Southern to play Alabama A&M in the inaugural Gulf Coast Challenge

MOBILE, Alabama -- Southern will compete in the inaugural Gulf Coast Challenge football game against Alabama A&M at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama, Sept. 22.

The venture was officially announced in a news conference at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on Friday, complete with the introduction of an official mascot — a Mardi Gras jester named Marty.

The game is produced by the Mobile Sports Authority, and organizers said Friday the hope is to keep the game going on a yearly basis.

That does not necessarily mean Southern will always compete in the game itself.

“We can’t commit to a classic,” said Southern athletic director Roman Banks, who was present at the news conference. “It’s an Alabama A&M home game; they just moved it there. They advertised it as the Gulf Coast Challenge, but they moved a home game.”

That did not stop Southern coach Dawson Odums from making a pitch.

By playing against Alabama A&M in Mobile rather than the northern outpost of Huntsville, Alabama, Southern is cutting several hours off its travel time — both for its team and its fans.



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Alabama A&M, Southern to play at Mobile in Gulf Coast Challenge

MOBILE, Alabama -- Alabama A&M and Southern are set to meet on neutral turf.

The SWAC foes will face off Sept. 22 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile in the Gulf Coast Challenge. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.

Southern beat Alabama A&M 35-14 last season in Baton Rouge.

Alabama A&M recently hired Connell Maynor as its new coach. The Bulldogs are coming off a 4-7 season. Souther finished 7-4.

The game is being produced by the Mobile Sports Authority, which organized the 5th Quarter Classic between Tuskegee and Jackson State last season at Ladd-Peebles.

“College Football is a huge event and having the opportunity to host two of the largest HBCU football teams in the south speaks volumes for our city,” Gulf Coast Challenge Executive Director Tim Hale said in a press release. “The Gulf Coast Challenge will add to the many attractions that Mobile already has to boast about as football fans flock to the city to partake in the events for that week.”

For more information, visit thegulfcoastchallenge.com or call 251-281-8202.

Prairie View takes down rival Texas Southern

RAIRIE VIEW, Texas - What was supposed to be a battle between bitter rivals turned into a blowout as Texas Southern fell behind early and never recovered in a 96-82 loss to Prairie View A&M at the William Nicks Building on Saturday.

The Panthers turned an early one-point lead into a dozen as TSU turnovers and missed shots enabled Prairie View to open a gap that the Tigers (6-17, 6-4 Southwestern Athletic Conference) would be unable to bridge.

Four Prairie View players scored in double-digits. Junior guard Gary Blackston led the way with 29 points and eight assists and forward Zachary Hamilton contributed 26 points. Seniors J.D. Wallace and Troy Thompson chipped in 17 and 10 points, respectively. Wallace also grabbed 13 rebounds.

Guard Donte Clark led the Tigers with 27 points before fouling out with about six minutes remaining in the game.

"We didn't execute anything we talked about in practice," TSU coach Mike Davis said. "They didn't play with any passion or any heart."

The Tigers trailed 14-2 with 15 minutes remaining in the first half. The Panthers' run started with a layup by forward Iwin Ellis, followed by a jumper by Blackston. Hamilton sank a 3-pointer before Ellis and Blackston scored again to stretch the lead to 12.

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Former Houston Oilers' Robert Brazile (Jackson State) elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame

HOUSTON, Texas -- The Houston Oilers have been Houston’s NFL team for quite some time, but another player from the glory days of that franchise is getting a bust in Canton at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Linebacker Robert Brazile got the knock on his door Saturday afternoon in Minnesota ahead of the Super Bowl with word that, as a senior nominee, he’s been elected to the Hall of Fame.

Brazile played all ten of his season with the Oilers from 1975-1984, never missing a game.



A destructive force who earned the nickname Dr. Doom, was the team’s 1st round pick (6th overall) in the 1975 draft and earned defensive rookie of the year honors.

“I had 10 good years in Houston man,” Robert Brazile told KPRC Sports Director Randy McIlvoy in Minneapolis at Super Bowl 52. “ The only team I played for was the Houston Oilers and the only team I loved were the Houston Oilers. It’s special.”

Brazile joins Oiler greats Earl Campbell, Curley Culp and Bruce Matthews in the Hall of Fame

“It means a lot. You can’t find the right words for that,” Brazile told KPRC.

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Jackson State great Robert Brazile selected to Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2018

JACKSON, Mississippi -- A fourth Jackson State Tiger has received the highest honor in the sport.

Robert Brazile was selected Saturday to the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2018.

The Mobile, Alabama native played 10 ironman seasons for the Houston Oilers from 1975 to 1984. Brazile was selected to seven straight Pro Bowls (1976-1982) and six All-Pro teams (1976-1981). He was one of the faces of an Oilers franchise coached by Bum Phillips. Brazile was up for induction by being picked by the Seniors Committee. They considered players for enshrinement whose careers ended at least 25 years ago.

Robert had a Hall of Fame career at Jackson State. He won back to back SWAC titles in 1972 and 1973. He led the conference with 9 interceptions in 1974 and set a JSU record with 129 tackles.

Brazile is no stranger to getting calls to the hall. Robert was selected to the the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame in 1994, the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame in 1994, the SWAC Hall of Fame in 1995, the Jackson State Hall of Fame in 2003, the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2005, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 2007, and the Black College Football Hall of Fame in 2014.

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Southern Harold Carmichael has meant everything to the Philadelphia Eagles over the years

BLOOMINGTON, Minnesota — The greatest receiver in Eagles history arrived in the Twin Cities on Thursday, almost giddy with anticipation at the chance to see the franchise he loves get another chance at the Super Bowl ring that once eluded him.

Harold Carmichael is having one heck of a run in retirement.

VIDEO

Carmichael, the legendary Southern receiver, found out in October that he'd been voted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame, an honor he's quietly coveted as he's watched other peers from his time in the SWAC inducted over the years. The honor came right in the middle of a magical season for the Eagles, the NFL team that has been Carmichael's passion and project for most of his adult life.

The thrill is at a fever pitch now. Carmichael, who was part of the 1980 Philadelphia team that reached the Super Bowl, is in Minnesota to watch his Eagles make a play for their first NFL Championship since 1960 and their first Super Bowl ring, and next week he'll head to Atlanta for his formal induction into the Hall of Fame.

"It's been a great couple of months for me, from the news of my induction to the Black College Football Hall of Fame, to the NFC Championship Game and now the Super Bowl," Carmichael said. "This has been a great, great month for me."

Carmichael, a 6-foot-8, 225-pound seventh-rounder out of Southern, spent the first 13 seasons of his incredible 14-year career in Philadelphia, racking up 589 catches, 8,978 yards and 79 touchdowns, numbers that still stand and are in no jeopardy of falling any time soon.

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‘This is very personal for me’: Former DSU star Milstead new Hornet football coach

DOVER, Delaware — When Rod Milstead was a freshman at Delaware State University, his dorm room was in Conwell Hall.

Now that is where Milstead’s office will be.

Delaware State officially announced Milstead, 48, as its new head football coach on Tuesday afternoon. Milstead is one of the most decorated Hornet alums and played eight seasons in the NFL.

Milstead’s hiring ends a nearly three-month search after DSU decided on Nov. 20 to not renew the contract of coach Kenny Carter, who went 3-30 across three seasons.

Milstead comes to Delaware State from La Plata High in Maryland, where he has been the head coach since 2015. He will move into the football coaching offices on the campus of DSU — located in Conwell Hall.

“This is very personal for me,” Milstead said. “Rejuvenating the football program and making winners of our student-athletes in the classroom, in the community, as well as on the field, is my top priority.”

Milstead is a member of the Delaware State Athletics Hall of Fame after a storied playing career. The Hornets won at least a share of the MEAC three out of four years while Milstead was a starter on the offensive line.

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Gold Rush beat SUNO for third consecutive victory

NEW ORLEANS — Virgil Davison and Jalen Davidscored 20 points apiece Monday as NAIA No. 22 Xavier University of Louisiana rolled to a 90-72 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball victory against SUNO at the Convocation Center.
     
The Gold Rush (17-6, 4-2 GCAC) scored 54 points after trailing 39-36 at halftime. Davison scored all his points in the second half, including six 3-pointers in nine attempts.
     
XULA has won three straight and 11 of its last 13 games. The Knights (3-12, 1-5) have lost four straight and eight of their last nine games.
     
Rayshawn Mart scored 13 points for XULA, and Jeff Dixon had 10 points, eight assists and no turnovers.
     
SUNO's George Brock, who entered with an NAIA-leading 27.1 points per game, scored 19 before leaving with an injury with 7:41 remaining. Andre Funches scored 13 points, and Teandre Jones had 10 points and eight rebounds.
    
XULA outshot SUNO 54 to 39.3 percent from the floor. The Gold Rush made 12 3-pointers, eight in the second half.
     
XULA and Dillard moved into a second-place tie in the GCAC with Philander Smith, which was idle. Dillard won 108-86 at home against Tougaloo. Talladega, also idle, leads the conference at 5-1.

BOX SCORE

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Trench triple-double leads Nuggets in rout of SUNO

NEW ORLEANS — Maya Trench's first triple-double for Xavier University of Louisiana — 11 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists — led the Gold Nuggets to a 76-40 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball victory Monday against SUNO.

Trench, a 5-foot-2 sophomore point guard, recorded career highs in rebounds and assists. She also had four steals. Trench had 12 first-half rebounds, two fewer than SUNO.

Trench's triple-double is the Gold Nuggets' first since Delanor Junis had 16 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists against Southern on Nov. 28, 1988, and the fourth in the program's history. Dematria Lang (1986) and Datcel Kemp (1983) produced the first two.

The Gold Nuggets (8-10, 1-5) snapped a five-game losing streak. It was their first home game in six weeks.

Mikayla Bates had 13 points, six assists and three steals for XULA, and Ireyon Keith had 11 points.
Talaih Robertson scored 10 points for SUNO (5-11, 1-5), which has lost five straight and eight of its last nine games.

BOX SCORE

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Gold Rush maintain top-25 national ranking

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana men's basketball remained in the NAIA Division I top 25 Tuesday, dropping from 22nd to 23rd.

The Gold Rush are 17-6 overall and 4-2 in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference after a 90-72 home victory Monday against SUNO. XULA's next game will start at 7:30 p.m. Monday against Edward Waters at XULA's Convocation Center.

XULA has won three straight and 11 of its last 13 games under second-year head coach Alfred Williams, and junior guard Jeff Dixon leads NAIA Division I in total assists with 124.

William Penn of Oskaloosa, Iowa, is No. 1 for the second consecutive poll. The Statesmen received all nine first-place votes from the panel of coaches representing each conference and the Association of Independent Institutions. This is the first time this season there's been a unanimous No. 1.
     
Two weeks ago XULA entered the top 25 for the first time since the preseason poll of Oct. 25, 2016. The next rankings will be announced Feb. 13.

NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses — records through Jan. 28)  

RANK	PREVIOUS	SCHOOL	RECORD	POINTS
1	1	William Penn (Iowa) (9)	20-1	219
2	4	The Master's (Calif.)	21-1	212
3	5	Columbia (Mo.)	21-1	202
4	3	LSU-Shreveport (La.)	19-2	194
5	2	Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)	20-2	193
6	12	Pikeville (Ky.)	20-2	188
7	15	Science & Arts (Okla.)	18-3	175
8	16	Montana Western	17-4	166
9	7	Hope International (Calif.)	19-3	159
10	5	Georgetown (Ky.)	19-3	155
11	13	Dalton State (Ga.)	17-4	146
12	9	Central Methodist (Mo.)	19-3	142
13	13	LSU-Alexandria (La.)	17-5	140
14	10	Carroll (Mont.)	18-4	134
15	21	Oklahoma City	15-5	116
16	20	Westmont (Calif.)	16-4	115
17	19	William Carey (Miss.)	15-4	106
18	23	Our Lady of the Lake (Texas)	16-6	103
19	8	Lewis-Clark State (Idaho)	17-5	88
20	11	Wayland Baptist (Texas)	15-5	87
21	18	Cumberlands (Ky.)	16-5	74
22	17	Missouri Baptist	18-4	65
23	22	Xavier (La.)	16-6	62
24	RV	Texas Wesleyan	14-7	53
25	25	Life (Ga.)	16-7	48

Others Receiving Votes: Harris-Stowe State (Mo.) 47; Peru State (Neb.) 46; William Jessup (Calif.) 27; Campbellsville (Ky.) 23; Faulkner (Ala.) 14; Graceland (Iowa) 9; Talladega (Ala.) 4; Dillard (La.) 3. 

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Reggie Barlow Signs Football Contract Extension with VSU

ETTRICK, Virginia — Virginia State University’s (VSU) Head Football Coach Reggie Barlow signed a contract extension with the University through the 2021 season, university officials announced Wednesday, January 31, 2018.

Barlow led the Trojans to an undefeated regular season (10-0) record, the 2017 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) championship title, and an NCAA Playoff appearance in his second season after taking over the program and going (9-2, 5-2 CIAA) in 2016. In addition, the VSU Football Team was named the Dr. Cavils 2017 HBCU Mid-Major Division II National Champions. Before joining VSU, Barlow coached at several secondary schools including his alma mater, Alabama State University, where he was the quarterback coach from 2005-2006 and the head coach from 2007-2014.

“What a great day.” Barlow said. “Thanks to Dr. Abdullah, Mr. Harris and our Director of Athletics Mrs. Peggy Davis! This new contract is a product of hard work and hard work by our assistant coaches. I’m so honored to have a great staff. This is a product of a great group of young men who brought into our Discipline, Attitude, Sacrifice, Habits, and Heart (DASHH) philosophy. I’m excited to be the head football coach at Virginia State University, and I look forward to being here a long time! Go Trojans!”

Reggie Barlow was introduced as VSU’s new football coach on May 5, 2016, following a brief search after previous head coach Byron Thweatt accepted a linebacker’s coaching position at FCS James Madison University.

“I couldn’t be more proud to work with Reggie Barlow as we build a nationally competitive football program representing VSU and our community across the country,” Davis said. “In my view, the turnaround he led has been nothing short of phenomenal.”



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UAPB announces change in athletics leadership

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas -- The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff announced that it will have a change in the leadership in the Athletic Department. Lonza Hardy, who has been Director of Athletics since 2011, will no longer serve in
that role.

“We thank Lonza for his commitment and service to Golden Lions athletics,” UAPB Chancellor Laurence B. Alexander said. We are moving in a new direction and we will work as quickly as possible to name a new athletics director.”

Associate Athletics Director and Senior Woman Administrator Alyse Wells-Kilbert will serve as interim Athletics Director. Wells-Kilbert has been with the university since 2012 and brings to this role more than 25 yATears of coaching and athletics administrative experience. She has also served as a member of the SWAC Task Force for more than eight years.

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Former Southern standout chases NFL dream

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida — Hundreds of professional football scouts were in attendance at the recent SPIRAL Tropical Bowl, a college football all-star game showcasing the top NFL prospects in the nation.

Among the many athletes hoping to catch the eye of the scouts was former Pendleton Heights High School standout Skyler Prol, a Southern University and A&M College offensive lineman.

Prol graduated in 2013 from Pendleton Heights, where he lettered in wrestling, track and field and football.



He received a full-ride football scholarship to Southern University and A&M College, a Division I Football Championship Series university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Prol, at 6-foot-6 and 310 pounds, was among fewer than 150 players nationwide invited to take part in the college all-star game.

Since 2016, more than 110 players from the game have gone on to play in the NFL, Canadian Football League and Pro Arena leagues.

The Tropical Bowl is considered a top-four bowl game by professional scouts, according to a press release from bowl officials. The game is attended by almost every NFL team, consistently seeing 27 teams’ scouts and general managers in attendance.

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2018 Preseason All-SWAC Baseball Honors Announced

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Alabama State was predicted to win the east division and Texas Southern was predicted to win the west division as the Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its 2018 preseason baseball honors on Thursday. The honors were voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.

Alabama State totaled 67 points in the east division predicted order of finish and received 10 first place votes. Jackson State totaled the second most points with 57 (1 first place vote). Alcorn State had the third most points with 49 (2 first place votes), Alabama A&M (27 points) and Mississippi Valley State (23 points; 1 first place vote) were picked to finish fourth and fifth in the east respectively.

In the west division, Texas Southern earned the most points with 64 (7 first place votes), Grambling State had the second most with 58 and six first place votes. Prairie View A&M earned the third most points in the west division with 38 (1 first place vote). Arkansas Pine Bluff also earned 38 points (0 first place votes) and Southern (26 points) rounded out the predicted order of finish for the west.

Marshawn Taylor of Grambling State was named the Preseason Player of the Year. Taylor was selected as the SWAC Player, Hitter and Newcomer of the year last season. Taylor ranked near the top of the league in multiple offensive categories lin 2017, including first in batting average (.402), second in on base percentage (.477), tied for third in runs scored (50), and first in hits (82).

Texas Southern’s Michael Vilianueva was voted the SWAC Preseason Pitcher of the Year. Villanueva had a 5.66 ERA, totaled 63 strikeouts, and had eight wins for Texas Southern in 2017.

Gaudencio Lucca, also of Texas Southern was voted the league’s Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Lucca had a .986 fielding percentage on 352 chances. Lucca also led TSU with 290 putouts, fielded 39 double plays, and totaled 57 assists in 2017.

Texas Southern had the most players earn preseason honors with eight, Alabama State had the second most with seven players, Jackson State, Alcorn State, Prairie View A&M and Grambling State each had two players earn recognition, while Southern had one player selected.

The 2018 preseason teams and awards are below.

Individual Honors

Preseason Player of the Year

Marshawn Taylor (Grambling State)

Preseason Pitcher of the Year

Michael Vilianueva (Texas Southern)

Preseason Defensive Player of the Year

Gaudencio Lucca (Texas Southern)

Preseason First Team All-SWAC

C – Blake Hicks (Texas Southern)

1B – Gustavo Rios (Alabama State)

2B – Wallace Rios Jimenez (Alcorn State)

3B – Jesus Santana (Jackson State)

SS – Marshawn Taylor (Grambling State)

DH – Cage Cox (Alabama State)

OF – Joseph Estrada (Alabama State)

OF – Lamar Briggs (Jackson State)

OF – Olajide Oloruntimilehin (Texas Southern)

SP – Seth Oliver (Texas Southern)

SP – Darrien Williams (Prairie View A&M

RP – Michael Villanueva (Texas Southern)

Preseason Second Team All-SWAC

C - Hunter Allen (Alabama State)

1B – Christian Sanchez (Texas Southern)

2B – Gaudencio Lucca (Texas Southern)

3B – Ray Hernandez (Alabama State)

SS – Horace LeBlanc (Texas Southern)

DH – John Pope (Southern)

OF – Yamil Pagan (Alabama State)

OF – Kamren Dukes (Texas Southern)

OF – Avery Williams (Prairie View A&M)

SP – Elijah Saunders (Grambling State)

SP – Carlos Lopez (Alcorn State)

RP – Chase Laney (Alabama State)

East Division Predicted Order of Finish (First Place Votes)

1. Alabama State (10)
2. Jackson State (1)
3. Alcorn State (2)
4. Alabama A&M (1)
5. Mississippi Valley State (1)

West Division Predicted Order of Finish (First Place Votes)

1. Texas Southern (7)
2. Grambling State (6)
3. Prairie View A&M (1)
4. Arkansas Pine Bluff (0)
5. Southern (1)

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Green nets 200th career victory as Gold Rush coach

NEW ORLEANS — Alan Green earned his 200th career victory as men's head coach at Xavier University of Louisiana when the Gold Rush defeated city rival Loyola 6-3 Sunday at XULA Tennis Center.
    
Green, in his 15th season at XULA, is 200-137 with the Gold Rush. He led the XULA men to NAIA national runner-up finishes each of the last two years. The Gold Rush are ranked second in the NAIA this season.
     
It was a bittersweet day for Green, whose 10th-ranked women lost 5-4 to unranked Loyola. It was the Wolf Pack's first-ever tennis victory against the Gold Nuggets. Green still needs two victories to reach 200 as coach of the XULA women.
    
 Chris Anders clinched for the Gold Rush with his 7-5, 6-1 victory at No. 4 singles against Ernesto de Diego.
    
"I didn't realize I was this close to 200," Green said. "It feels good. It just makes me think about all the teams that I've had — all the guys who put in the work to help reach this number. I can only think about them because they made it happen."
     
It was the home opener for both XULA teams. The Gold Rush are 1-3, and the Gold Nuggets are 0-2. It was the opener for both Loyola teams.
     
Samir Chikhaoui and Pierre Andrieu were double winners for the Gold Rush. They won 8-4 in doubles against Sean Presti and Tiger Cheung. In singles Chikhaoui beat Presti 6-4, 6-2, and Andrieu defeated Cheung 6-2, 6-1.
    
 The other Gold Rush singles winners were Catalin Fifea against Galileo Cabrales and Gabriel Niculescu against Alexander DePascual. Both scores were 6-0, 6-1.
     
Charlene Goreau and Manon Bonada won in doubles and singles for the Gold Nuggets. They teamed for an 8-3 victory against Koral Martinez and Nadja Ochsner. In singles Goreau beat Martinez 6-3, 6-1, and Bonada led 6-3, 4-1 when Arianna Pepper retired. Yi Chen Pao scored the other Gold Nuggets point with her 6-1, 6-0 victory against Ochsner.
     
"We competed as best we could today, but it didn't work out," Green said of his Nuggets.
     
Next for both XULA teams will be NCAA Division I opponents. Jacksonville State's men will visit at 2 p.m. Friday, and the Gold Nuggets will play twice Saturday at Louisiana-Lafayette — 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

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XULA snares 3 GCAC Player of Week awards

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana has three Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Players of the Week for Jan. 22-28, the GCAC announced Tuesday.
     
XULA recipients are Jalen David in men's basketball, Charlene Goreau in women's tennis and Samir Chikhaoui in men's tennis. David and Chikhaoui are first-time honorees; Goreau won for the first time this season and the ninth time in her career.
     
David — a senior guard/forward from Mount Vernon, N.Y., and a former Mount Vernon High School and Moberly Community College standout — averaged 16.7 points and six rebounds and shot 54.1 percent from the floor in three games and scored a season-high-tying 21 points in consecutive games against Philander Smith and Loyola. David scored 15 points in the final 10 minutes during a 38-13 rally that gave XULA an 82-72 home victory against Loyola and the first season sweep of its city rival in seven years.
     
Goreau, a junior from Toulouse, France, won in doubles and singles Sunday at home against Loyola. Goreau teamed with Manon Bonada for an 8-3 victory against Koral Martinez and Nadja Ochsner, then beat Martinez 6-3, 6-1. Goreau's career total of GCAC awards is one fewer than the league record held by Nour Abbes, now a XULA graduate assistant.
     
Chikhaoui, a sophomore from Lille, France, and a former Eastern Florida State College standout, won in doubles and singles against Loyola and helped Alan Green earn his 200th career victory as coach of the Gold Rush. Chikhaoui and Pierre Andrieu beat Sean Presti and Tiger Cheung 8-4, then Chikhaoui defeated Presti 6-4, 6-2. Chikhaoui had three unfinished matches Friday against NCAA Division I Louisiana-Lafayette, and he led at No. 2 singles in the second dual match of that evening.

     Next competition for each team:
     •  Men's tennis: 2 p.m. Friday at home vs. Jacksonville State.
     •  Women's tennis: 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Louisiana-Lafayette.
     •  Men's basketball: 7:30 p.m. Monday at home vs. Edward Waters.

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WNBA champ, Gold Glove winner will keynote #WISFNOLA

NEW ORLEANS — Barbara Farris, a champion coach and player in basketball, and outfielder A.J. Andrews, the first woman to receive a Rawlings Gold Glove for fielding excellence in softball, will be the keynote speakers Friday at the second annual Women in Sports Forum at Xavier University of Louisiana.
     
The event — a dynamic program of keynotes, panel and roundtable discussions designed to empower young girls and women who are interested in pursuing a career in the sports industry — is sold out. More than 100 people have registered. XULA's Convocation Center Annex (7800 Washington Ave., New Orleans LA 70125) is the forum venue.
     
Farris was a standout center at St. Martin's Episcopal School (Metairie, La.) and Tulane before launching a 10-year career in the WNBA and winning a WNBA championship with the Detroit Shock in 2003. A 2017 inductee to the Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame, Farris is in her eighth season as girls coach at John Curtis Christian School, where her teams have won two LHSAA state championships. This season the Lady Patriots are 23-1 and have the No. 1 overall power rating in the state through Tuesday according to the LHSAA's unofficial rankings.
     
Andrews won the Gold Glove in 2016 as a member of a National Pro Fastpitch team, the Akron Racers. In 2017 she became the first softball player featured in ESPN The Magazine's annual Body Issue. She was a standout at Countryside High School (Clearwater, Fla.) and LSU. Andrews was first-team All-Louisiana in 2013, 2014 and 2015, and she was third-team All-America and first-team All-SEC in 2013. Twice she was second-team All-SEC.
     
"A.J. and Barbara have made a tremendous impact on women in sports," said XULA Associate Director of Athletics/Senior Woman Administrator Dr. Ashley Baker, the forum founder. "They are role models for young women to look up to. It is an honor to have them both speaking at this year's Women in Sports Forum."

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Lincoln Announces the Hiring of Josh Dean as the Lions' Head Football Coach

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pennsylvania -- The Lincoln University Athletic Department and Athletic Director Harry Stinson III is proud to announce the hiring of Joshua Dean as the institution's next Head Football Coach.

Coach Dean brings nine years of collegiate coaching experience. Before his coaching career started, Dean played linebacker in the NFL from 2005 to 2006 where he was a free agent signee for the Chicago Bears under head coach Lovie Smith. He becomes the fifth Lincoln Head Football Coach since the program's revival in 2008 and the 24th head coach in the program's 123-year history.

"We are excited to welcome Josh Dean to the Lincoln Lion family," said Lincoln Athletic Director, Harry Stinson III. "He is a proven winner who shares in our core values and vision and will help direct us to where we would like our football program to be. His commitment to academic and athletic excellence, his defensive background, ability to lead and recruiting approach will have an immediate impact on our football program and I'm excited to see where he will lead our athletic teams.

Dean joins the Lincoln staff following a successful stint as the Defensive Line Coach at Campbellsville University in Kentucky. The Tigers finished 2017 with an 8-2 overall record and were ranked 20th nationally in the NAIA Top 25 poll. In addition the Tigers won the 2017 Victory Bowl. Following a 2-8 mark in 2016, Dean orchestrated a complete defensive turnaround in 2017 with the team giving up nearly 40% fewer points per game (26.6) and allowing only 96 yards rushing per game (6th best mark in NAIA Division I).

"I would like to thank President Dr. Brenda A. Allen, Athletic Director Mr. Harry Stinson, and the selection committee for giving me the opportunity to join Lincoln University as the new Head Coach of the Lions football program, "said Dean. "Our mission as a program is to create a "Culture of Success". This culture will be built on the foundation of Trust, Commitment, Caring, Accountability, and Discipline. I am extremely motivated to create a winning environment for student-athletes, as we strive for success on and off the field."

Prior to Campbellsville, Dean was the head football coach at NCAA DII Kentucky State University for three years. Dean led the Thoroughbreds to an 11-19 record in his three seasons as head coach. In 2015, Kentucky State had four players named to the All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Team. The Thoroughbreds ranked No. 1 in DII in blocked punts, No. 3 in blocked field goals and No. 5 in total defense.

In two of his three seasons as Head Coach, Kentucky State won the Circle City Classic played in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. Dean also coached, Deshon Floyd, who in 2014 was a Rhodes Scholar finalist. Before his tenure as head football coach, Dean was the defensive line coach for the 2012 season.

Prior to Kentucky State, Dean was the safeties coach at Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley, Georgia, for three seasons. During that time, he helped mold First-Team All-SIAC Team members Ricardo Lockette, who would go on to help the Seattle Seahawks to a NFL Super Bowl victory; Marquette King, punter for the Oakland Raiders; and Ricky Johnson who went on to play in the Arena Football League (AFL) and Indoor Football League (IFL).

Stinson added "Anytime you get someone who has coached a Rhodes Scholar Finalist, has a father who played in the NFL, has coached athletes who were drafted and/or played at the professional level, being someone who played in the NFL, along with having head coach experience at the DII level; you know you have someone special who will be a great asset not only to our football program but to our athletic department and university. I have no doubt Coach Dean will bring an excellent brand of football, will teach our young men the true values of being a scholar athlete and will position us to be a force within the CIAA and Division II."

Dean began his collegiate playing career at San Diego State University where he was a defensive back from 2000 to 2004. After his time at SDSU, Dean went on to play professionally for the Bears during the 2005-06 seasons. After his time with the Bears, Dean continued his professional experience with the CFL Cologne Centurions during the 2006 season.

Dean graduated from Fort Valley State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. He later went on to earn his Masters of Sports Science degree in Sports Management at the United States Sports Academy.

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