Claflin University Athletics Welcomes Two New Head Coaches

 Revonda Whitely
Head Coach Women's Basketball

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- The Claflin University athletics department announces the hiring of Revonda Whitely and Mary Rotimi as the head women's basketball coach and head volleyball coach, respectively.

 
Whitely's appointment was effective July 24 while Rotimi's appointment was effective July 31. 
 

Revonda Whitley, WBB Coach

Whitley joins the Lady Panthers staff after serving 13 years as the associate head coach at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), an NCAA Division I program.
 "We are pleased to have someone of Whitley's caliber join our staff," Dr. Jerome Fitch said. The athletic director added: "Her length of service and experience on the Division I level was a major consideration in her selection and I'm confident that she has the capability to lead the Lady Panther program to sustained success in the SIAC."

 
Whitley is no stranger to the state of South Carolina, having played collegiately at Winthrop University in Rock Hill.  She was a four-year standout for the Eagles women's basketball program from 1990 to 1994, ending a stellar career, with over 1,000 points, 600 rebounds and 140 steals.
 
"I'm excited to return to the area where it all started for me," Whitley said.  "I began volunteering with then, Head Varsity Girls Coach, Tammy Shadd at Eau Claire High School and my passion to develop young student-athletes grew from there."
 
"To be chosen as the head women's basketball coach at Claflin is an absolute honor and privilege.  I say this because of the academic prestige of the institution as well as the vision that President (Henry) Tisdale has for moving the institution forward.  I felt immediately that Claflin was the right fit for me."
 
Whitley began her collegiate coaching career at Elizabeth City State in 2001, just an hour away from where she grew up in Pantego, N.C. During her tenure at Elizabeth City State, she served as the Head Volleyball Coach for two seasons (2003-04), while also serving as an adjunct professor in the Physical Education Department (2002-04).
 
Her coaching resume includes stints with the Columbia Warriors men's semi-professional basketball team (1998), The Timmerman School (1999) and she was also the head junior varsity coach at Eau Claire High School (2000), all in Columbia, S.C.
 
She graduated from Winthrop with a degree in psychology and earned a master's degree in human performance and sport studies (sport psychology) from the University of Tennessee in 1997.

Rotimi rejoins the coaching ranks after serving as the Program Director with the Boys and Girls Club of Philadelphia the past three years. She succeeds Ashley Jordan who was named volleyball coach in March, but was unable to remain in the position due to personal reasons.

Mary Rotimi
Head Coach Volleyball 

"We are pleased to have Coach Rotimi join our staff," Dr. Jerome Fitch said. The athletic director added: "She has extensive experience in the sport of volleyball at various levels and her experience will help the Claflin volleyball team continue its winning tradition."
 
Prior to her stint with the Boys and Girls Club, Rotimi spent one season (2013-14) as the assistant athletic director of recreation and head volleyball coach at Cedar Crest College in Allentown, Pa. In addition she was the assistant women's basketball coach at Wilmington University (2012-2014) in New Castle, Del. and the head women's volleyball coach at Manor College (2012-2013).
 
Rotimi began her coaching career at Delaware County Community College where she served as the head women's basketball coach and head women's volleyball coach for two seasons (2008-2010).
 
"It feels good to be back in coaching, it's definitely something I've been looking to do," Rotimi said.  "Being chosen as the head coach volleyball at Claflin University is a great opportunity. Knowing that it is a winning program, I see nothing but great things for this program. I want to thank everyone at Claflin University for seeing me as a good fit to help lead the program."
 
Rotimi was a standout basketball player at Lincoln University (Pa).  She finished with the most career double-doubles in Lady Lion history (37).  Rotimi scored 921 points with 814 rebounds over four seasons (2003-2007).  During her career, she averaged 12.2 points and 10.8 rebounds.  In 1995 she was inducted in Lincoln University (Pa) Athletics Hall of Fame.
 
Romiti earned a degree in health science from Lincoln and a master's degree in public administration with a graduate certificate in sports management and athletics from West Chester in 2011. 

CLAFLIN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Finding Purpose: Former Hampton University Pirates Greg Scott

WINTON, North Carolina – No question, Greg Scott is home.

It’s not here in the Roanoke-Chowan area, but just across the Virginia state line in Southampton County; the town of Franklin, to be exact.

Actually, in some ways he never left.

Raised near Courtland, VA, Scott played football at Southampton High, then went on to star as a defensive end at Hampton University, leading the Pirates to the 1998 MEAC conference championship. In 2002, he was drafted by the NFL Washington Redskins (another near-Virginia connection). He later played for the Cincinnati Bengals before heading overseas to play with the Rhein Fire in NFL Europe. He then closed out his five-and-a-half-year pro career in 2007 in the Arena Football League with the Grand Rapids Rampage.



When it was done he says he made some $3 million fulfilling his boyhood dream of making it in professional football.

Following football, Scott entered private business as an entrepreneur. Today, he is currently the founder and chairman of the board of a non-profit group that provides kids meals to at-risk youth and children who might not otherwise afford school meals. The group also teaches nutrition education and educates children on portion control to combat food insecurity, childhood obesity, and reduces health problems caused by poor diet. Currently they have more than 12,400 children in southeastern Virginia enrolled in their after-school feeding program and have served more than two-million meals and snacks since 2010.

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Title IX investigation into FAMU women's hoops coach complete

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M's Office of Equal Opportunity Programs last month ruled allegations that head women's basketball coach LeDawn Gibson bullied players based on sexual orientation were "unsubstantiated."

Allegations of bullying were originally brought to the attention of then-Deputy Athletic Director Elliot Charles, who on Feb. 3 forwarded an anonymous email to FAMU's director of equal opportunity programs.

The allegations included claims both Gibson and assistant coach LaTasha Ganus bullied, verbally abused and discriminated against the players who were dismissed from the team.

The findings of the investigation, dated June 30, said, "The same-sex allegation does not rise to the level of discriminatory behavior."

Added in the report, "It does not appear to be reasonable that a coach who has recruited and continues to recruit student-athletes who are openly homosexual would dismiss student-athletes because of same sex relationships when there is clear evidence that other, non-discriminatory factors impacted the dismissal decisions."

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FAMU head coach Alex Wood: 'We like this team'

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M’s fall football camp is underway, and third-year head coach Alex Wood likes the vibe of this year’s group.

He has some solid reasons to like what he sees heading into FAMU’s Aug. 26 season opener against Texas Southern.

For the first time in Wood’s tenure with the program, FAMU’s football team is sanction-free. The group had spring practice and a spring football game. There are no limits cutting into the time Wood and his coaches can spend with the Rattlers this fall.

And – even though Wood doesn’t put too much stock in preseason accolades – the MEAC’s coaches are noticing some improvement in the program. The Rattlers over the weekend were picked to finish sixth in the MEAC this season.

That’s better than the eighth-place predictions FAMU was saddled with in 2016 and 2015, though not quite where Wood would rank his team.

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Dawson Odums looks for mental sharpness as Southern wears pads in the heat for the first time

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- The pop of pads was audible for the first time at Southern’s preseason camp, but that was not what coach Dawson Odums was looking for Monday.

With his players wearing shells — shoulder pads and helmets — for the first time, Odums was gauging how his players would handle the extra bit of discomfort.

“It’s concentration,” he said. “Once you add the shoulder pads, it creates another element. Our guys pushed through it.”

Odums paid close attention to the conditioning sprints his team ran at the end of practice, after roughly two hours spent practicing in muggy conditions.

The Jaguars broke into three groups to run sideline-to-sideline sprints. The lightest players needed to complete the sprint in 16 seconds, the medium group needed to complete it in 18 and the heavy group was given 20.

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Albany State University Statement: NCAA Enforcement Investigation

ALBANY, Georgia -- Albany State University (ASU) has conducted concurrent internal and external reviews of the athletics program and has reported possible violations of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) legislation to the NCAA.

ASU President Art Dunning tasked all new institutional leaders to formally assess all functions of their units. Sherie C. Gordon, director of athletics, conducted an NCAA review, which revealed possible violations. The university subsequently retained Buckner Sports Law Firm, a sports and education law firm, as outside legal counsel to assist with a comprehensive investigation into the possible violations. The NCAA enforcement staff has agreed to conduct a collaborative investigation with ASU's outside counsel.

Dunning and the athletics leadership team recognize the importance of ensuring a culture of compliance. In concert with the NCAA investigation, ASU is working diligently to implement recommendations from the NCAA review to ensure the university builds a model and compliant Division II program. To protect the integrity of the ongoing collaborative inquiry, as well as to adhere to NCAA confidentiality rules, university officials will not comment further at this time.

About ASU…Albany State University, in Southwest Georgia, has been a catalyst for change in the region from its inception as the Albany Bible and Manual Training Institute to its designation as a university. Founded in 1903 to educate African-American youth, the university continues to fulfill its historic mission while also serving the educational needs of an increasingly diverse student population. A progressive institution, Albany State University seeks to foster the growth and development of the region, state and nation through teaching, research, creative expression and public service. Through its collaborative efforts, the university responds to the needs of all of its constituents and offers educational programs and service to improve the quality of life in Southwest Georgia. For more information, please visit https://www.asurams.edu/. Follow the university on Twitter and Facebook at @AlbanyStateUniv.

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S.C. State Bulldog O-line mixes youth with veterans

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- South Carolina State head football coach Buddy Pough and his offensive staff have spoken highly of the Bulldogs’ potential on offense for the 2017 campaign, giving thumbs up on the team’s talent at quarterback, its stable of running backs, as well as the wide receivers corps. But for those groups to deliver, the all-important offensive line must be productive.

Pough and his staff will have to fill two positions along the interior line, that of All-MEAC tackle Javarius Leamon, one of eight Bulldogs on current NFL rosters, and Eric Dickerson, a one-time All-MEAC performer who missed the team’s first four games last year before settling in with a strong showing at guard down the stretch.

The absence of those two veterans looms big for the S.C. State interior line. But three starters from the group return, giving the Bulldogs some key experience as Pough’s team seeks to bounce back from a 5-6 campaign. Pough will have to rely on inexperience and youth to establish the depth along the offensive line that will be needed to compete against improved MEAC competition.

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Norwood Leads FAMU Squad of Nine on All-MEAC List

NORFOLK, Virginia  – The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference released its 2017 Preseason All-Star Football Team here Friday, and nine (9) FAMU student-athletes were named among the selected performers announced at the annual Football Media Luncheon at the Marriott Waterside Hotel.
Heading the list of Rattler All-Stars was senior wide receiver Brandon Norwood of Atlanta, Georgia, who was named to the All-MEAC First Team. Norwood had a team-high 51 catches for 458 yards and four touchdowns a year ago.



Second Team selections included offensive linemen Osman Aguilera and Loubens Polinice, along with defensive backs Orlando McKinley and Terry Jefferson, who each had four pass interceptions in 2016.

Third Team selections from FAMU were quarterback Ryan Stanley, tight end Desmond Noird, offensive tackle Obinna Nwanko and defensive end Elijah Price.

2017 FAMU Preseason MEAC Football All-Stars

First Team Offense
WR* Brandon Norwood Sr. Florida A&M Atlanta, Ga.

Second Team Offense
OL Osman Aguilera Sr. Florida A&M Miami, Fla.
OL Loubens Polinice So. Florida A&M Palm Coast, Fla.

Second Team Defense
DB Orlando McKinley Jr. Florida A&M Atlanta, Ga.
DB Terry Jefferson So. Florida A&M Miami, Fla.

Third Team Offense
QB Ryan Stanley So. Florida A&M Pembroke Pines, Fla.
TE Desmond Noird Sr. Florida A&M Atlanta, Ga.
OL Obinna Nwanko So. Florida A&M Miramar, Fla.

Third Team Defense
DL* Elijah Price Sr. Florida A&M Jacksonville, Fla.


The nine players was the most from Florida A&M since early 2000s.

FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

NCCU Eagles finally earn respect

NORFOLK, Virginia -- Well, N.C. Central can no longer consider themselves the Rodney Dangerfields of the MEAC.  Friday at MEAC Media Day, the Eagles finally got some respect.

At the league’s annual preseason gathering, N.C. Central was picked to win a fourth straight MEAC title. The coaches and sports information directors in the conference vote, and the Eagles finished one spot ahead of rival North Carolina A&T, who were picked to win it all in 2016. South Carolina State, Bethune-Cookman, Hampton, Florida A&M, Norfolk State, Morgan State, Howard, Savannah State and Delaware State round out the predicted order of finish. It was the first time since Jerry Mack took over in 2014 N.C. Central was predicted to finish first in the conference. Mack’s first season, the coaches predicted the Eagles to finish No. 8. That season Mack’s squad won the share of the MEAC title.

N.C. Central, which finished a perfect 8-0 in the MEAC last season, will play each of the remaining four teams in the top five predicted order of finish. The Eagles didn’t play South Carolina State or Hampton last season, who replaced Morgan State and Savannah State on N.C. Central’s schedule.

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Mike London is upbeat about his uphill battle to rebuild Howard University football

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As a RICHMOND police detective, Mike London escaped death only by chance. He was working an undercover beat, wearing a beard, long hair and an earring when he jumped into a van full of young men suspected of pulling off a series of robberies.

A juvenile put a gun to his head and pulled the trigger. The gun jammed. That’s the only reason London is alive today.

In 2003, when London’s daughter, Ticynn, was 7, she was suffering from a rare genetic blood disorder called Fanconi anemia. Without a bone marrow transplant, she would almost certainly die, doctors said, adding there was one chance in 10,000 that Mike London’s bone marrow would match hers.

He beat the odds, donated bone marrow to her at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, and his daughter is now a senior at Old Dominion University.

London, a Hampton native and graduate of Bethel High School, has seven children and two grandchildren. He won a Football Championship Subdivision national title at Richmond in 2008. He’s mentored hundreds of football players who have become successful businessmen and fathers.

So don’t feel sorry for him that he didn’t quite cut it as head coach at the University of Virginia, where he was fired in 2015 after winning just 27 games in six seasons.

Wins and losses don’t mean nearly as much to London as life and death and family.

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Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Sets Schedule for Leslie Frazier's Induction

JACKSON, Mississippi – Alcorn State University football legend Leslie Frazier will be inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame (MSHOF) on Aug. 4-5, 2017.

The MSHOF weekend begins with the "Drawdown of Champions" Friday, Aug. 4 at 6:30 p.m. to honor Frazier as one of six new inductees. The party offers food from Jackson area restaurants, libations, a silent auction and a chance to win cash in the drawdown. Tickets are $50 each and additional numbers for the draw are $25 each. Dress is casual for the evening and is held at the museum.

Saturday, Aug. 5 from 10-11:30 a.m., the class of 2017 and other Hall of Famers will be back at the museum to sign autographs and meet fans. Regular museum prices of $5 for adults, $3.50 for students and kids 5 and under are free will apply.

The Induction Banquet, presented by Sanderson Farms and the Sanderson Farms Championship, begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Jackson Convention Complex and includes an open bar reception for the Inductees prior to the dinner at 7 p.m. Individual tickets are $125 each for the reception and banquet.



Frazier will be honored along with former Clarion-Ledger sports columnist Rick Cleveland, former Jackson State baseball coach/athletic director Bob Braddy, former Ole Miss women's basketball player Eugenia Conner, who was inducted posthumously, former Oklahoma and Southern Miss running back Marcus Dupree, and former Mississippi State baseball player Jay Powell, who coaches at Jackson Academy.

For more information on the MSHOF induction ceremony, contact executive director Bill Blackwell at 601-982-8264.

About Frazier
Frazier has excelled in athletics at every level starting early in high school earning nine letters at Stephen D. Lee in Columbus, three each in baseball, basketball and football.

Highly recruited, Frazier chose Alcorn and was an All-SWAC selection in baseball and in football under Hall of Fame coach Marino Casem. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Chicago Bears in 1981 where he teamed up with fellow Hall of Famers Walter Payton and Tyrone Keys to win Super Bowl XX.

His coaching career began at small Trinity International University and has been extremely successful including winning Super Bowl XLI as a coach for the Indianapolis Colts. Frazier served as head coach of the Minnesota Vikings from 2010 to 2013 and currently works for the Buffalo Bills as the defensive coordinator.

Frazier at Alcorn
Frazier made an immediate impact as a freshman at Alcorn in 1978. Playing for Coach Casem, he intercepted six passes and wrapped-up 62 tackles to help the Braves finish with a winning record.

Frazier had a breakout season the next year as he picked off a school-record nine passes, a record that still stands. He was part of a defense that limited the opposition to just 108.7 yards per game and 10.7 points per outing. Frazier ended with 44 tackles and 26 pass break-ups. He helped lead the Braves to the 1979 SWAC Championship.

In his final season as a Brave in 1980, Frazier led the team in interceptions with a total of five and recorded 49 tackles. He also returned 14 punt returns and scored one for a touchdown.

Frazier ranks second in school history in interceptions with 20 which is also sixth in the SWAC record book.

Frazier's Postseason Football Accolades at Alcorn
• 1978 All-SWAC Honorable Mention
• 1979 All-SWAC First-Team
• 1979 NCAA All-America First-Team
• 1979 AFCA All-America First-Team
• 1979 NAIA All-District Team
• 1980 All-SWAC Second-Team
• 1980 NAIA All-District Team
• 1980 SBN All-Star Game Participant

ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Alcorn Braves Legend Donald Driver Inducted into Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame

GREEN BAY, Wisconsin -- One of the most successful graduates in the history of Alcorn State University athletics, football standout Donald Driver was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame over the weekend at Lambeau Field.

Driver graduated from Alcorn in the spring of 1999 after playing three seasons with the Braves from 1996-98 as a wide receiver. Even as a three-year letterman, Driver ranks top-10 in school history in both receiving yards (1,933) and touchdown receptions (17).

Driver played for coach Cordell Jones his first two years and Johnny Thomas the last. The big-play threat hauled in an astounding 19.69 yards per catch over his career.



As a freshman, Driver recorded 12 catches for 249 yards and a touchdown. The following season, he reeled in 21 passes for 556 yards and six touchdowns. His breakout year came in 1998 where he caught a team-high 55 passes for 1,128 yards and scored 10 touchdowns in 11 games. He averaged 20.5 yards per catch and 5.0 catches per outing that season.

In addition to football, Driver was a part of the track & field squad at Alcorn. He was a five-time Athlete of the Year winner in conference between the two sports over six seasons total.

Upon graduation, Driver was selected as the 213th pick in the seventh round by the Packers of the 1999 NFL Draft. He spent 14 seasons with Green Bay and became the team's all-time leader in both receptions (743) and receiving yards (10,137). He also caught 61 career touchdowns.



PROFESSIONAL CAREER
• Four-time Pro Bowl selection (2002, 2006, 2007, 2009)
• Won Super Bowl XLV over the Pittsburgh Steelers
• Tallied seven 1,000-yard receiving seasons
• Grabbed at least five touchdown passes in seven different seasons
• Averaged at least 10.0 yards per catch in 13 of his 14 seasons
• Played in 205 career games including 14 in the playoffs
• Set his career-high in receiving with 191 yards against the Minnesota Vikings on Nov. 12, 2006 which included an 82-yard touchdown
• When Brett Farve broke Dan Marino's all-time passing mark of 61,361 yards, it came on a seven-yard completion to Driver
• Scored the longest played in Green Bay's postseason history with a 90-yard touchdown catch against the New York Giants on Jan. 20, 2008

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES ON DRIVER
• Dancing with the Stars champion, season 14
• New York Times bestselling author for his official memoir, Driven, which included personal stories about his childhood and football career
• Olympic-Class high jumper with a personal-record of 2.30m
• Qualified for the 1996 Olympic Field Trials in the high jump

ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Fall in love with the process: A well-read Southern team reports to camp seeking the 'chance to become great'

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- The Southern football team’s offseason reading assignment was due Friday, when it reported for the start of preseason camp.

The task? Finish the book “Chop Wood, Carry Water: How to Fall in Love with the Process of Becoming Great” by Joshua Medcalf.

“The deal with this generation is they want things right now, and they don’t understand that it’s a process in becoming great,” coach Dawson Odums said. “The only way to become great is to fall in love with the process.”

Odums assigned the book to his entire program in the spring, from the coaching staff to the players at the bottom of the depth chart.

The summary, according to Odums: A man dreams of becoming a samurai archer, enrolls in a training school and looks for the quickest way to achieve that goal. He is told not to focus on the end result but instead to focus on accomplishing what seem to be the most minute tasks, like chopping wood to burn for heat and carrying water to the village.

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Grambling to vacate 2011 SWAC title as part of sweeping NCAA probe

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- Grambling State will vacate multiple wins across various sports, including the 2011 Southwestern Athletic Conference football championship, face two years of probation, a reduction of scholarships in two sports and pay a $5,000 financial penalty due to numerous compliance infractions between 2010-15.

GSU President Rick Gallot’s Response to the NCAA Decision

NCAA Grambling Infractions Decision

NCAA Lovell Infractions Decision

NCAA Curry Infractions Decision

The NCAA issued a Notice of Allegations today after an inquiry alongside an internal investigation revealed during the five-year stretch that ineligible players were allowed to play in games, improper certification toward degrees for some student-athletes, three teams not meeting the single-year Annual Progress Rate requirement, improper benefits, athletes in 11 of the school’s 13 sports were not properly certified and athletes in six sports were permitted to practice, compete and receive expenses without meeting the required amateurism guidelines.

GSU self-detected and self-reported the violations to the NCAA, who categorized the school’s violations as Level II, or significant and intentional efforts to achieve an advantage over competitors. The NCAA started an inquiry in Grambling athletics in February 2016 after the university self-reported probable infractions in 2015.

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Howard Bison Football: Philyaw Named MEAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, Anthony Earns All-MEAC Honors

#7 ANTHONY PHILYAW
PHOTO COURTESY: HOWARD UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

NORFOLK, Virginia – It's a new era for Howard football and it's starting with a bang as senior running back Anthony Philyaw was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Preseason Offensive Player of the Year on Friday. The high honor earned Philyaw a spot on the All-MEAC First Team, while sophomore wide receiver Kyle Anthony was placed on the All-MEAC Second Team.

Philyaw started 10 games for the Bison in 2016 and picked up postseason honors as an All-MEAC First Team selection. He had an outstanding season after rushing for 1,230 yards on 222 carries. The Los Angeles native averaged 123 yards per game and 5.5 yards per carry while scoring a team-high nine touchdowns. He twice rushed for over 200 yards in a game, including the season finale in which he rushed for a school-record 281 yards on 36 carries and two touchdowns. Philyaw also caught 21 passes for 215 yards and has compiled almost 2,000 yards rushing and 24 touchdowns in two seasons.

Anthony made his presence known during his rookie campaign, starting all 11 games. He grabbed a team-high 40 passes for 535 yards and six touchdowns. The 2016 All-MEAC Third Team honoree averaged almost 14 yards per catch and had two games with multiple touchdowns.

The Bison will open the 2017 season on Saturday, Sept. 2 at UNLV. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. PT/9 p.m. ET in Sam Boyd Stadium.

by Candace Johnson, Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations

HOWARD UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

With different perspective than most, Mike London likes what he has at Howard

NORFOLK, Virginia -- As a private school, Howard University is not required to reveal employee salaries. But regarding football coach Mike London, we know this: It’s less than the $300,000 he made last year as a Maryland assistant.

Kery Davis, the Bison’s athletic director, dropped that nugget during London’s introductory press conference Jan. 9. So, yes, London agreed to a pay cut in taking over a program that has had one winning season in the last 12 years.

But neither money nor prominence drives him. A man who once had a gun pointed at his head and donated bone marrow to save his daughter’s life can be expected to look at life differently than most.

“It’s a chance for longevity,” London said at the MEAC’s Media Day Friday morning. “My son (Mike Jr.) is on my staff, and I’m regionally close to this area, where I’m from. It’s a similar school to the other schools I’ve been at. I’ve been at educational institutions my whole career.

“It’s not as much to me about status and prestige. I’ve been fortunate to have been at a lot of good places. Howard is a place where we have an opportunity to build something.

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FAMU football picked to finish 6th in MEAC

NORFOLK, Virginia -- The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference released its 2017 Preseason All-Star Football Team Friday, and nine FAMU players were named among the selected performers announced at the annual Football Media Luncheon at the Marriott Waterside Hotel.

A panel of conference head coaches and sports information directors, which selected the all-star teams, also weighed in on the 2017 MEAC title chase, picking defending champion North Carolina Central to repeat, followed by North Carolina A&T, South Carolina State, Bethune-Cookman and Hampton.

FAMU was picked to finish sixth, with Norfolk State, Morgan State, Howard, Savannah State and Delaware State trailing the Rattlers in that order.

Heading the list of Rattler All-Stars was senior wide receiver Brandon Norwood, who was named to the All-MEAC preseason first team.

The Atlanta native had a team-high 51 catches for 458 yards and four touchdowns last season.

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Rare subpar season motivates South Carolina State in MEAC

NORFOLK, Virginia – South Carolina State has never had a losing MEAC record under coach Buddy Pough. Many teams would embrace last year’s 5-3 mark.

But, oh, do the Bulldogs seek a sweeter ending this year to Pough’s 16th season in Orangeburg.

“We have a tradition of winning championships,” he said, “and when we finish second or third, that’s not good enough for our program.”

South Carolina State is expected to contend for the MEAC title this season, but even Friday’s third-place prediction in the conference’s preseason poll likely serves as additional motivation for the Bulldogs, who have won six championships under Pough.

Defending champion North Carolina Central and North Carolina A&T, last year’s runner-Cup and the 2015 conference champ, were picked first and second, respectively, in the preseason poll, which was voted on by the head coach and the sports information director at each of the 11 schools.

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North Carolina Central Picked To Defend MEAC Championship

NORFOLK, Virginia -- North Carolina Central was picked to defend its MEAC Football Championship as the Eagles topped the league's annual preseason poll. Voting for the poll is conducted by the MEAC's 11 head coaches and football sports information directors.

The Eagles received 13 first-place votes to narrowly finish ahead of rival North Carolina A&T State, who finished with 10 first-place votes. South Carolina State was picked to finish third while Bethune-Cookman was picked fourth. Hampton was tabbed to finish fifth followed by Florida A&M, Norfolk State, Morgan State, Howard, Savannah State and Delaware State.

1. North Carolina Central (13)
2. North Carolina A&T State (5)
3. South Carolina State
4. Bethune-Cookman
5. Hampton (1)
6. Florida A&M
7. Norfolk State
8. Morgan State
9. Howard
10. Savnnah State
11. Delaware State (1)

COURTESY MEAC MEDIA RELATIONS

Stafford-Odom settles in at NCCU

DURHAM, North Carolina -- Doing your job virtually might work in some professions, but it’s not ideal for a basketball coach.

That’s exactly what new N.C. Central women’s basketball coach Trisha Stafford-Odom had to do for a while. Stafford-Odom was hired in May to replace former coach Vanessa Taylor. At the time, Stafford-Odom was living in California, where she served as the head coach at Concordia. She made a quick trip east last month, the first time she got a chance to sit down with her new players as their head coach.

But then she was back to the west coast, where she did most of her work over the phone or, thanks to modern technology, a Skype session with her team. After she was hired, Stafford-Odom hit the ground running. Her first order of business was putting together her staff. Already having potential staff members in mind, Stafford-Odom made a quick splash, hiring former N.C. State standout Tynesha Lewis first, then adding NCCU alum, and former coach, A.G. Hall. Stafford-Odom proved she was good at multi-tasking, hunting down recruits while finalizing her staff, all of this from California.

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One proud papa: Dawson Odums looking forward to first Southern season with all of his own recruits

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Nothing about the Southern football team reporting for preseason camp is new to Dawson Odums.

About to start his fifth full season running the show for the Jaguars, the coach knows exactly what to expect.

Players report to the on-campus dorm, and the next day they start practice. At first, it’ll be mostly without pads, and workouts will get the players acclimated to being back on the field in the intense summer heat of Baton Rouge.

That's the plan when the Jaguars report at 11 a.m. Friday and start practice Saturday. No need to deviate from a plan that resulted in an 8-1 SWAC record the year before.

But this year is different — for Odums, at least.

This is the first season in which ...

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Former Tech player enrolls at Grambling State

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- With experience on defense an issue as the coaches look to add depth this preseason, Grambling State may have picked up a late, and local, addition that could factor into the linebacker unit.

Donald Freeman, a redshirt sophomore linebacker, transferred out of Louisiana Tech early this summer and was accepted to GSU Thursday.

The Baton Rouge native signed with Tech out of Scotlandville High School in 2015 after tearing his ACL during the second week of his senior season, and redshirted his freshman season in Ruston. Freeman played special teams in two games last year and recorded just three tackles for the Bulldogs.

Freeman, who was granted release from Louisiana Tech June 6, will be eligible to play this season.

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Five burning questions for Southern, starting with the obvious: How does it replace Tillery and Quinn?

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- This is the biggest question facing Southern this season. It must find a way to replace production from its all-time leading rusher, Lenard Tillery, and its all-time leading receiver, Willie Quinn. Those two were a massive part of Southern’s success last season, accounting for nearly 3,000 yards and 26 touchdowns from scrimmage. That is a lot of game changing ability to replace in one year, and there's simply no clear answer yet. But, looking back on it, who would’ve thought a former walk on and a 5-foot-5 receiver would’ve made such a big impression when they first walked on to campus?

2: Can the defense carry the load?

The Jaguars’ explosive offense often overshadowed their big-play defense last season. Southern intercepted 19 passes — led by Danny Johnson’s SWAC-best seven interceptions — and also recovered 13 fumbles. A strong finish by defensive end Aaron Tiller (nine sacks) helped Southern rack up 24 sacks as a team, as well. And, unlike the offense, all of the big-name players are returning for 2017. This may be the year when Southern’s hopes are pinned largely to how well its defense performs, especially in momentum-swinging categories it scored well in last season like turnovers and sacks.

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JSU, Hughes excited about adding Deion Pope to already strong defense

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Jackson State is the latest Mississippi university to hit the practice field and open fall camp. The Tigers held their first of 29 preseason practices on Thursday.

Tony Hughes enters his second season with a strong defense that includes the intriguing addition of transfer defensive lineman Deion Pope. Coming out of Co-Lin, Pope was the top junior college defensive tackle in the country when he committed to Mississippi State.



After going through the Bulldogs offseason program, the Collins native decided to transfer to JSU. Hughes says his addition to an already impressive front four could take the Tigers defense to another level.

"Deion (Pope) is excited to be out here," Hughes said. "and we expect to see hopefully a dominant player that can transform our team from an average team to a great team. If it plays out, we got potential to be possibly one of the best defenses in the country."

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5 takeaways from JSU's first fall practice

JACKSON, Mississippi -- The first practice of Jackson State's fall camp is in the books.

The Tigers took to the practice field in shorts and put in an energetic hour and 45 minutes of work despite temperatures that reached into the mid-90s.

"I thought we had a tremendous day," JSU coach Tony Hughes said. "The kids came out with a tremendous amount of energy and excitement, they executed well and they played hard. It was a great day to be out here coaching football."

Here are five takeaways from the first day of camp:

New year, new team

It's easy to see this is a different Tiger team. Guys were smiling, dancing and picking each other up throughout practice while music blared over the loudspeakers at the practice field.

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