SWAC Football All-Conference Preseason Teams Released

BIRMINGHAMN, Alabama -- The Southwestern Athletic Conference released its 2017 SWAC Preseason Teams Friday with 14 players from defending SWAC Champion and Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl winner Grambling State being tabbed for the most individual honors.

The teams were announced during SWAC Football Media Day at the newly renovated Birmingham Marriott after ballots were cast by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.

49 players were named to this year’s preseason teams, with several returning players that earned SWAC All-Conference honors at the conclusion of the 2016 season. Should a player that was named to the first team in the postseason awards not return, the second-team player for that position was elevated to the first team. Players were ranked in their position based upon the number of votes received. Ballots required voters to rank their selections in order. After helping lead the Tigers to a conference-best 11-win season, Grambling State quarterback Devante Kincade was the voters’ choice for the SWAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year award. In 2016, Kincade completed 63 percent of his passes and threw for 3,022 yards with 31 touchdowns against just four interceptions.



Jackson State defensive end Keontre Anderson was tabbed as the SWAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year after leading the nation with 25.5 tackles for a loss to go along with nine sacks and six hurries.

Prairie View A&M had the second most selections with eight including four first teamers. Alcorn State and Southern were tied for the third most amount of selections with seven apiece (four first team selections each) while Alabama A&M garnered five selections. Jackson State nabbed three spots, Alabama State and Mississippi Valley State each had two representatives while Texas Southern and Arkansas-Pine Bluff had one selection apiece.

Joining Kincade on the preseason first-team offense are: running backs Martez Carter (Grambling State) and Jordan Bentley (Alabama A&M), offensive linemen Trent Scott (Grambling State), Donovan Wheaton (Prairie View A&M), Timothy Gardner (Alcorn State), William Waddell (Grambling State), and Sam Baptiste (Alabama State), wide receivers KhaDarel Hodge (Prairie View A&M) and Devohn Lindsey (Grambling State) and tight end Dillon Beard (Southern). Joining Anderson on the preseason first-team defense are: defensive linemen Aaron Tiller (Southern), Michael Brooks (Alcorn State), and DeVohn Reed (Prairie View A&M), linebackers Kenneth Davis (Alabama A&M), Sean Jones (Texas Southern), De’Arius Christmas (Grambling State), and defensive backs Danny Johnson (Southern), Everett Nicholas (Mississippi Valley State), Tere Calloway (Alabama A&M) and Derrick Dixon (Grambling State). Kicker Nick Carden (Alabama A&M), punter Owen Hoolihan and Martez Carter (Grambling State) were each tabbed as first team selections for special teams. Carter was the only player to double as a first team selection at separate positions (also made first team as a running back).

East Division defending champion Alcorn State totaled 80 points as it was named the preseason favorite to win the East. Alabama State was selected to finish in second with 66 points, Jackson State received 59 points, followed by Alabama A&M (45) and Mississippi Valley State (20). In the West Division, reigning SWAC champion and Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl winner Grambling State was chosen as the overall favorite after amassing a conference-best 85 points in the voting. Southern was selected second after it received 68 points. Prairie View A&M followed closely in third place with 59 points while Texas Southern (37) and Arkansas Pine Bluff (21) rounded out the order of predicted finish.

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Devante Kincade (QB) – Grambling State

Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Keontre Anderson (DL) – Jackson State

2017 Preseason All-SWAC Football Team

OFFENSE

• QB Devante Kincade, Grambling'
• RB Martez Carter, Grambling
• RB Jordan Bentley, Alabama A&M
• OL Trent Scott, Grambling
• OL Donovan Wheaton, Prairie View
• OL Timothy Gardner, Alcorn State
• OL William Waddell, Grambling
• OL Sam Baptiste, Alabama State
• WR KhaDarel Hodge, Prairie View
• WR Devohn Lindsey, Grambling
• TE Dillon Beard, Southern

Defense

• DL Aaron Tiller, Southern
• DL Keontre Anderson, Jackson State
• DL Michael Brooks, Alcorn State
• DL DeVohn Reed, Prairie View
• LB De'Arius Christmas, Grambling
• LB Kenneth Davis, Alabama A&M
• LB Seth Jones, Texas Southern
• DB Danny Johnson, Southern
• DB Everett Nicholas, Mississippi Valley State
• DB Tere Calloway, Alabama A&M
• DB Derrick Dixon, Grambling

Special teams

• PK Nick Carden, Alabama A&M
• P Owen Hoolihan, Prairie View
• RS Martez Carter, Grambling

Second team

Offense

• QB Austin Howard, Southern
• RB Sta'Fon McCray, Prairie View
• RB De'Lance Turner, Alcorn State
• OL Skylar Prol, Southern
• OL Deonte Brooks, Alcorn State
• OL Vincent Hunter, Jackson State
• OL Austin Simmons, Alabama A&M
• OL Alvin Solomon, Mississippi Valley State
• WR Norlando Veals, Alcorn State
• WR Darius Floyd, Prairie View
• TE Jordan Jones, Grambling

Defense

• DL Christopher Johnson, Grambling
• DL Brandon Varner, Grambling
• DL James Harper, Prairie View
• DL Ramonte Bell, Alcorn State
• LB Kentavious Preston, Southern
• LB Malcolm Williams, Grambling
• LB Shawn Bishop, Jackson State
• DB Jamar Mitchell, Southern
• DB Ja'Terious Pouncy, Grambling
• DB Percy Cargo, Grambling
• DB O.J. O'Neal, Alcorn State

Special teams

• PK Trevor Vincent, Alabama State
• P Jamie Gillan, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
• RS Joshua Simmons, Prairie View

Predicted order of finish

Western Division

1. Grambling, 85 points
2. Southern, 68
3. Prairie View, 59
4. Texas Southern, 37
5. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 21

Eastern Division

1.  Alcorn State, 80
2. Alabama State, 66
3.  Jackson State, 59
4. Alabama A&M, 45
5. Mississippi Valley State, 20

COURTESY SWAC MEDIA RELATIONS

SWAC West Division is loaded again

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- – If Southwestern Athletic Conference member Prairie View A&M played in the East Division instead of the West Division, it would have won the title by two games last year.

Instead the Panthers finished as the third-place team in the West by two games.

Sure, the large FCS conferences like CAA Football, the Big Sky and the Missouri Valley are stuffed with depth, but the West Division also should be viewed as a gauntlet. It’s only five teams deep but boasts the likes of defending SWAC champion Grambling State, Southern and Prairie View, a trio that went a combined 24-3 in conference games, and perfect against the East.

Those three teams were installed in that order in the SWAC’s preseason poll on Friday. Over in the East, Alcorn State was favored to win its fourth straight division title.

Incredibly, Grambling (11-1, a second straight 9-0 in the SWAC), Southern (8-3, 8-1) and Prairie View (7-4, 7-2) combined for fewer losses than what Alcorn State (5-6, 5-4) suffered while winning the East under first-year coach Fred McNair. Grambling, under coach Broderick Fobbs, went on to beat Alcorn in the SWAC Championship Game and then topped Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champ North Carolina Central in the second annual Air Force Celebration Bowl to be crowned as the black college football national champion.

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SWAC banking on Celebration Bowl for money, prestige

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — The Southwestern Athletic Conference is all-in when it comes to the Celebration Bowl, banking on it to put the league on better financial footing.

The SWAC is dropping its championship game in a money-saving move. The league won’t have a title contest starting in 2018 after ending up in the red because of dwindling attendance.

“Whenever you get a million dollars and you’re not spending a million dollars on your own championship game, it helps tremendously,” SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp said Friday at the league’s media day.

The SWAC’s postseason, barring receiving what is believed would be its first at-large FCS playoff berth, will pit the champion against the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference winner in the Celebration Bowl at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

But it’s not just about the money. Coaches in the league that once routinely produced NFL stars, including Jerry Rice and Walter Payton, believe the platform will have a positive impact onTR recruiting, enhance the prestige of the conference and make travel easier for fans.

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Power and glory on display at annual Queen City Battle of the Bands

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- Nothing sounds quite like black college bands – even in the rain.

Despite a driving downpour, last year’s Queen City Battle of the Bands rocked on before a packed house at Memorial Stadium. This year’s showcase will take the field August 26 at 7 p.m., featuring some of the nation’s best college bands Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 on the day of the showcase.

Advance tickets can be bought at www.crowntickets.com or by calling 1-888-547-6478. A College Fair will be held 3-5 p.m. at the Grady Cole Center, Doors open at 5 p.m., with pre-show at 6:30 p.m.



EVENT BANDS

Alabama State University
Bethune Cookman University
North Carolina Central University
Miles College
Talladega College
Tennessee State University
Winston Salem State University

“To be honest, we were very blessed last year to have the amount of people we had with the rain,” QCBB founder Derek Webber said. “It shows the interest the community has in HBCUs and marching bands and supporting the event that donates scholarship money back to the universities. It’s a great testimony to what we’re doing and what we will continue to do to enhance the exposure of our HBCUs and marching bands.”

The 2017 lineup includes in-state rivals N.C. A&T State, N.C. Central and Winston-Salem State universities as well as out-of-state newcomers. The goal is to widen the QCBB’s reach and expose fans to bands they may not have seen in person.

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NCCU football lands another transfer

DURHAM, North Carolina -- Add another one to the list. The North Carolina Central football team added its fifth FBS transfer to its football roster Saturday night.

De’Niro Laster, a linebacker, posted on his personal Twitter account that he would be closing out his college career with the Eagles. Laster, a native of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, started his playing career at Minnesota but played at Kentucky last season.



Laster is a 6-4, 241-pound inside linebacker, who was a three-star player coming out of Cleveland Heights High School. He earned his degree in May and will be eligible to play right away for N.C. Central, which won its first outright MEAC title in 2016.

In 2014 Laster played in nine games as a redshirt freshman with the Gophers, making seven tackles. That same season he was also named to the Academic All-Big Ten list. He sat out 2015 at Kentucky due to NCAA transfer rules but did practice with the team. He missed most of last season with a knee injury, recording 14 tackles in five games during his lone season in Lexington. Laster also recorded one sack and a fumble recovery in 2016.

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2017 SIAC Football Predicted Order of Finish

ATLANTA, Georgia – Quarterback Johnathan McCrary of Clark Atlanta University was named the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Preseason Offensive Player of the Year along with linebacker Osband Thompson of Tuskegee University who was selected as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, announced Tuesday during media day at the College Football Hall of Fame.

All votes are submitted by SIAC head coaches and sports information directors.

McCrary, a redshirt senior from Decatur, Ga., completed 142-of-256 passes for 1,903 yards and averaged 211.4 yards per game last season. In his first year in the SIAC, McCrary led the league with 14 touchdown passes. In the come-from-behind victory over Morehouse (Oct. 1) he set SIAC single-game highs with 456 passing yards and five touchdowns.

Thompson recorded 137 tackles in 2016 for the Golden Tigers who advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs for the second consecutive year. The Miami, Fla. native totaled 67 solo tackles on the year, including 11.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. He also forced three fumbles, intercepted one pass, recorded four pass breakups and three quarterback hurries. Thompson was also the 2016 SIAC Defensive Player of the Year and Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) Super Region 2 Defensive Player of the Year.

Tuskegee was picked to win the west division with 75 points and 11 first-place votes in the preseason poll. Miles (60) was voted second, ahead of Kentucky State (48), Lane (37), and Central State (21).

Albany State was the preseason favorite in the east division with 65 points and six first-place votes. Fort Valley State earned 55 points followed by Benedict (52), Clark Atlanta (42), and Morehouse (26).

2017 SIAC Preseason Football All-Conference First Team

Johnathon McCrary	Quarterback	Clark Atlanta	Redshirt-Senior	Decatur, Ga.
Ryan Edwards	Tight end	Morehouse	Senior	Atlanta, Ga.
Okechi Ntiasagwe	Wide receiver	Benedict	Junior	Columbia, S.C.
Dre Martin	Wide receiver	Clark Atlanta	Sophomore	LaGrange, Ga.
Marcus Holliday	Running back	Lane	Junior	Memphis, Tenn.
Ger’Kerry Jackson	Running back	Miles	Junior	Montgomery, Ala.
Tedrick Cofield	Offensive lineman	Albany State	Senior	Atlanta, Ga.
Leeward Brown	Offensive lineman	Tuskegee	Senior	Miami, Fla.
Marcus Campbell, Jr.	Offensive lineman	Kentucky State	Junior	Radcliff, Ky.
Justin Brown	Offensive lineman	Benedict	Junior	Marietta, Ga.
Howard Bush	Offensive lineman	Lane	Senior	Mobile, Ala.
Charles Williams	Defensive lineman	Benedict	Senior	Barnwell, S.C.
Rodriguez Jones	Defensive lineman	Kentucky State	Senior	Newport News, Va.
Aaryn Guy	Defensive lineman	Benedict	Junior	Grand Rapids, Mich.
Kaelan Bonds	Defensive lineman	Miles	Senior	Florence, Ala.
David Smith	Linebacker	Morehouse	Senior	Newport News, Va.
Osband Thompson	Linebacker	Tuskegee	Senior	Miami, Fla.
Kendrick Frazier	Linebacker	Benedict	Senior	Charleston, S.C.
Edward Kirkland	Defensive back	Benedict	Senior	Columbia, S.C.
Jonah McCutcheon	Defensive back	Tuskegee	Senior	Mobile, Ala.
Travionte Brown	Defensive back	Benedict	Sophomore	Albany, Ga.
Kenneth Morgan	Defensive back	Clark Atlanta	Sophomore	Milledgeville, Ga.
Nick Christiansen	Kicker	Miles	Senior	Clayton, N.C.
Juan Serna	Punter	Fort Valley State	Senior	Douglasville, Ga.
Ricci Nuckles	Kick returner	Morehouse	Sophomore	Suwanee, Ga.
Deandre Jackson	Punt returner	Clark Atlanta	Senior	Atlanta, Ga.

2017 SIAC Preseason Football All-Conference Second Team

Marcus Reynolds	Quarterback	Lane	Junior	Calhoun, Ga.
Darius Nelson	Tight end	Benedict	Junior	Milledgeville, Ga.
Jules St. Ge	Wide receiver	Kentucky State	Sophomore	Lakeland, Fla.
Javarrius Cheatham	Wide receiver	Tuskegee	Junior	Greenville, Ala.
Jamari Clark	Running back	Fort Valley State	Junior	Stockbridge, Ga.
Lavelle Cloyd	Running back	Kentucky State	Senior	Lexington, Ky.
Darius Thomas	Offensive lineman	Central State	Sophomore	Cincinnati, Ohio
Craig Hinson	Offensive lineman	Benedict	Junior	Hephzibah, Ga.
Christopher Ruffin	Offensive lineman	Miles	Senior	Bessemer, Ala.
Darius Preyer	Offensive lineman	Clark Atlanta	Junior	Montgomery, Ala.
Lowell Richardson	Offensive lineman	Tuskegee	Junior	Miami, Fla.
Antonio Johnson	Defensive lineman	Morehouse	Junior	Birmingham, Ala.
Voris Bryant	Defensive lineman	Morehouse	Senior	Gray, Ga.
Devonte West	Defensive lineman	Fort Valley State	Senior	Largo, Fla.
Mekiye Kingston	Defensive lineman	Clark Atlanta	Junior	Jonesboro, Ga.
Zavondric Shingleton	Linebacker	Albany State	Senior	Millen, Ga.
Anthony Hardy	Linebacker	Miles	Senior	Demopolis, Ala.
Keonte Reynolds	Linebacker	Kentucky State	Junior	Louisville, Ky.
Nick Scott	Defensive back	Albany State	Senior	Ellabell, Ga.
Ryan Luckett	Defensive back	Kentucky State	Senior	Orlando, Fla.
Robert Cummings	Defensive back	Benedict	Sophomore	Macon, Ga.
Kentron James	Defensive back	Fort Valley State	Junior	Tallahassee, Fla.
Carlos Saldana	Kicker	Clark Atlanta	Sophomore	Austell, Ga.
Nick Christiansen	Punter	Miles	Senior	Clayton, N.C.
Deandre Jackson	Kick returner	Clark Atlanta	Senior	Atlanta, Ga.
Ladarrell Pettway	Punt returner	Tuskegee	Redshirt-Sophomore	Spanish Fort, Ala.

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year:
Johnathan McCrary, Clark Atlanta

Preseason Defensive Player of the Year:
Osband Thompson, Tuskegee

COURTESY THE SIAC MEDIA RELATIONS

Slater wants more than title of Tuskegee AD

TUSKEGEE, Alabama -- Tuskegee’s new athletic director already has an office at the school.

Tuskegee head football coach Willie Slater takes over for Curtis Campbell, who left to take the same position at Western Oregon.

Tuskegee interim president Dr. Charlotte Morris introduced Slater on Friday, stating that Slater was passionate and goal-oriented.



“He’s had great football teams here,” Morris said. “He is focused on the success of the student-athletes. He’s led with discipline and his players have graduated with honors in the various majors we offer here at Tuskegee University.”

Slater said he was skeptical at first when asked to accept the job.

“Being athletic director was never something I had envisioned,” Slater said. “It was an opportunity that popped up. I didn’t really pursue it, but I was asked. My first response was that I just want to be a good football coach.”

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Tuskegee returns to face Jackson State in 5th Quarter Classic

Tuskegee won last year’s game 20-17. The squad, which finished 9-3, is ranked No. 22 in Division II by Lindy’s Sports College Football Preview magazine.

MOBILE, Alabama -- Each year the Mobile Sports Authority (MSA) releases a report documenting how the athletic events it attracts to Mobile County impact the local economy. During the 2016 fiscal year, MSA had a hand in 35 events, together generating an estimated $25,592,016.

At the top of the list was a new event, the 5th Quarter Classic football game, which brought more than 19,000 fans to Ladd-Peebles Stadium to watch Tuskegee and Florida A&M compete. Thanks to festivals, concerts, a parade and alumni parties, MSA said, the economic impact was $6,480,000, while more than $2 million in scholarship offers went to Mobile-area youth.

Officials with MSA joined with promoter Robert Buck recently to announce the 5th Quarter Classic will return this fall. The Golden Tigers from Tuskegee will be back on Oct. 14, this time to face Jackson State University.

“We’re pleased to once again be hosting the 5th Quarter Classic powered by the Mobile Sports Authority this fall,” said Danny Corte, MSA executive director. “After last year’s successful return to Mobile of a classic-style game, we believe this year’s match-up of Tuskegee and Jackson State will add another exciting chapter to our series as we welcome the teams, officials and fans to our beautiful area in October.



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Restivo returns to be S.C. State defensive coordinator

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- What was old is now new again. Well, not exactly. But, former South Carolina State defensive coordinator Tommy Restivo is now the new defensive coordinator for the Bulldogs.

Don’t let that confuse you.

After two seasons at the post for S.C. State, Restivo left Orangeburg in January of 2016 and took the DC post at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Former South Carolina linebackers coach Kirk Botkin then came to head up the defense for the Bulldogs last season. With Botkin leaving the program this summer, Bulldogs head coach Buddy Pough has turned once again to Restivo to direct the aspect of the S.C. State team that has been its calling card for many decades.

“You always are happy when you can put a piece back in place and don’t have to bring it up to speed with the rest of the program,” Pough said on Friday. “Coach Restivo is familiar with all the intricacies of what we do here at South Carolina State, and he knows the rest of our staff well.

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Nuggets' 2017 schedule includes 10 in a row at home

2017 Schedule Page

NEW ORLEANS — A school-record 10 consecutive home matches are on the 2017 Xavier University of Louisiana volleyball schedule, new coach Pat Kendrick announced Thursday.

The Gold Nuggets, six-time defending Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament champion, will open the season Aug. 25-26 with four matches at the University of Michigan-Dearborn Early Bird. Then XULA will play 10 in a row at its Convocation Center, four during the third annual Big Easy Blastoff Sept. 1-2.

NAIA National Championship 2016 qualifiers on the schedule are Madonna (Aug. 25 at UM-Dearborn), Mobile (Aug. 29 in XULA's home opener, then Sept. 26 at Mobile) and Our Lady of the Lake (Sept. 1 in the Big Easy Blastoff). XULA also will play twice — Sept. 7 at home, Oct. 12 away — against Spring Hill, a 27-5 NCAA Division II team a year ago.

The Gold Nuggets will open their GCAC schedule Sept. 9 at home against Tougaloo. The GCAC Tournament will be Nov. 10-11.

There will be five first-time opponents — Trinity International, Madonna and Lawrence Tech at UM-Dearborn and UM-Dearborn and Texas Wesleyan at the Big Easy Blastoff.

This will be XULA's 10th season of intercollegiate volleyball, and the home opener against Mobile will be the Gold Nuggets' 100th match on their campus.

Xavier University of Louisiana
2017 Women's Volleyball Schedule
Aug. 25 (Fri.): Trinity International, 3 p.m. EDT (UM-Dearborn Early Bird, Dearborn, Mich.)
Aug. 25 (Fri.): Madonna, 7 p.m. EDT (UM-Dearborn Early Bird, Dearborn, Mich.)
Aug. 26 (Sat.): Lawrence Tech, 10 a.m. EDT (UM-Dearborn Early Bird, Dearborn, Mich.)
Aug. 26 (Sat.): Fisk, 2 p.m. EDT (UM-Dearborn Early Bird, Dearborn, Mich.)
Aug. 29 (Tue.): MOBILE, 6 p.m.
Sept. 1 (Fri.): OUR LADY OF THE LAKE, 3 p.m. (Big Easy Blastoff)
Sept. 1 (Fri.): RUST, 7 p.m. (Big Easy Blastoff)
Sept. 2 (Sat.): MICHIGAN-DEARBORN, 3 p.m. (Big Easy Blastoff)
Sept. 2 (Sat.): TEXAS WESLEYAN, 7 p.m. (Big Easy Blastoff)
Sept. 5 (Tue.): LOYOLA (N.O.), 6 p.m.
Sept. 7 (Thu.): SPRING HILL, 6 p.m.
Sept. 9 (Sat.): • TOUGALOO, 1 p.m.
Sept. 11 (Mon.): • EDWARD WATERS, 6 p.m.
Sept. 16 (Sat.): • TALLADEGA, 1 p.m.
Sept. 19 (Tue.) at William Carey, 6 p.m.
Sept. 21 (Thu.) • at SUNO, 6 p.m.
Sept. 26 (Tue.) at Mobile, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 28 (Thu.): • DILLARD, 6 p.m.
Oct. 5 (Thu.): WILLIAM CAREY, 6 p.m.
Oct. 7 (Sat.): • PHILANDER SMITH, 1 p.m.
Oct. 12 (Thu.) at Spring Hill, 6 p.m.
Oct. 14 (Sat.) • at Edward Waters, 1 p.m. EDT
Oct. 16 (Mon.) • at Tougaloo, 6 p.m.
Oct. 17 (Tue.) • at Philander Smith, 6 p.m.
Oct. 21 (Sat.) • at Talladega, 1 p.m.
Oct. 26 (Thu.): • SUNO, 6 p.m.
Oct. 31 (Tue.): at Loyola (N.O.), 6 p.m.
Nov. 2 (Thu.) • at Dillard, 6 p.m.
Nov. 10-11 (Fri.-Sat.): Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament, TBA
Nov. 18 (Sat.): NAIA National Championship opening round at campus sites, TBA
Nov. 28-Dec. 2 (Tue.-Sat.): NAIA National Championship final site at Sioux City, Iowa, TBA

Home matches in BOLD CAPITAL LETTERS
All times are Central except where noted
Schedules are subject to change

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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P-Rays' Brown (JSU) bearing up in transition to pros

PRINCETON, West Virginia — Princeton Rays outfielder Bryce Brown comes from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a land of unique and world-reknowned regional cuisine, Zydeco music, alligators and hoodoo folk remedies; a place where hot sauce is as ubiquitous a condiment in restaurants as salt, pepper and ketchup is everywhere else.

For many Mercer County residents, Louisiana would seem downright exotic. But if you’re from Baton Rouge, so does Mercer County.

“I like it out here ... All the mountains and stuff. I’ve never seen so many mountains and trees,” said Brown.

“I saw my first black bear the other day out on the road,” he said.

A live bear?

“No. It was dead on the side of the road. I’d never seen a black bear before,” said the 20-year-old Brown, who was picked by Tampa Bay in the 15th round of the 2017 draft.

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2017 SCSU Bulldog football has strong nucleus

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- Since the inception of the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl, which pits the champion from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference against the Southwestern Athletic Conference champion in a postseason game the week before Christmas in Atlanta, South Carolina State University football fans have been waiting for the Bulldogs to claim a spot in the signature contest kicking off the bowl season.

The S.C. State faithful watched as Bulldog MEAC rival North Carolina A&T claimed an exciting 41-34 win over the SWAC’s Alcorn State two years (2015) ago at the Georgia Dome, and stood by last season (2016) as the SWAC evened the series 1-1 with Grambling’s 10-9 triumph over North Carolina Central in a defensive battle.

“When is our turn?” bemoan the Bulldog faithful, perhaps. S.C. State had high hopes of reaching that coveted game each of the last two seasons, but Coach Buddy Pough and his squad got derailed along the way each time.

Well, what will 2017 bring? Labor Day weekend (Sept. 03) should give S.C. State and its supporters a glimpse of what is to come as Pough and the Bulldogs kick off the 2017 campaign against one-time SWAC kingpin Southern in the annual MEAC-SWAC Challenge in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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Mississippi SWAC schools among smallest athletic budgets in Division 1

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Mississippi’s SWAC schools have three of the 10 smallest athletic budgets in Division 1, according to a study released Thursday by USA Today.

The study found that among the 347 colleges and universities that compete in the NCAA’s top division, Jackson State ranked 337, Alcorn ranked 341 and Mississippi Valley State spent less than any other school in the country.

More troubling is the revelation that all three schools rank at or near the bottom in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in terms of both spending and revenue.

Records show Jackson State had the seventh-largest budget in the 10-team conference with a total operating budget of $7.6 million.

That’s nearly $1 million more than Alcorn State ($6.75 million), which ranked ninth in the league, and $3.3 million more than Mississippi Valley State ($4.29 million), which was last.

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Southern hopes to hire Roger Cador's replacement by early July; no interviews conducted yet

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Southern athletic director Roman Banks said he would like to have a new baseball coach hired by early July — and, more specifically, "in the next two to three weeks," he said.

For now, no interviews have been held in the search for Roger Cador's replacement, but Banks said he expects to begin the process sometime next week. Banks previously said he was following no timeline to hire a coach but that he'd prefer to have it done relatively quickly.

Whoever gets the job will be charged with replacing one of college baseball's most influential figures. Cador coached the Jaguars for 33 years.

Cador agreed to stay with the athletic department as the school's director of athletics advancement, a new position that aims to take advantage of his extensive connections and fundraising skills while his replacement gets settled in.

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New Mexico State fills massive hole, signs Texas Southern graduate transfer guard Zach Lofton

ZACH LOFTON
COJRTESY: TEXAS SOUTHERN ATHLETICS

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico – Chris Jans’ finally got a backcourt boost.

New Mexico State’s first year coach stepped into the job already needing to replace the reigning WAC Player of the Year in point guard Ian Baker. He then got a gut punch when breakout junior wing Braxton Huggins (13.7 PPG, 42.0 3P%) transferred to Fresno State.

And that wasn’t all.

Three other guards — Jermaine Haley, Matt Taylor and Jalyn Pennie — also left the program with eligibility left. Taylor and Pennie started at various times in their respective careers in Las Cruces, but Haley may have been the biggest loss, as the redshirt freshman oozed potential.

But the script flipped Monday as Texas Southern graduate transfer guard Zach Lofton committed to New Mexico State. He fills a massive need in terms of both scoring and experience.

n his lone year in Houston, Lofton averaged 16.8 points per game and won the SWAC Player of the Year award. This included a 35-point debut against UT Arlington in November, and a 19-point effort against Arizona later that month.

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Clark Atlanta University Selects First Female Band Director

TOMISHA BROCK

DIRECTOR OF UNIVERSITY BANDS
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MUSIC
CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY

ATLANTA, Georgia -- Clark Atlanta University (CAU) has named Tomisha Brock as Director of University Bands and Assistant Professor of Music. This historic announcement makes Brock the first woman to serve as band director and the first female director in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC).

“I am truly honored and excited to make history at CAU,” says Brock. “In a male dominated profession, it is a privilege for female directors to show that we are just as qualified, we can compete and produce on a large scale, as with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs),” she adds. According to the HBCU National Band Directors Consortium, there are only five female band directors serving HBCUs across the nation serving as head director or as assistant/associate director.

Brock recently served as associate director of bands and assistant professor at Mississippi Valley State. Previously she served as director of university bands at Elizabeth City State University. “My goal is to provide holistic education through music, as well as excitement, creativity, and revitalization to the CAU band program,” says the 35-year-old. “Our students will understand the importance of music in their lives and the contributions music education has in creating the ‘total person.’ When students leave my program, they will possess valuable skills that will help market them in their careers wherever they go.”

Brock, who began singing in the church choir at six-years-old and playing the clarinet by age 10, has immersed herself in music her entire life. She earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Virginia State University and a Master of Music Education degree from Norfolk State University. She is pursuing her PhD in music education at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. In 2016 Brock was named Spectacular Magazine’s 'Woman of the Year’, in the education category.

“Students who are involved in music and the marching band develop solid social skills. It provides them an avenue to express themselves, free from judgment,’ says the Virginia native. “It teaches and enhances the concepts of self-discipline, accountability, and team work.”

To schedule an interview with Tomisha Brock contact TBell@CAU.edu

CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS

Edward Waters Baseball Adds Seven for 2018

JACKSONVILLE, Florida -- Head Coach Reginald Johnson, II announced the signing of seven student-athletes for his baseball program for the 2018 season. C/OF Juan Loyo, C Karl Morales, C/IF Parker Rook, RHP Hunter Morris, INF/RHP Cody Melton, IF Arnie Ruiz, & IF Latek McNeil will be expected to contribute immediately to a team that had its second consecutive 30+ win season in 2017. 

"I'm very pleased with this year's signing class." said Coach Johnson. "The seven guys we've added are not only quality baseball players, but quality young men that will add to what we have coming back next season."

C/OF Juan Loyo/Caracas, Venezuela/CSA Becas Academy:

Coach Johnson on Loyo: "Juan has great tools and leadership qualities behind the dish. He's also very athletic in the outfield and swings the bat well to all parts of the field."

C Karl Morales/Dundee, FL/Spoon River College (IL):

Coach Johnson on Morales: "He's coming in with college experience behind the dish which is a plus for us. He controls the defense and pitching staff extremely well and we're looking for him to come in and immediately compete and take over the everyday role behind the plate."

C/IF Parker Rook/Orlando, FL/Timber Creek HS:

Superlatives: Rook played a huge role both on the mound and at the plate for the Wolves in 2017 en route to the 2017 FHSAA Class 9A State Baseball Championship. During his senior season, he drove in 20 RBIs and was an All-Metro Conference Honorable Mention selection in 2017. 

Coach Johnson on Rook: "I'm looking for Parker to come in with the winning mentality that he already has and carry it over to the collegiate level."     

RHP Hunter Morris/Orange Park, FL/Ridgeview HS:

Superlatives: Morris had a perfect 5-0 record in his final season for Head Coach John Sgromolo in 2017. He also had a 1.24 ERA in 28.1 innings pitched for the Panthers and had 27 strikeouts. 

Coach Johnson on Morris: "Hunter has three pitches that he commands very well and can be thrown on any count. He does a great job in keeping good hitting teams off balance and I'm looking for him to come in and compete in the rotation as a mid-week starter."

IF/RHP Cody Melton/Jacksonville, FL/University Christian School:

Superlatives: During 2017, Melton had a .440 batting average in 118 plate appearances with just six strikeouts. He helped lead the Fighting Christians the 2017 FHSAA Class 3A State Championship Game, where UC finished as the runner-up. Melton was also named to the 2017 All-First Coast Baseball Team and finished third in the 2017 Mr. Baseball voting for the state of Florida.

Coach Johnson on Melton: "Cody is another guy that we have coming in that just flat out knows how to win. I defintely expect for him to compete for a starting position and he'll also have some innings on the mound. He'll bring great diversity in the lineup being able to hit to all parts of the field and doesn't strikeout much."  

IF Arnie Ruiz/Orlando, FL/Timber Creek HS:

Superlatives: Ruiz joins his fellow State Champion teammate Parker Rook as the newest Tigers on the squad. During his senior season, he had a .330 batting average in 103 plate appearances with 33 runs scored and one homerun. Ruiz was named the Most Valuable Player for the Wolves in 2017, Third-Team All-Area, & an All-Metro Conference Honorable Mention selection. 

Coach Johnson on Ruiz: "He's another great player that we've brought in who knows how to compete. He' is a great defender and a very scrappy hitter that finds a way to get on base."

IF Latek McNeil/Hampton, GA/Dutchtown HS:

Coach Johnson on McNeil: "Latek will come in and immediately compete for the starting spot at second and third base. He has great hands and even greater instincts for the game. I am really excited to see the development of him as a ballplayer. Out of all of the players we have coming in, Latek has the highest ceiling."

EDWARD WATERS COLLEGE ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS