membership this year.

2017 FLORIDA A&M FOOTBALL SCHEDULE 

The Jake Gaither Classic 
Sat, Aug 26 TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY Tallahassee, FL TBA 

(Central Time * War Memorial Stadium * SEC-TV)
Thu, Aug 31 University of Arkansas at Little Rock, AR 7:00 PM

FAMU Tampa Classic
Sat, Sep 16 Tennessee State University at Tampa, FL  TBA 

Sat, Sep 23 Savannah State University * at Savannah, GA 6:00 PM

Sat, Sep 30 NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL * Tallahassee, FL TBA 

Sat, Oct 07 Norfolk State University * at Norfolk, VA TBA

2017 Homecoming Game 
Sat, Oct 14 NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE * Tallahassee, FL TBA 

Sat, Oct 21 Hampton University * at Hampton, VA 2:00 PM

Oct 28 Morgan State University * at Baltimore, MD TBA

Sat, Nov 04 HOWARD UNIVERSITY * Tallahassee, FL TBA 

The Florida Blue Florida Classic 
Sat, Nov 18 BethuneCookman University * at Orlando, FL TBA 

* Conference Games

ATLANTA IS IN THE FUTURE

Rattler Football fans can also look forward to an annual FAMU Atlanta Classic return beginning in 2018. The 2018 FAMU Football Schedule will include three FAMU Classic Games.

Rattlers Strike, Strike and Strike Again !!!

TSU Tigers Cap Spring with Annual Blue and White Game

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Fans of the Tennessee State football team got their first glimpse of the 2017 Tigers on Saturday with the annual Blue and White Spring Scrimmage at Hale Stadium. Using a specialized scoring system, the offense wearing blue topped the defense in white by a 37-16 final score.

Quarterback Treon Harris engineered scoring drives on two of the first three possessions to lead the offense on the afternoon. The transfer from Florida rushed for a touchdown on the day, while fellow quarterback Michael Hughes also had a touchdown pass for the offense.

PHOTO GALLERY - BY SAM JORDAN



A five-play opening drive featured a 25-yard connection from Harris to wide receiver Patrick Smith down the left sideline. Harris, who was 3-for-3 passing on the first possession, capped the drive with a seven-yard touchdown run.

On the next drive, highlighted by Terrell Bonds’ pass breakup for the defense, the offense was forced to punt. Going 5-for-6 on the offense’s third possession, Harris was able to move the offense down the field for another score. Steven Newbold reeled in a pair of first down catches with tight end Aaron Cauthen adding an 18-yard reception near the red zone. Andrew Knox punched in a two-yard touchdown run to finish off the drive.

Hughes took over at quarterback for the offense for the remainder of the first half. The defense forced two punts on the next two possessions with Justin North securing a tackle for a loss to force a third and long on the first drive.

On the final possession of the half, Hughes orchestrated a six-play drive for a score. Wide receiver Ronnie Killings caught a 20-yard pass to set up first and goal before hauling in a seven-yard touchdown on the next play.

The defense stood up to the test to open the third quarter, forcing a pair of three-and-outs.

Hughes ran for a first down and the offense added another on an eight yard first down catch from DeVon Johnson before three-straight stops forced the third punt of the half.

On the final full possession of the game, which included three-first downs, the offense missed a field goal when the drive stalled.

The Spring Game concludes spring action for the Tigers. TSU opens the fall season on Aug. 31 at Georgia State in Atlanta, Ga.

TSU Head Coach Rod Reed
“I thought it went really well. I was pleased to see the offense come out and be able to move the football. We knew we were going to be very vanilla on defense today. There were a lot of things you didn’t see. No pressure, no blitzes or anything like that. I just wanted to see us sitting back in our base defense. Get to their assignments, make the blocks they needed to block, protect who they needed to protect. We broke down in protection a couple of times today but as you can see, Treon (Harris) is really athletic back there, and he’s able to get out of a lot of some situations that some kids just can’t do. That’s a great attribute that he has. I think it’s going to bode well for our program. Defensively, we wanted to see some young guys. We saw the older guys in there probably the first three or four series, and then we watched some young guys. We’re trying to develop a little bit of depth.”
- Thoughts on the scrimmage

“I think the attitude is a lot different. The kids are buying in. Like I said, today, we wanted things to be pretty vanilla. We’ve got a lot of stuff, if you were at the last scrimmage, you saw how dominant that the defense really was. Today, we wanted to sit back and be basic. The main thing is we wanted to come out and showcase a football team for next year. We wanted the fans to be able to come out to see some of the guys they’re going to see next year and to not get anybody injured. I think we accomplished all of that today.”
- On the defense

“He’s very illusive back there. He’s not just a scrambler. He’s got really good pocket awareness. He slides around in the pocket and he’s going to hold it until the very last minute before he gets out of there. You have to like that about your quarterback. He keeps his eyes down field.”
- On the play of quarterback Treon Harris

TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Five questions FAMU's spring game should answer

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M plays its first spring game since 2015 at 2 p.m. today in Bragg Memorial Stadium. The Rattlers didn’t have full spring practice this year – teams can usually hold 15 practices, including a spring scrimmage, and FAMU got 10.

The Rattlers enjoyed their return to the football field, though. Senior defensive lineman Elijah Price said the group truly felt “like a football team” while working out during spring. He added the Rattlers are excited to return to their winning ways after winning three more games in 2016 than they did in 2015.
Head coach Alex Wood said he tried to create competition in spring camp.



“We want competition,” Wood said. “Competition is what makes us better. Iron sharpens iron, you know the cliché. We want the units to be as competitive as possible.”

Here are five questions fans should hope are answered by the end of the Orange and Green game.

Which quarterback will show out?

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Alabama State Small-school NT 'would fit well in Los Angeles,' calls Chargers a 'great organization'

SAN DIEGO, California -- A former All-SWAC selection with Alabama State, Roderick Henderson is a small-school stud eager to make the jump to a much bigger stage in the NFL, one he would love to see set in Los Angeles.

“The Chargers are a great organization,” Henderson said in an interview with Chargers Wire’s lead contributor Austin Gayle Monday. “I think I would fit well in Los Angeles. I already played in the stadium they’ll be playing in (StubHub Center), and I’d love to play there,” Henderson opined.



The 6-foot-1, 352-pound monster totaled 35 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, six quarterback hurries and one sack in his senior season with the Hornets, leading to an invite to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.

Having suited up with legendary coach Mike Martz’s National Team at the sixth annual all-star event, Henderson already had an opportunity to impress NFL personnel and draw a significant following at StubHub Center in late January.

Since then, Henderson has worked to refine his craft and continued to drive up his draft stock with a strong performance at his Pro Day in early March.

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UAPB coach sees improvements in football program

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas -- Last weekend, the University of Pine Bluff Golden Lions held the first scrimmage of their spring football practices. According to UAPB head football coach Monte Coleman, the effort he is seeing from his guys is pleasing. Along with Coleman, former NFL official Walt Anderson had good things to say about the team as well. Anderson was in town with a Big 12 officiating clinic that participated in the scrimmage.

“Guys played hard, smart, and they were aggressive,” Coleman said “We moved around well, and they’re working toward what we want to accomplish this spring. That’s being a smarter football team, and a more aggressive football team. One of the officials, Mr. Walt Anderson, who officiates for the NFL, commented that out of all the years that he’s been coming here, things look more promising just by the effort he has seen. His words were greatly appreciated, and I agree with him.”

The Golden Lions’ offense is steadily progressing under second-year offensive coordinator Ted White. With the guys fully locked in and engaged in his system, things have been moving more fluidly on that side of the ball.

“I’m pleased with the direction of our offense under our offensive coordinator Coach White,” Coleman said. “There’s a transition that we had to go through, and that’s anytime when you have a new coordinator. We’ve been playing hard, and we’re working through the mistakes. I expect us to be more productive this year, and I believe we’ll put up more points.”

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Roberts signs to run track at Prairie View A&M

PLAINVIEW, Texas -- Last summer Kaizha Roberts sat down and wrote down her goals for her upcoming senior year at Plainview High School.

Some had to do with academics, some had to do with athletics. One was to earn a track scholarship at a Division I school.

Roberts accomplished that goal Wednesday when she signed a letter of intent to attend Division I Prairie View A&M University on a full track scholarship. She will compete in the long and triple jumps and the sprints, events for which she has qualified for the UIL state meet the past three years. Roberts went in the long and triple jumps her freshman and sophomore seasons and in the 100-meter dash last year.

Roberts had offers from a number of colleges, including Troy University in Alabama and Ivy League school Cornell University in upstate New York. Not wanting to be that far from home, she decided to remain in Texas.

Roberts went to Prairie View for a campus visit in October for homecoming weekend. She took in a football game and toured the campus and talked with track head coach Angela Williams and assistant coach Phillip Butler, who is the jumps coach as well as the recruiting coordinator.

The Plainview High senior took a liking to the coaches.

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Former NSU Spartans Deon King and Lynden Trail are paving their NFL paths

NORFOLK, Virginia -- For players at smaller schools, the journey to the NFL isn't always pretty. From going undrafted, to waiting for training camp invites, the process can take a toll. "You have two options when facing obstacles, you can run from them and hide, or you can face them head on," said Redskins linebacker Lynden Trail.

Trail spent three seasons at Norfolk State after transferring from Florida. During his time with the Spartans, he garnered multiple All-MEAC selections, and was a finalist for the top FCS defensive player in the nation. After leaving NSU, Trail went undrafted, and spent a season injured with the Houston Texans before landing with the Redskins.

In the course of his time with the 'Skins, Trail has been cut twice from the practice squad, but that never stopped him. In Week 16 of the NFL season, he made his NFL debut against the Chicago Bears. "It's kind of a roller coaster, that's what I compare it to more than anything," said Trail. "You have your ups, you have your downs, but God's going to put certain things in your way to actually become stronger from it."

With the suspension of 'Skins linebacker Trent Murphy, Trail has an opportunity to be the next man up. "If you continue to grind, continue to work, eventually someone will see it."

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FAMU Rattlers will be receiving a NEW Bragg Stadium

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Bragg Memorial Stadium opened its doors to the public in 1957. It is known to be the groundbreaking of the strategic success and achievement of the Rattlers over the years and is now up for new renovations.

The stadium was first named after two of its most prominent figures to the football program, Jubie Bragg and Eugene Bragg; or better known to the Tallahassee area as the “First Family of Rattler Football.” Jubie Bragg served as the first head football coach and athletic director for Florida A&M University in 1907 through 1931. He gathered a record of 4-18-1 as head coach.

Bragg’s son, Eugene, took over the program and became head coach in 1934. Unfortunately, his coaching career was cut short after being killed in an automobile accident in 1935.

Before the nice seating, freshly paved grass and polished skybox, the football program started its first game without a stadium, playing on an all grass field behind Gaither Gymnasium. This area was previously known as “Bragg Field,” which now currently holds the athletic track and field. Thanks to fundraisers, the Rattlers finally had something to brag about in 1957. Bragg Memorial Stadium was finally built and showcased 10,500 permanent seats and bleachers, and held 13, 200 fans.



But as quickly as the rattler fans had something exciting to look forward to every Saturday evening, it seemed as though the thrill began to slowly fade away by the mid-80s. The stadium needed major repairs and grew too small for the football team and its fans, as FAMU enrollment began to spike.

In 1982, expansions to the stadium finally commenced. The $4 million renovation allowed bleachers to seat over 25,000 fans. A press box, concession stand, renovated restrooms and a $125,000 scoreboard with a message center implemented, but the stadium was still in need of desperate repairs and needed to raise $622,000 for structural repair and stair replacements before the start of the 2017-2018 season or else FAMU would be forced to play its home games elsewhere.

Director of Athletics Milton Overton Jr. recently voiced his opinions about repairs to the stadium.
“We’re going to play home games next season, there is no doubt about that, Rattlers always show up,” Overton said.

Even though now the athletic department has raised all the money needed to repair the stadium FAMU students still believe that it has been long overdue for a new stadium.
Nigel Lawrence, a sophomore School of Business and Industry student voiced how he feels about Bragg Stadium needing further repairs.



“Well first I think it’s long overdue, the stadium itself looks old, and just by looking at it you can tell it needs to be renovated.”

Jacques Bryant a senior majoring in healthcare management who has had success with the football program ending his college career with 4 interceptions, 71 tackles, MVP, and recently being named to the ALL-MEAC first team also added his thoughts.

“It’s important that the program has now raised the money for the stadium, because now-a-days players want to play at the best looking facilities and use the most updated equipment,” said Bryant.
According to recent documents released by facility services the stadium will include lots of upgrades such as new coaches offices, meeting rooms, class rooms and a new team meeting room all totaling up to 10,000 square feet. The Offense, and Defense meeting classroom will hold up to 45-seat capacity with theatre style seating also being included.

The program will also include a new weight room at 30,000 square feet, a new athletic training room with hydrotherapy equipment, players and coaches locker room, a lobby full of Rattler Alumni in the NFL along with trophies. Academic space is also being included in this project as two large tutor rooms and 1 large computer lab will be provided for the players.



The fans will also be comfortable as improvements of new benches/seating for 35,000 are sought in this proposal. Additional support space for home and visitor locker rooms, 25 luxury suites, club level, loge boxes, food service, concession stands, retail sales, restaurants, press box, media support, restrooms and other stadium area support space will total 140,136 square feet.

The start of this new project has not been disclosed but Rattler fans can expect to have something new to bragg about next year.

COURTESY THE FAMUAN, Avery Jacobs

Alumni ready to fight for SSU to stay in Division I

SAVANNAH, Georgia -- When Willie Walker started the 300 Club last year, he had a vision of giving Savannah State University better locker rooms for its student-athletes and better offices for its coaches.

Now he’s committed to raising every dollar possible to keep Tiger athletics from taking a step down one level.

SSU baseball player Turner Davis told the Savannah Morning News on Wednesday that he and other student-athletes were informed by athletic director Sterling Steward about a possible move to NCAA Division II starting in 2019. The Tigers currently compete in Division I-AA (FCS) in football and Division I in all other sports. Steward declined a request for comment.

That news has reached the ears of SSU alumni like Walker, a 1981 graduate who is now an attorney in Jacksonville, Fla., and many are willing to stand up and prevent it from happening, Walker said.

“Everyone in the alumni community is dead-set against returning to Division II,” Walker said Friday.

Walker is the CEO of the 300 Club, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises money for Savannah State athletics.

“We’re making sure that the resources are there so that it doesn’t happen,” Walker said about the proposed plan for SSU to drop to Division II. “Our mission has been repurposed toward raising funds toward the erasing of the deficit so our student-athletes can have a good Division I experience.”

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QB battle continues into Saturday's S.C. State spring game

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- In some spring games, college football coaches just want to see returning starters run plays in sequence and get their timing and accuracy down.

In Saturday’s Garnet and Blue Spring Game at 2 p.m. on Willie E. Jeffries Field at South Carolina State University, head coach Buddy Pough and his staff will be looking to see quite a bit more.

A young defensive secondary is the only area that needs to show some signs of promise on the defensive side of the ball, as the linebacking corps and defensive line are the most established position groups on the team.

S.C. State returns 14 starters from last year’s squad, including All-American linebacker Darius Leonard and All-MEAC linebacker Dayshawn Taylor.

But the offense has several question marks and areas that need to show signs of improvement.

There will be a new starting quarterback and it just might be one of the three starting wide receivers from 2016, even though all three missed considerable playing time due to various injuries last season.

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Offense hopes to impress in South Carolina State spring game

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina – After averaging only 21 points and under 300 yards per game last season, South Carolina State needs its offense to improve this season if the Bulldogs are going to be serious contenders in the MEAC title race.

The Bulldogs tied for third place last year, but they finished three games behind champion North Carolina Central and their 5-6 overall record matched the worst in coach Buddy Pough’s first 15 seasons.

The offense should get better just by facing SCSU’s veteran defense on a daily basis. On Saturday, the offensive players hope to impress the coaching staff when the Bulldogs conclude spring practice with their annual Garnet and Blue game at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium in Orangeburg.

“The offense shows potential and we are young in certain positions, which means we have to mature really quickly, especially on the offensive line,” Pough said.” We just have to continue to work hard to see who we think has a chance to help this team moving forward.”

Quarterback Caleb York transferred after his sophomore season, and either Mykal Moody, a converted wide receiver who excelled in his season finale start against Bethune-Cookman, or Dewann Ford could lead the unit.

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HLB standout Mart is 1st Gold Rush signee for 2017-18

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana men's basketball announced Wednesday the signing of Rayshawn Mart of Houma, La., and H.L. Bourgeois High School to an athletic scholarship. He is the first Gold Rush signee for 2017-18.

Mart, a 6-foot-3 guard, averaged 17 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.6 steals for HLB this past season and helped the Braves reach the round of 16 in the LHSAA Class 5A state playoffs and finish 28-7. He was honorable-mention all-state, first-team All-District 7-5A and the league's defensive MVP.

"It's great to have Rayshawn in the Gold Rush family," XULA head coach Alfred Williams said. "He's a talented young man. In addition to his offensive skills, he has long arms and big hands and plays excellent defense."

As a junior in 2015-16, Mart averaged 12.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.2 steals to help the Braves reach the 5A state quarterfinals and finish 24-9. He was a member of back-to-back state-championship teams in AAU competition with the L.T. Rockets.

Mart played strong safety for the Braves' football team in 2016. He intercepted four passes and scored on an interception and a fumble recovery.

"Xavier felt like home when I stepped on the campus," Mart said. "I felt welcomed there. I feel like I can be the best that I can be at Xavier."

Mart will be a pre-pharmacy major at XULA.

"Rayshawn worked just as hard in the classroom as he did on the court to get to this position," HLB coach Andrew Caillouet said. "He has a 3.5 GPA, and that got Xavier's attention."

XULA won five Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season championships and qualified 10 times for the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship during the past 13 seasons. XULA's 31 seasons of 20-or-more victories are a Louisiana men's collegiate record.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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XU Gold Rush acquire 2nd signee for 2017-18 season

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana men's basketball acquired its second signee in as many days when Galen Smith Jr. of Bay St. Louis, Miss., and Bay High School signed an athletic scholarship Thursday.

Smith, a 6-foot-8, 212-pound forward, averaged 9.9 points and 8.4 rebounds per game this past season. He helped the Tigers win a district championship, reach the second round of the playoffs and finish 25-6.

"Galen is a versatile forward who can play multiple positions. His IQ, passing and work ethic are his biggest assets, " XULA head coach Alfred Williams said. "His upside is through the roof. He will have a great career at Xavier University."

Smith was a member of the National Honor Society at Bay High. He will be a pre-medical major at XULA, and he hopes to become a radiologist.

On Wednesday Rayshawn Mart, a 6-3 guard from Houma, La., and H.L. Bourgeois High School, became XULA's first signee for 2017-18.

XULA won five Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season championships and qualified 10 times for the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship during the past 13 seasons. XULA's 31 seasons of 20-or-more victories are a Louisiana men's collegiate record.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Xavier Gold Nuggets announce first 2 signees of 2017

NEW ORLEANS — New Xavier University of Louisiana volleyball coach Pat Kendrick announced Wednesday her first two signees for the 2017-18 academic year: 5-foot-8 outside hitter Jaida Dowd of Aurora, Ill., and Metea Valley High School and 5-9 setter Eva Le Guillou of Velizy-Villacoublay, France, and Lycee Emmanuel Mounier. Both will be XULA freshmen in August.

"We're excited to have Eva and Jaida joining us in the fall," Kendrick said. "Eva is an experienced setter and has played at a very good club level in France. She is an athletic playmaker and will be a great addition to the Xavier program. Jaida brings a lot of skill and athleticism to the team. She is currently playing for one of the top volleyball clubs in the U.S. and will be a boost to the team's level of play."

Dowd hit .200 with 150 kills (2.08 per set), 22 blocks and 41 digs her senior year at Metea Valley and was honorable-mention all-conference. She helped the Mustangs win their first 13 matches and reach the regional finals of the state playoffs. Metea Valley in 2016 finished 25-10, the best record in school history, and won two regular-season tournaments.

Dowd this year won Metea Valley's Indian Prairie Scholar Award for reaching a 3.8 GPA or higher in each of her first seven semesters. In club volleyball with Sports Performance, she received the organization's 2016 C-Fed Award for hardest-working and most-improved player.

Dowd will major in sales and marketing at XULA, and Le Guillou will major in business administration.

XULA in 2016 won Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament championships and qualified for the NAIA National Championship — each for the sixth consecutive year.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Jessica Kern Named TSU Head Women’s Basketball Coach

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Tennessee State University Director of Athletics Teresa Phillips announced that Jessica Kern has been hired as the head women’s basketball coach. She becomes the 11th head coach in the program’s history.

A welcome reception to officially introduce Kern as the next head women's basketball coach will take place at a later date.

“Jessica Kern is a high-energy and enthusiastic young coach who has successful experience in coaching, recruiting and playing basketball at an elite level,” commented Phillips. “The more I learned about her, the more convinced I became that she was the right fit for our university. She is committed to excellence in the classroom and on the court. A coach's daughter, with the headiness and toughness to flourish in the Big Ten and as a professional athlete, Jessica is a proven leader, proven winner and proven recruiter that will help us be successful in the OVC. Perhaps most importantly, she understands the special nature of working at Tennessee State. I look forward to welcoming her to the TSU family.”

Kern most recently served as the head women’s basketball coach at Mississippi Valley State University. During her stint, MVSU was ranked in the Top 25 of most improved Division I women’s basketball programs. She also established the Kern’s Korner Community Outreach/Mentorship Program while formulating the largest recruiting class in school history.

"It is with great excitement that I join the Tennessee State University family,” said Kern. “I consider it an honor and a privilege to bring my experience and passion for coaching to Nashville. While winning should be noted as the standard goal, please know that my ultimate priority is to teach students, nurture young women and return the spirit of a champion to such a prestigious program. Moving forward the immediate goal of the Lady Tigers Women's Basketball Program is to cultivate athletes who execute diligently on the court, mold athletes who aspire to be pillars within the Nashville community and mentor athletes who understand that academic achievement extends beyond their tenure at Tennessee State. Thank you to President Glover, AD Teresa Phillips and the committee for their vote of confidence and for trusting someone who was once just a little girl from the city of Milwaukee who dared to dream."

Prior to taking over the program at MVSU, Kern was an assistant coach at Furman University following a four-year stretch as head coach at NCAA Division II Lincoln (Pa.) University.

In 2014-15, she was named Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Coach of the Year after leading her squad to a 22-9 mark and a share of the CIAA Northern Division title.

Taking over a Lincoln program in 2011 that had won just three games the previous season, Kern coached the Lady Lions to seven wins in her first season, 10 victories the following year, and to a 12-16 mark in 2013-14 before posting a 22-9 record in her final season.

The 22 wins was a school record and carried Lincoln to a CIAA Tournament championship game appearance. She also guided Lincoln to the program's first win over a Division I opponent, a 94-86 triumph over Morgan State.

Before accepting the head coaching position at Lincoln, she served as an assistant coach and media specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, immediately following a two-year period (2008-10) as an assistant coach/recruiting coordinator at Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

A standout student-athlete as an undergrad, Kern was a four-year letterwinner at Penn State University, where she was a three-time All-Big Ten selection and team captain for the Track and Field team. After completing a stellar career at Penn State, she returned to the game of basketball and played professionally for the next seven years in Australia, Germany, Switzerland, Romania and Poland.

During the off-seasons, she taught at various Milwaukee high schools and assisted girl’s basketball and track & field teams. In addition, she established several basketball camps for under-serviced neighborhoods.

In the summer of 2007, she was appointed head coach of the Arkansas Lady Ballers in the Women's Blue Chip Basketball League, a 20-team national semi-pro league. Her up-tempo style helped propel the Lady Ballers to a victory over the Canadian national team, regional championship and national title.

A three-sport athlete in high school, Kern enjoyed one of the most successful prep careers in Milwaukee City Conference history, earning a combined 11 letters in basketball, volleyball and track & field at Washington High School. In basketball, she played in four
state Final Fours and won a pair of state championships. She claimed 11 individual conference championships in track & field and was a three-time all-conference performer in volleyball.

A native of Milwaukee, Wisc., Kern graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Penn State in 2002. She has one son, Bobby Lee Collins, Jr.

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Marsh Wants AAMU Bulldog Faithful to Experience March Madness

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama – During his stint as an assistant coach over the past 13 seasons, Alabama A&M men's basketball Head Coach Donnie Marsh got a good taste of the postseason.

In fact, it was nine helpings of postseason play.

Now, he wants to bring that winning recipe to The Hill.

Marsh said there is a tradition of winning at A&M and the program is "capable of special things."

"This fan base, the support network, Bulldog Nation all want a championship," he said. "The fans deserve a chance to cheer the team in March.

"I think that's the ultimate for college basketball fans and I think this is a place where you can do that."

He wants to make Elmore Gym a real home-court advantage for the Bulldogs and an unwelcome place for visiting teams by packing the building "not just for certain games … but for all games."

"If you win all your (SWAC) home games, that's eight wins," he said. "Then you win some on the road and you're right in the mix."

Marsh said the Dawg Pound student section can be a prime – and powerful - ingredient for the home-court advantage. "When (Texas Southern) played here, the players were distracted down at that end."

The Maroon & White faithful can expect to see a hard-nosed Bulldog team that will make the opposing teams take notice that they are in for a fight, Marsh said.

"Players play and tough players win … Alabama A&M will bring the fight."

PHOTO GALLERY

Marsh's career as an assistant coach includes stops at South Florida (2013-15), UAB (2006-12), Indiana (2004-06), Virginia Tech (1997-2000) and Florida State (1995-97). He was head coach at Florida International from 2000-04.

A 1979 graduate of Franklin & Marshall College in Pennsylvania with a bachelor's degree in history and education, Marsh earned All-American honors and helped the Diplomats to a 27-5 record and NCAA Division III Final Four.

The Atlanta Hawks chose Marsh with their third round pick (52nd overall) in the 1979 NBA Draft - one spot ahead of former Notre Dame center Bill Laimbeer, who was tabbed by the Detroit Pistons.

After a brief professional playing stint, Marsh spent six years as associate director of admissions, assistant basketball coach and head baseball coach at Franklin & Marshall. For one year, Marsh was president of Players in Action Inc., a firm that represents professional athletes.

Marsh made his head coaching debut at Division III Elizabethtown (Pa.) College, where he compiled a 12-13 ledger in 1988-89 before moving on to The College of New Jersey.

Marsh and his wife, LaRoyce, have a son, Tyler, and a daughter, Sydnee.

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D-I Savannah State Athletics to move down to NCAA Division II

SAVANNAH, Georgia -- Savannah State University has announced its intentions to move Tiger athletics from NCAA Division I to NCAA Division II in Fall 2019.

WJCL 22 News was the first to report the schools decision.

The Savannah State coaching staffs were notified of the move Tuesday and Athletic Director Sterling Steward Jr. broke the news to student-athletes Wednesday night.

The reason behind the move is due to a financial strain on the University. Coaches and student-athletes were told the move was approved by Savannah State President Dr. Cheryl Dozier and the schools Executive Staff.

Sources telling Sports Director Frank Sulkowski that unless a substantial influx of money comes into the SSU Athletic Department, the move will occur.

Savannah State currently holds membership in NCAA Division I and the Mid Eastern Athletic Conference.

The plan outlined to student-athletes calls for SSU to remain a member of the MEAC through the Fall of 2019.

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Texas State to host Texas Southern in 2018

HOUSTON, Texas -- The Texas State Bobcats will host the Texas Southern Tigers in 2018, FBSchedules.com has learned.

Texas State will host Texas Southern at Bobcat Stadium in San Marcos on Sept. 8, 2018. The Tigers will receive a $300,000 guarantee for the game, according to a copy of the contract obtained from Texas State University via a public records request.

Texas Southern is a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) in the Football Championship Subdivision. In 2016, the Tigers finished 4-7 overall and 4-5 in SWAC play.

Texas State now has three non-conference games scheduled for the 2018 season. The Bobcats are scheduled to open the 2018 season at Rutgers on Sept. 1 and later travel to UTSA on Sept. 22.

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FAMU DB Jefferson shines on field, in classroom

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Terry Jefferson impacts Florida A&M’s football program in two ways.

The first way is obvious. He’s an outstanding defensive back for one of the best secondaries in the MEAC. The Rattlers picked off 14 passes last season, and Jefferson was one of three players on the team with four interceptions – he was the only one to do so in 10 games.

The other impact – it’s not obvious, but for FAMU, it’s just as important – is in the classroom. Jefferson, according to head coach Alex Wood, is a 4.0 student.

Now a redshirt sophomore on the field, Jefferson was named to the 2016 All-MEAC third team for his performance on the field. He earned a 2016 All-Academic nod for his prowess in the classroom.

More:Wood: FAMU football team nearly done with sanctions

As Florida A&M’s football program digs its way out of APR-related sanctions, players like Jefferson are at a premium. The Rattlers are set to post their highest four-year APR in years, according to Wood.

The step forward is thanks to players like Jefferson, a health and leisure fitness major.

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Howard graduate-transfer James Daniel III has named schools he is considering

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Tennessee is in the hunt for a transfer guard that led all of college basketball in scoring during the 2015-16 season.

CBS Sports college basketball insider Jon Rothstein on Saturday tweeted that Howard graduate-transfer James Daniel III has named the Vols, Michigan, Ohio State and DePaul as schools he's still considering.



Daniel, a 6-foot, 175-pound senior, is eligible immediately at his next stop after missing most of the 2016-17 season with an ankle injury.

Daniel led all Division I scorers in 2015-16, averaging 27.1 points per game. He also led all players in free throws made (280) and free throws attempted (311) while accounting for 38 percent of Howard's total scoring. He was the 2016-17 preseason player of the year and first-team All-MEAC selection.

In search of scoring guards, Tennessee has offered junior college guard Chris Darrington of Vincennes (Ind.) University and is recruiting Thomas Allen, a three-star shooting guard in the class of 2017 who recently decommitted from North Carolina State. Allen recently was offered by Kansas.

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Cartwright Scores Two TDs In A&T Blue & Gold Game

GREENSBORO, North Carolina – Running back Tarik Cohen, one of the greatest players in North Carolina A&T football history, was never one to tote a lot of carries during a spring game. On Saturday, during the Aggies annual Blue & Gold Spring Game at Aggie Stadium, Cohen took zero carries and talked while he was standing on the sideline in street clothes because there will be no Tarik Cohen in the backfield in 2017 after the three-time MEAC Offensive Player of the Year saw his eligibility come to an end in 2016.

Cohen’s departure leaves many fans in Aggieland anxious to see how the Cohen-less Aggies backfield will fare in the fall. Rising junior Marquell Cartwright alleviated some anxiety on Saturday. Cartwright rushed for 95 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries. Cartwright also had two catches for 18 yards. Cartwright’s high school teammate at High Point Andrews, rising junior quarterback Lamar Raynard, completed 19 of 33 passes for 216 yards, a touchdown and an interception. The Aggies defense scored a defensive touchdown (6 points), had two turnovers (6 points), made four fourth-down stops (8 points) and forced eight three-and-outs (8 points) to beat the offense 28-18. The day included 15 offensive drives and 110 plays.

“We have some good pieces in place, and if we can get better in some areas, we’ll have a chance of have a pretty good football team,” said N.C. A&T coach Rod Broadway as he enters his seventh season in the fall. “Cartwright is a warrior. It’s hard to replace an All-American, but he is an all-conference type running back. He is going to be okay.”

Cartwright was the first to get the offense in the end zone. On the offense’s first drive, Cartwright carried a few of his teammates over the goal line for a 6-yard TD. It was set up by a long pass from Raynard to rising junior Malik Wilson on the first play of the game. Cartwright’s second score, a 5-yard TD, came on a 15-play, 70-yard drive on the offense’s seventh drive. The only touchdown pass of the day came on the 11th drive when Raynard threw a fade route to 2016 conference rookie of the year Elijah Bell. Bell led the Aggies in receptions with six catches for 56 yards. He was targeted 11 times.

“I thought there were four balls Elijah should have had today,” said Broadway. “He ended up making some catches after he got going, but he’s got to get going earlier. I told him, ‘The difference between him being a good receiver and a great receiver is making difficult catches.’”

Other standout receivers included first-team All-MEAC tight end Leroy Hill (5 rec., 45 yards), Malik Wilson (3 rec., 73 yards), Khris Gardin (3 rec., 47 yards) and Xavier Griffin (4 rec., 44 yards). Raynard’s backup on Saturday, Isaiah Hicklin was 8-for-14 for 103 yards and an INT.

On the defensive side, sophomore defensive end Darryl Johnson, Jr., led the way. Johnson had nine tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and three sacks (the play was blown dead once players were close enough to tackle the quarterback). Redshirt freshman defensive back Justin Philip posted 11 tackles and broke up a pass. Julius Reynolds (8 tackles), Kiaundric Richardson (7 tackles) and Jalon Bethea (6 tackles) also had good games. Turner Echols and Justin Cates had two sacks apiece.

The defense’s major highlight came from Timadre Abram who returned a Raynard pass 42 yards for a touchdown on the second play of the second drive. David Pulliam had the defense’s other interception on the eighth drive. From the defense’s 25-yard line, Hicklin dropped back, faked a screen to left and turned back right to throw only to have Pulliam step in front of the pass and return it 72 yards to the offense’s 3.

“We do not have our full complement of guys on defense, but I still feel like the guys we had out there could have been better,” said Broadway. “Our guys upfront did some good things, but it’s still not quite good enough. I do think you saw today that we’ve got some guys out there that can make plays.”

N.C. A&T opens the season on Sept. 2 at Gardner-Webb. The Aggies will be after their third straight postseason appearance and their third MEAC title in four years. They must do it like they did it on Saturday, without Mr. Cohen.

“There is so much work to be done between now and August 4th and from August 4th to the beginning of the sNeason,” said Broadway. “If they’re willing to put in the work, then we will have a chance to have a pretty good football team.”


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