Howard Bison RJ Cole Is Ready To Leave His Mark On The Hilltop

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- It's a new year on the horizon for the Howard University men's basketball team and freshman guard RJ Cole is ready to make his mark.

The three-star athlete under ESPN's ranking of the nation's top prep stars came to The Mecca from nationally ranked St. Anthony High School. With offers from various Division I programs, including crosstown rival Georgetown, Cole knew he wanted to switch things up.

"I chose Howard because of the education but I also wanted to be different, coming here for basketball," said Cole. "I thought this would be a change for me and a change for anyone else who would think of this as a different opportunity. This is a family. I like the culture here and the storied history around Howard."



Being different isn't an easy task, which Cole is learning as his first summer as a collegiate student-athlete winds down.

"Honestly, it's a lot," Cole stated. "It's been hard because I'm not used to having long classes, being so tired. We have to be in the weight room, at conditioning, practice, open gym and individual workouts. It's a big transition but I'm getting used to it. I just have to buckle down and take care of myself, getting the proper rest that I need. Even though it's a lot, it's really good to be around my teammates. Everyone here is cool and we're getting to know each other so it'll be easier when the season starts."

Although he spends plenty of time on Howard's campus, Cole had the chance to participate in one of D.C.'s most storied basketball traditions, playing in the Kenner League. He even got to team up with fellow Bison Charles "CJ" Williams.

"It's really helping because everyone is bigger than me," mentioned Cole. "It's more of a physical thing. Being able to get used to playing against pros and college guys helps me learn what to expect. How to take those hits or bumps and bruises now because I'm getting used to it this summer. It's helping a lot to be playing with CJ too. Playing in the Kenner League, we've been involving each other more and it'll help us during the season. We'll be able to gel better when it comes to those big situations, those big games."

Cole proved in high school that he was ready for big moments after he helped lead St. Anthony to a state title, the 28th overall under longtime head coach Bob Hurley Sr. However, he couldn't hide the fact that it took plenty of hard work to get there.

"When I first transferred to St. Anthony, it was tough because I wasn't used to someone always being on me," Cole admitted. "My dad was my coach before but this was different. Coach Hurley always had something to say. At first, I looked at it in the wrong manner but as I got older I realized that everything he said was because he wanted us to do well. He wanted us to do good for ourselves and good in life. It was a great experience. The player I was for him my senior year opened up doors for me. Our relationship is really close. I still talk to him and his family."

As he continues his transition into college life with the 2017-18 school year starting in a couple weeks, the Union, N.J. native is on the path to having a successful rookie season.

"I've been playing basketball my whole life," Cole emphasized. "Being on the floor. Being able to play every night, to show up and put a jersey on your back. That's what it's about."

We'll definitely be watching. Will you?

by Candace Johnson, Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations
HOWARD UNIVERSITY BISON MEDIA RELATIONS

Daley Named New Head Softball Coach at EWC

JACKSONVILLE, Florida -- Edward Waters has promoted Assistant Coach Brian Daley to be the fifth Head Softball Coach in program history. Daley replaces now former Head Coach and Interim Director of Athletics Stanley B. Cromartie, and helped lead the Lady Tigers to its most historic season in 2017.

"I affectionately call him "Sarge" because of his take-charge attitude of our program." said Cromartie. "What he has brought to our program in just a short time here is respectability across the country and I am confident that under his leadership, our program will continue to reach unprecedented heights."

A native of Beloit, Ohio and also growing up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Daley, helped guide the Tigers to 27 wins last season, a runner-up finish in the Association of Independent Institutions (A. I. I.) Softball Championship, and the program's first-ever appearance in the NAIA Softball Opening Round. Under his guidance the Edward Waters College Softball team raised its team batting average over 90 points from the 2015 season.

Prior to joining EWC, Daley was the Head Varsity Softball Coach at Nathan B. Forrest/Westside High School in Jacksonville from 2013-2015. He helped lead the Lady Rebels/Wolverines to 36 wins during his two-year tenure. In addition to coaching at the high school level, Daley has coached with Jacksonville Storm and Pittsburgh Spirit fast pitch organizations and is also a member of the National Fast Pitch Coaches Association.

Daley is also a retired detective from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police as well as a Non-Commissioned Officer in the United States Army Reserves. He holds a Master's Degree in Leadership from Mountain State University and Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from Point Park University. Daley is currently working on a second Master's Degree from Texas Women's College in Kinesiology with a focus in Coaching.

"I would like to thank President Dr. Nathaniel Glover, Jr., Interim Athletic Director Stanley Cromartie and the entire Tiger community for this opportunity, as I am both honored and humbled to continue my coaching career at Edward Waters College." remarked Daley upon being hired. "I have high expectations of myself and the Tiger softball program and I am excited to get started."

EDWARD WATERS COLLEGE TIGERS SPORTS INFORMATION

Benedict Tigers Announces Three Staff Additions To Athletic Department

COLUMBIA, South Carolina – The Benedict College athletic department has announced three staff additions, said Willie Washington, Director of Athletics.

Joining the Tigers are Bridget Jones as Assistant Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator; Tiffani Hall as Head Athletic Trainer; and Michael Ellis as an offensive line coach for the football team.

"We are excited about our new staff joining the Benedict athletic program," Washington said. "I have known Ms. Jones for a long time and she will be a tremendous asset to our athletic program. Miss Hall will lead our athletic training operations and brings a great deal of experience. And we are glad to have Mr. Ellis back on our football staff and will help lift our team to new heights."

Jones is no stranger to Benedict College. Prior to joining the athletic department, she spent 5 ½ years as the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, 10 years as Director of Community Life and two years as Director of Student Financial Services. For 15 years, she has volunteered as a Special Assistant to the Director of Athletics.

Her responsibilities will include overseeing internal and external financial reporting functions, fundraising and development activities, special projects, and student services. She will also be charged with overseeing the athletic enhancement program, which services over 275 student-athletes and serve as a liaison to various campus and off-campus offices. Ms. Jones will manage all women's sports and assist with the overall operations of the Athletic Department. In this role, she will also strengthen relationships with the NCAA and increase local and state business relations with the Benedict College athletic program.

Jones earned her Bachelor's degree in business with honors from Jackson State University in 1987 and her Master's in business administration (M.B.A.) from Jackson State University in 1995.

Hall joins Benedict after serving at Alabama State University, where she spent two years as an Athletic Trainer and interim Head Athletic Trainer. Prior to that, she worked as an athletic trainer at Eagles Landing Christian Academy in Atlanta, and an assistant athletic trainer at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Fla.

She earned her Bachelor of Science in biology from Morgan State University, then continued her education with a Master of Science in sport injury management from Life University, a Master of Science in athletic training from Florida International University and a Doctor of Business Administration in Healthcare Management (DHA) from California Intercontinental University in Los Angeles.

Ellis joins the football program as an offensive line coach, a position he held at Benedict from 2008-2011. Prior to returning to Benedict, he was an offensive line coach with the Metro City Bounty Hunters. He also served as an offensive line coach at Concordia College in Alabama, and spent five years as an offensive line coach at Alcorn State University, his alma mater. He earned a Bachelor's degree in communications from Alcorn State in 1995 and was a member of the football team, earning first team Sheridan Black College All-American honors in 1994.

COURTESY BENEDICT COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION

Libero Dalla Vecchia completes Gold Nuggets' class

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana completed its 2017 volleyball recruiting class with the Friday announcement that Anna Dalla Vecchia signed an athletic scholarship.

Dalla Vecchia is a 5-foot-7 libero from Vicenza, Italy. She was selected the best libero in her region in 2013 and ranked third nationwide at the Italian Trophy of Regions competition. In 2014-15 and 2016-17 she helped her teams win league championships and earn promotions to higher-ranked leagues.

Dalla Vecchia, who will major in communication studies at XULA, is the Gold Nuggets' seventh signee. All will be freshmen this season.

Previously signed were outside hitters Ariel Bell of White Castle, La., Kayla Black of Magnolia, Texas, and Jaida Dowd of Aurora, Ill., setter Eva Le Guillou of Velizy-Villacoublay, France, middle blocker/right side Vivica Price-Spraggins of Chicago and right side/outside hitter Lauryn Taylor of Sairburn, Ga.

"I'm very excited about our 2017 recruiting class." first-year head coach Pat Kendrick said. "We have a good balance of athleticism and skill. With the strong core of returning players and this new group of student-athletes, I believe this season will be filled with exciting and highly competitive play."

The Gold Nuggets will open the season Aug. 25 in the UM-Dearborn Early Bird at Dearborn, Mich., against Trinity International at 3 p.m. EDT and Madonna at 7 p.m. The home opener will start at 6 p.m. Aug. 29 against Mobile at the Convocation Center. XULA won the last six Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament championships and earned six consecutive automatic bids during that time to the NAIA National Championship.

2017-18 XULA Volleyball Signees
Name Pos. Ht. Yr.* Hometown High School
Ariel Bell # OH 5-7 Fr. White Castle, La. White Castle
Kayla Black OH 5-9 Fr. Magnolia, Texas St. Pius X
Anna Dalla Vecchia L 5-7 Fr. Vicenza, Italy IIS S.B. Boscardin
Jaida Dowd OH 5-8 Fr. Aurora, Ill. Metea Valley
Eva Le Guillou S 5-9 Fr. Velizy-Villacoublay, France Emmanuel Mounier
Vivica Price-Spraggins MB/RS 5-11 Fr. Chicago, Ill. Whitney Young Magnet
Lauryn Taylor RS/OH 5-9 Fr. Sairburn, Ga. Booker T. Washington

* XULA athletic classification in 2017-18
# also will compete in track and field

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Harrier from standout Ohio program signs with Rush

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana announced Friday the signing of Camren Sewell of Cincinnati to an athletic scholarship for men's cross country and track and field.

Sewell, 5-feet-11 and 150 pounds, competed two seasons apiece in varsity cross country and track for La Salle High School, one of Ohio's top distance programs. Sewell in 2016 helped the Lancers' cross country team finish second in district, qualify for regionals and win the Midwest Catholic Championships. In 2015 he helped the Lancers rank 17th in the final state poll and qualify for regionals.

Sewell's best times for La Salle were 4 minutes, 44 seconds for 1,600 meters and 10:21.27 for the 3,200 in track and field and 16:49.7 for the 5,000 in cross country. He achieved all those times during his senior season.

Sewell made the honor roll multiple times at La Salle and will major in biomedical engineering at XULA. Gold Rush coach Joseph Moses said Sewell will bid strongly to become the team's No. 1 runner this season.

XULA's men and women will open Aug. 25 in the Xavier Big Easy Opener at City Park, about four miles from the XULA campus. The women will run two miles starting at 5:30 p.m., followed by a 5,000-meter men's race at 6.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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City Park meet will open schedule for Rush, Nuggets

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's men's and women's cross country teams will compete at several familiar venues during 2017 en route to the postseason.

Joseph Moses, beginning his 13th season as head coach, announced Friday the schedule, which will begin Aug. 25 when the Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets play host to the Xavier Big Easy Opener at City Park, about four miles from the XULA campus. The women will run two miles starting at 5:30 p.m., followed by a 5,000-meter men's race at 6.

It will be third time in four years that XULA opens the season at home. The 2016 Big Easy Opener was canceled because of a waterlogged course.

2017 Schedule Pages:  Men   •   Women

XULA's second, third and fourth meets — the Mississippi College Season Opener Sept. 1, the Allstate Sugar Bowl Festival Sept. 9 and the LSU Invitational Sept. 16 — are repeats from last year.

The Sugar Bowl meet venue will be Lafreniere Park in suburban Metairie, La., giving XULA a second local appearance this season.

The Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Championships will be run in late October at Clinton, Miss. — the same site as the Sept. 1 meet. GCAC administration will announce details soon. XULA won the last 10 GCAC men's and women's team championships.

The GCAC team champions will qualify automatically for the NAIA National Championships Nov. 18 at Vancouver, Wash., which will play host to that meet for the fifth time and the first time since 2012.

XULA's returning letterwinners are Carlie Calais, Chinyere Jones, Dionysia Love, Brianna Pace, Taylor Price and Maliya Vaughan on the women's team and Oji Wells, Ammiel Williams and Darrick Williams on the men's. Price, a sophomore from Missouri City, Texas, was a GCAC individual champion in 2016.

Xavier University of Louisiana 2017 Men's and Women's Cross Country Schedule Friday, Aug. 25 XAVIER BIG EASY OPENER, City Park, 5:30 p.m. women, 6 p.m. men Friday, Sept. 1 Mississippi College Season Opener, Clinton, Miss., 5 p.m. women, 5:30 p.m. men Saturday, Sept. 9 Allstate Sugar Bowl Festival, Metairie, La., 7:50 a.m. women, 8:25 a.m. men Saturday, Sept. 16 LSU Invitational, Baton Rouge, La., 7:30 a.m. women, 8:10 a.m. men Late October Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Championships, Clinton, Miss., details TBA Saturday, Nov. 18 NAIA National Championships, Vancouver, Wash., 10:30 a.m. PST men, 11:45 a.m. PST women Home meets 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  twitter.com/xulagold www.facebook.com/xulagold

KSU FOOTBALL | Thorobreds Looking Forward to 2017 Season

FRANKFORT, Kentucky -- Last year, the Thorobreds finished 4-7 overall, and made it to the SIAC Championship Game, where they fell 33-30 to Fort Valley St. University.

This year, they are hoping to make it back to the conference title game, and win it.

KSU head coach John L. Smith, who is entering his second season with the team, says he hopes last year’s loss in the conference title game is used as motivation for this year’s team:

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For FVSU Wildcats’ offense, success is about the right mindset

FORT VALLEY, Georgia -- Demontay Jones is back for the Fort Valley State Wildcats, and there are five other returning starters on the offense.

But even after the Wildcats won the SIAC title in 2016, head coach Kevin Porter isn’t satisfied with his offense. He wants to see more productivity and balance from that unit during the 2017 season, which opens with the Wildcats traveling to West Georgia on Aug. 31.

“Offensively, it’s going to be a challenge,” Porter said. “We want to do a better job of running the football, obviously, but if we can go out and get the right mindset about what we’re trying to do, I think we’ll be OK.”



The Wildcats struggled to run the ball in 2016, averaging just 2.9 yards per carry and 139.1 yards per game. Jamari Clark led the way with 438 yards on 90 carries, while Chauncey Jackson added 304 yards on 95 carries.

Junior offensive lineman Julian Williams is excited about his head coach’s challenge to improve the running game, and Williams thinks his group is up to that challenge.

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Hampton Pirates football looking to bounce back

COURTESY: HAMPTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

HAMPTON, Virginia  -- The Hampton Pirates are trying to turn the corner for their football program. They're about a week into their pre-season practices under head coach, Connell Maynor who's in his 5th season at HU. They were 5-6 in 2016, but had a 5-3 record in the MEAC finishing third. The Pirates are picked to be 5th in pre-season polls in the conference. "You have to use it as fuel", Maynor says.

The Pirates come into 2017 as a team that's stout on defense. Among the players returning, senior safety, Brendan Cole who will help lead a squad that was second in total defense in the conference last season. "We like it when it's all on us", he says. They may have to shoulder more, while the offense tries to find its way. They're young in spots that includes wide receiver with the loss of Twarn Mixon and Rashawn Proctor to graduation.

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Morgan State player sues NCAA, school over weird five-year clock eligibility ruling

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- A Morgan State basketball player has taken his eligibility fight with the NCAA to the courtroom after he was ruled ineligible due to the way the NCAA determines a player’s eligibility clock.

First, some background. The way that the NCAA’s five-year clock works is pretty simple: An athlete has five years to use four years of eligibility as a student-athlete, and the clock starts ticking as soon as they enroll in college. Some exceptions can be made — like, for example, Jalan West of Northwestern State, who received a waiver for a seventh-year of eligibility after a pair of torn ACLs — but it requires the NCAA to determine the athlete should receive a waiver.

Enter Andrew Hampton. He’s currently a 24-year old accounting major and a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma honor society, according to the Baltimore Sun, but he also happens to be heading into his seventh year in college. Hampton initially enrolled at Mount St. Mary’s in 2011 — as a student, not as an athlete — and also spent time at Montgomery College, a two-year school where he also did not play sports, before finally enrolling at Morgan State in the fall of 2013. He walked onto the team in 2013-14 and averaged less than 15 minutes per game in a total of 18 games in 2014-15 and 2015-16.

Hampton did not play season, however, as the NCAA ruled that his eligibility clock started when he enrolled at Mount St. Mary’s back in 2011.

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Quarterback battle not yet settled at FAMU

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- For the third year in a row under head coach Alex Wood, two quarterbacks are battling for the starting job in fall camp.

During Wood’s first year at the helm, it was Carson Royal and Kenny Coleman. Royal emerged as the Day 1 starter, though Coleman was the No. 1 quarterback by the end of the season. Last year, Coleman battled Ryan Stanley. Coleman was the Day 1 starter, but Stanley eventually took over.

This year, the battle is primarily between Stanley, now a redshirt sophomore, and senior JUCO transfer Vincent Jefferies Jr. Stanley, who led the Rattlers to four wins last season, wants to earn the job and buck the recent trend by staying the starter through the end of the season.

Both had their chances to work with the first unit during Saturday’s scrimmage, and both struggled at times. Stanley and Jefferies both threw interceptions – Stanley’s lone pick was the result of a receiver falling down and one of Jefferies’ was batted in the air.

Wood said those interceptions were “out of their hands.”

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A.C. basketball standout Ray Bethea Jr. headed to Howard U.

ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey -- Ray Bethea Jr. committed this week to attend Howard University on an NCAA Division I basketball scholarship.

The Washington school probably had the inside track on the recruiting of the Atlantic City High School standout.

Bethea’s sister Natasha Rae Bethea graduated from Howard in 2011. Bethea attended his sister’s graduation.



“I think it would be a good situation because I have a family line there,” Bethea said. “My sister was telling me how I would like the school, and it was a really good school.”

As a junior last season, the 6-foot-5 Bethea averaged 18 points and 6.3 rebounds. He was a first-team Press All-Star and one of the Cape-Atlantic League’s and South Jersey’s most versatile players.

Bethea visited Howard twice this summer.

“I liked the atmosphere,” Bethea said. “Everybody was very supportive. I felt like the school could make me a better man.”

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S.C. STATE FOOTBALL: The 2017 defensive line is a strength

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- Defense has been synonymous with South Carolina State football through the years.

It takes only a quick examination of the All-Conference teams in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), which the Bulldogs joined in 1970, as well as the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) – a league S.C. State participated in earlier – to bear this fact out.

Bulldogs have earned Defensive Player of the Year honors in the MEAC the past four years and the 2017 preseason pick for the accolade is, yes, from S.C. State (OLB Darius Leonard, the 2016 winner).

Overall, Bulldog players have been named DPOTY in the MEAC 14 times. Two of them – Harry Carson, 1974 & 1975) and Javon Hargrave (2014 & 2015) – have received the accolade in consecutive seasons.

The Bulldog defense is expected to play a significant role in the team’s success during the 2017 season.

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Morgan State RB Herb Walker Jr. A Study In Perseverance

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- During his sophomore year, the running back set the school's single-game and single-season rushing records and led the Bears to their first NCAA playoff appearance in 35 years. But the past two years have been frustrating for the Cleveland, Ohio, native, who has played in just four games since his record-breaking 2014 season.

Walker, who earned third-team All-Ohio recognition during his senior season at Cleveland Glenville Ginn Academy, split time with former teammate Lamont Brown III in the Bears' backfield during his freshman season. He first showed his promise during the 2013 season opener, when he gained 56 yards on 10 carries in a 28-12 loss at Army. Walker finished his first collegiate season with 390 rushing yards on 99 carries and scored one touchdown.

Walker became one of the nation's top running backs a year later. During the Bears' 7-6 season, he rushed for a school-record 1,408 yards (14th in the FCS) and scored 15 touchdowns. In his first career start, Walker ran for a school-record 271 yards on 20 carries during a 29-26 loss at Holy Cross. He followed that performance with a 180-yard effort during the Bears' 28-3 win against Bowie State. Walker went exceeded the 200-yard mark again when he rushed for 203 yards on 22 carries during a 24-9 win at Florida A&M.

After leading the Bears to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title and an automatic berth in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, he closed the season by rushing for 120 yards on 21 carries during a 46-24 loss at Richmond.

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Deep Delaware State Hornet backfield aims to dominate

DOVER, Delaware — The Delaware State football team’s best position last season is even deeper for 2017.

Not only do the Hornets return their top two rushers, but the backfield gets a boost because Nyfease West is now healthy.

West sat out all of the 2016 season with a knee injury. He had to watch from the sideline as the Hornets went winless.

Brycen Alleyne and Mike Waters provided some of the few bright spots for Delaware State during that losing streak. Both running backs finished in the top-five in the MEAC in rushing.

The addition of West just makes that unit more dangerous.

“I feel like we got the best backfield in the conference,” Alleyne said. “No one can compete with us in the backfield.”

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FAMU Set to Open 2017 Season on ESPNU

Kickoff time set for 12 noon • Rattlers will play four nationally-televised games this season

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The inaugural Jake Gaither Classic will take place on Aug. 26 at Bragg Memorial Stadium. Today the FAMU Department of Athletics announced that the game has been moved to a 12 noon kickoff time to allow the game to be shown on ESPNU. This Nationally Televised game will be the broadcasts to kick off the 2017 football season. The Rattlers will reach a national audience four times this season.

“The exposure on the premier college football network is part of our strategic recruitment and branding effort. Millions of college football fans will have the opportunity to watch the debut of this year’s Rattler football team and witness the launch of the Jake Gaither Classic. Placing the Jake Gaither Classic on national television is an outstanding way to share the greatness of FAMU and honor Coach Gaither’s legacy,” FAMU Director of Athletics Milton Overton said.

FAMU will appear on ESPNU Aug. 26 for the Jake Gaither Classic, the SEC Network on Aug. 31 (Thurs.) against Arkansas, ESPNU on Sept. 28 (Thurs.) against North Carolina Central and on an undefined ESPN network on Nov.18 against Bethune-Cookman in the Florida Blue Florida Classic. This will be the first time in some time that the Rattlers will make four appearances on national television in a season.

The Jake Gaither Classic will also be a celebration of three amazing national championship football teams. The 1947, 1957 and 1977 football teams will be recognized. In addition, the undefeated 1977 Rattlers (11-0), under the leadership of Rudy Hubbard, will be honored on the field at the game. Hubbard’s team was the only NCAA team at any division to go undefeated in 1977. The game marks the 40th Anniversary of their unblemished season and the last undefeated team in FAMU history.

The Jake Gaither Classic will pit the Rattlers from the MEAC against the Tigers of Texas Southern University of the SWAC. Along with football, the game will also feature a battle of two of the best bands in the country. FAMU’s famed Marching “100” will square off against TSU’s “Ocean of Soul,” in what is sure to be an amazing halftime performance.

The game is in line with the FAMU Athletic Department’s five-year strategic plan for more visibility for both the sports teams and the university. “Our partnership with ESPN allows for opportunities to bolster the great things that happen at FAMU everyday. It will also be beneficial for our football coaches to show recruits our brand. It is a positive step in the process of building champions,” Overton said.

Tickets for the game are available now at the FAMU ticket office, located in the Al Lawson Center starting at just $15. Support the team with season tickets which will be available until the kickoff of the first game starting at just $135. They can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com or by calling 850-599-3141.

FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

'Super athletic' defensive line excites GSU Tiger coaches

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- It’s too early in fall camp for any unit to etch an identity, but Grambling State defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Everett Todd believes he can already see the outline of the defensive line forming.

This season’s defensive front three or four can’t be asked to replicate the form of last year’s group or to produce the numbers they did. No team is the same. With several collegiate migrants filling up the populated defensive line for the Tigers in 2017, the group will take shape the more time the big guys up front play together.

“Last year we were big, we had really experienced players, we weren’t necessarily the most athletic team,” Todd said after Tuesday’s practice. “This team is more athletic with the size being very similar. Now it’s a matter of them gaining the experience, and I think as we progress through the season and they get game experience, they’ll do nothing but get better and better.

“There’s a couple of guys that have been in the program, but haven’t been on the field that are older, more mature guys. We have the maturity, we don’t necessarily have the game experience. We’ve added some new guys to the group that makes it super athletic. That’s what I’m excited about.”

The rain pushed the Tigers indoors for Tuesday morning’s practice, and the tight quarters gave Todd and head coach Broderick Fobbs a good chance to watch the defensive line and see how the newcomers look eight days into fall camp.

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'Chop Wood, Carry Water': Southern's winning motto in 2017

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- "Chop wood, carry water. Follow the process, Go Jags."

"Chop wood, carry water": Four words you'll hear every day on the field at Southern. It's the title of the book this team is reading together throughout camp that teaches the lessons of falling in love with the process of becoming great.

"Every day we go out there we are working to build something, to build a big team chemistry. We are focusing on going 1-0 everyday. Taking it one day at a time. That's what the book talks about, taking that single play and build it into a whole game," says senior defensive back Danny Johnson.

"I think it was chapter eight or nine. It was Mission vs. Goals. That stood out to me because I've been on a mission since I was a kid. Everything I do I want to be the greatest at, whether it's life or that book just teaches you to be the best person you can be because that made me look at myself as someone else. Not just Aaron Tiller the football player. But Aaron Tiller the man."

Now one hundred young men are answering that same question, learning more about themselves on and off the field and learning how they can help the Jaguars win this fall.

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Jake Gaither Classic to be 2017 season’s first game

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

TALLAHASSEE, Florida – An extra spotlight is going to shine on the inaugural Jake Gaither Classic.

Florida A&M announced Wednesday its Aug. 26 home matchup against Texas Southern in Tallahassee has been moved to a noon ET kickoff on ESPNU, which would make it the first Division I game of the 2017 season.

Florida A&M announced the non-conference FCS game in January, and only last month set a 6 p.m. kickoff for a classic that is named after its late College Football Hall of Fame coach. Since the game is occurring in “Week Zero” of the season – held the weekend prior to the traditional Thursday opening night that leads into Labor Day Weekend – NCAA by-laws require a national TV broadcast.

A source involved with the game told STATS it was given a noon kickoff on ESPNU. Later Wednesday, the Florida A&M sports information department confirmed the information.

Both teams had 4-7 records last season. Florida A&M is a member of the MEAC and Texas Southern plays in the SWAC – the two Division I conferences composed of historically black colleges and universities.

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After two years of injury frustration, Southern's Jamar Mitchell hopes his luck is starting to change

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Nobody at Southern has had worse luck in the past two years than Jamar Mitchell.

Early in 2015, Mitchell was projected to be a starter in the defensive backfield, but he pulled his left hamstring during preseason camp, keeping him out for the early part of the year and limiting him once he returned.

A year later, Mitchell was excited to get back on the field and show what he could do at full strength, and again he expected to fight for the starting spot. That is, until he pulled his right hamstring during preseason camp. Again, Mitchell missed time with a lingering strain.

“The toughest part was going through the whole year, spring and summer, and I’d be fine, and then I’d get to camp and have an injury,” Mitchell said.

It was eventually discovered that Mitchell had weak hips and hamstrings, so he was overcompensating in his movements. He was forced to make major changes — stretching more, switching to a new trainer, going to chiropractors and rehab. Anything to fix the problem.

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Grambling State keeps '11 SWAC championship

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- Grambling State’s 2011 Southwestern Athletic Conference football championship remains in place after all.

On Monday, the NCAA clarified the sanctions it nailed the school and athletic department with pertained to academic years 2012-13 through 2015-16, and did not include 2011-12 seasons. The governing body initially informed GSU July 28 that the football program would have to vacate the 2011 SWAC title amid several other compliance infractions, categorized as Level II the school self-reported through an internal investigation.

Grambling State athletic director Paul Bryant, who headed up the institution’s internal inquiry, said Wednesday that the misinterpretation of the sanctions was on the school’s part.

“Initially, when we did our review (of the penalties), we thought it was from 2009 to 2015, but the NCAA came back and said it was from 2012 to 2015,” Bryant said. “We don’t have to vacate (the 2011 SWAC championship) which is a blessing.

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Grambling, Alcorn State preseason favorites in the SWAC

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Grambling State opens the season as one of the favorites to win the Southwestern Athletic Conference and the program's players are all over the league's preseason All-Conference lists.

Grambling coach Broderick Fobbs didn't seem to mind the preseason love his program is receiving. He also wasn't particularly excited by it.

"I don't really think it matters," Fobbs said at SWAC Media Day in July. "We start at the starting line at the same place. Just because you finished first last year or you have all these kids on the All-Conference team, that means absolutely nothing.

"They don't give you a 10-yard head start."

Grambling had 14 players on the preseason All-Conference teams, including quarterback Devante Kincade, who returns after throwing for 3,022 yards, 31 touchdowns and just four interceptions. Running back Martez Carter also returns after running for 891 yards, 10 touchdowns and averaging 7.7 yards per carry.

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More mature Lyles has command of JSU offense

JACKSON, Mississippi -- When you watch JSU senior quarterback Brent Lyles operate during practice, he’s perpetually in charge.

Like a traffic cop, he’s making hand signals and calling out orders — making sure everyone is lined up and the right protection is in place.

Once the ball is snapped, he has good speed, runs to daylight and can make all the throws.

It’s part of the reason he’s considered the front-runner to win the starting quarterback job, despite the crowded depth chart at that position.

The competition is fierce, but Lyles, Jarrad Hayes, Jordan Williams and freshman Tavis Williams are apparently taking it in stride.

“Off the field, we’re a tight group of guys,” Lyles said. “I think we’ve all taken the approach of just ‘May the best man win.’ ”

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Southern's search for its backup quarterback continues as John Lampley gets his shot to back up Austin Howard

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Senior quarterback Austin Howard sat out roughly the entire second half of Southern’s practice Tuesday, ceding the field to the three quarterbacks competing for the top spot behind him.

“We’ve got to find out who the 2 is,” coach Dawson Odums said, referring to the No. 2 quarterback.

Directing the first-team offense Tuesday was freshman John Lampley, a bit of a surprise considering Darquez Lee and Bubba McDaniel had spent most of preseason practice with the second- and third-team offenses.

Lampley was the only backup quarterback to lead a scoring drive during Saturday’s scrimmage, although he did it during the short-field segment on a drive that covered less than 50 yards.

“John’s running with the 2s now,” Odums said. “He’s getting a chance. McDaniel is getting a chance; Lee is getting a chance. We’ve got to find out. It’s got to be decided on the field.”

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FAMU's bus ride to Arkansas grabs national attention, associate AD fires back

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M's football team will take a bus for its Aug. 31 game against Arkansas in order to save on travel costs and the story is stirring up some debate on social media.

The Tallahassee Democrat's story on the bus ride -- which will take about 10 hours -- was tweeted out by ESPN's Jay Bilas on Saturday. The college basketball analyst has more than 1.8 million followers on Twitter.

The Rattlers will leave the Wednesday before the game, which is on Thursday night.

Bilas tweeted out the story and said, "Make no mistake, all players are used to make their schools money. A crazy bus ride to Arkansas...for $750,000."

Chris Asa, FAMU's associate athletic director for tickets and corporate sales, fired back at Bilas in a series of tweets Saturday afternoon, defending FAMU's recent cost-saving measures.

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