Classics: The Year 1952 & 2010, The Florida A&M Marching 100

FAMU Marching Band. Dr. William P. Foster, Director, Robert Elliott, Assistant Director and Clarence Trice, Arranger. Benjamin Groomes, Drum Major. Orange Blossom Classic. Miami, Florida. 1952.

Let’s Meet Florida Memorial's Yulianna Charris

MIAMI GARDENS, Florida --This Summer and into the Fall Florida Memorial will be doing ' Let's Meet' series with random questions geared for you to get to know the players  better. This week features Yulianna Charris from women's volleyball.
 
 Name: Yulianna Charris
Graduation Year: 2020
Major: Business Administration

1. Why you chose FMU?
I chose FMU because they gave me a unique opportunity. While the situation of my country was aggravating affecting not only the economy of my family but my future, FMU gave me the possibility to study with a presidential scholarship and represent the university's volleyball team.
 
2. Tell me about yourself
I'm from Caracas, Venezuela and I consider myself as a dreamer who's willing to work hard to reach each goals and dreams. 
 

3.     What was your greater accomplishment as an athlete?

 
My greatest accomplishments as an athlete was gaining the trust and respect of my teammates, improving our communication and performance in the court leading us to play-off which was one of our goals as a team. 
 

4.     What are the challenges coming from a different country?

 
Coming from a different country comes with many challenges and being away from my family was the hardest one for me. It is also challenging all the changes that you got to face like adapting to a new place, new culture, new weather, new languages, and making new friends. Coming from a different country might be a challenging experience, but it was a good one. 
 

5.      How did you cope after the hurricane with you parents back home?

 
At the beginning, when they heard about the hurricane it was an overwhelming experience for my parents because they thought it was going to be a dangerous hurricane. However, we got to talk every day and I went to a safer place so they felt better and calm.
 

6.     What are your main motivations doing athletics?

 
My main motivation is that passion and love for what I do that makes me feel in a certain way every time I get to play volleyball. Also, being an athlete is a healthier way of life which is a big plus.
 

7.      What do you feel are your main strengths in athletics?

 
I think my discipline and dedication are my main strengths and they have taken me far. 
 

8.     What are the areas you feel that you need improvement in?

 
Personally, I believe there is always room for improvement. I can always be better in everything I do. 
 
FLORIDA MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Grambling State University Athletics Department Launches New Alumni Network for Former Student-Athletes

GSU Athletics Varsity Club Connects and Celebrates Past Student-Athletes

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- This week Grambling State University announced that applications are now open for the Grambling State University Athletics Varsity Club, an alumni network of former student-athletes.

"We know that GSU student-athletes have a long legacy of positively impacting communities both on and off the field," said Athletics Director Paul Bryant. "We are looking forward to pulling them together to show and further grow that impact."

The Athletics Varsity Club is open to any former GSU student-athlete who competed for one full season. Members will receive a variety of benefits through the University and Athletics department including game day recognition, exclusive apparel, access to social events across the U.S., special discounts at GSU's bookstore, ticket office, and priority purchase opportunities for major events like the State Fair and Bayou Classic games.

JOIN TODAY!

Varsity Club Welcome Letter

Message from the Athletics Director (PDF)
Varsity Club Brochure (PDF)
Varsity Club On Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
Current Members

Contact Us
Shop

To join or learn more about the Athletics Varsity Club, former student athletes should visit https://gsutigers.com/sports/2018/3/16/varsity-club.aspx or email varsityclub@gram.edu.

Report: Former LSU player, assistant coach Leon Landry to join Southern baseball as assistant coach

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Former LSU baseball player and undergraduate assistant coach Leon Landry is expected to go across town to join Kerrick Jackson’s coaching staff at Southern next season, according to a report by D1 Baseball.

Jackson could not confirm the reported hiring of Landry, but said the program expects to make an official announcement on the final missing piece of the Jaguars’ staff in the coming weeks.

Jackson, in his second year at Southern, is without a hitting coach after the departure of assistant Elliot Jones.



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Tuskegee predicted to win SIAC West, Thomas named Preseason Player of the Year

ATLANTA, Georgia -- Linebacker Davoris Thomas has been selected as the 2018 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, and the Golden Tigers were picked to win the west division of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). The announcement was released Tuesday morning during the annual media day at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta (Ga.). For the third consecutive preseason, a Golden Tiger (2016 Julian Morgan, 2017 Osband Thompson, 2018 Davoris Thomas) has been tabbed with the defensive player of the year honor and the third time in four years (2015, 2017 and 2018) TU has been voted on as the favorite to win its division. 

Thomas, a junior from Spanish Fort, Ala., finished the 2017 season with 80 tackles (44 solo, 36 assist), which included six tackles for loss, three sacks, a pass breakup, and four quarterback hurries. In conference, Thomas managed 7.2 tackles per game, which placed him 13th in the league. A three-year letter winner, Thomas was named MVP of last year's 5th Quarter Classic against FCS Div I opponent, Jackson State.

In addition to Thomas, the Golden Tigers had a league-best seven players earn first team honors, including, Jamarcus Ezell (QB), Javarrius Cheatham (WR), Lowell Richardson (OL), Terrance Leatherwood (DE), Darnell Hill (DB) and Dalton Hall (K). 

The second team is highlighted by Rochelin Romain (OL), Kali James (DL), and Kevin Dawson (LB)

The defending SIAC Champions open the 2018 season in Montgomery, (Ala.) in Labor Day Classic against Alabama State.

Football Preseason Rankings by Division

East Division

1. Albany State (7)

2. Benedict (2)

3. Fort Valley State (1)

4. Morehouse

5. Clark Atlanta

West Division

1. Tuskegee (6)

2. Miles (3)

3. Kentucky State (1)

4. Central State

5. Lane

*First place votes in parenthesis.

TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Three Former Bethune-Cookman Wildcats Continue Professional Growth

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- Three former Bethune-Cookman student-athletes have made moves in the professional world over the course of the last few days. Melissa Berouty, Antonette (Jashell) Mitchell and Jordan Robinson each proved why the term "student-athlete" serves two functions, and a degree from Bethune-Cookman University serves a major purpose all its own.
 
Melissa Berouty, a former Wildcats Softball student-athlete from 2013-16, was recently accepted into the Syracuse University College of Law. Named the 2015-16 BCU Female Athlete of the Year, Berouty spent the 2016 softball season as a volunteer assistant coach on the Loyola Marymount Softball staff. She graduated from BCU in 2016 with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and a minor in pre-law.
 
Antonette (Jashell) Mitchell played as a member of the BCU Women's Basketball team from 1999-2003. Earlier this week, Mitchell was named as Manager of Diversity and Inclusion for the National Football League (NFL). Most recently, she served as Assistant Athletics Director at North Carolina Central University, serving in the capacity of Director of Football Operations under former Head Coach Jerry Mack. Mitchell earned her bachelor's degree from BCU in 2003, going on to later earn her master's degree from the University of Memphis.
 
Jordan Robinson, a former member of the BCU Baseball team, earlier this week concluded orientation to officially become a member of the St. Lucie County Fire Department in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Robinson batted .254 across his final two seasons (2014-15) with the Wildcats, accumulating 102 hits and 57 RBIs in the process. He was also a member of the 2014 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) squad, using seven doubles, three triples and a home run on the campaign.
 
These are just three of the numerous BCU Wildcats doing amazing things in their professional lives away from the playing surface and after their playing days as Wildcats student-athletes. Stay tuned to BCUathletics.com, as well as the CatEye Network on YouTube to find out more stories of Wildcats around the world.
 
For all Bethune-Cookman Athletics news, follow us on Twitter (@BCUathletics), Instagram (@BCUathletics), Snapchat (@BCUathletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/BCUathletics).

ASU football predicted first in eastern division race

ATLANTA, Georgia --The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) has released its 2018 Preseason All-Conference Team and predicted order of finish.

All votes are submitted by SIAC head coaches and sports information directors and the results were announced Tuesday during media day at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Ga.

Mike Green, Jamie Glenn and Gabriel Ballinas were all voted to the Preseason First Team while McKinley Habersham and Jaylin Boyd both received a nod for Second Team honors.

Justin Hardy of Miles College and Tuskegee's Davoris Thomas were tabbed as the Preseason Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively. Last season Hardy led the league in total rushing and ranked ninth overall in NCAA Division II while Thomas racked up 80 tackles for the 2017 SIAC Champion Golden Tigers.

In the Eastern Division, Albany State is anticipated to capture the division as they received seven first-place vote. With two first place votes, Benedict was selected second ahead of defending Eastern Division Champs, Fort Valley State who received one first place vote. Morehouse and Clark Atlanta round out the eastern division.

In the Western Division Tuskegee, is predicted to finish first as they received six first place votes. Miles is picked to finish second with three first place votes. With one first place vote, Kentucky State is predicted to finish third above Central State and Lane College.

For a complete list of this year's preseason honors CLICK HERE.

ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Benedict Picked To Finish Second In SIAC Football Race, Five Tigers Named Preseason All-SIAC

ATLANTA, Georgia – The Benedict College Tigers have be5en picked to finish second in the SIAC East Division, while five Tigers were chosen to the preseason All-Conference Team, it was announced Tuesday during media day at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Ga.

Benedict went 7-2 overall last season and tied Fort Valley State for the top spot in the division with a 5-1 conference record. In the 2018 predicted order of finish, voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors, Albany State was picked to finish first in the East, followed by Benedict, Fort Valley State, Morehouse and Clark Atlanta. Albany State received seven first-place votes, while Benedict garnered two and Fort Valley State picked up one first-place vote.

"We think we have a good team and we should be in the mix at the end," Benedict head coach Mike White was fond of saying during his visits with the multiple media outlets on hand for the event.

In the West Division, defending SIAC champions, Tuskegee, is anticipated to top the West as they received six first place votes. Miles is picked to finish second with three first place votes. With one first place vote, Kentucky State is predicted to finish third above Central State and Lane.

Benedict placed four players on the preseason All-SIAC first team, led by two-time All-SIAC offensive lineman Justin Brown. Headlining the defensive side of the ball are defensive lineman Charles Williams, defensive back Travionte Brown and linebacker Xavier George, who led the team in tackles last season. Offensive lineman Craig Hinson was a second-team selection.

Running back Justin Hardy of Miles College was named the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while linebacker Davoris Thomas of Tuskegee University was selected as Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
 
Football Preseason Rankings by Division

East Division
1.         Albany State (7)
2.         Benedict (2)
3.         Fort Valley State (1)
4.         Morehouse
5.         Clark Atlanta
 
West Division
1.         Tuskegee (6)
2.         Miles (3)
3.         Kentucky State (1)
4.         Central State
5.         Lane
*First place votes in parenthesis.
 
2018 SIAC Football – Preseason Team
 
First Team

Jamarcus Ezell	Quarterback	Tuskegee	Demopolis, Al
Joseph Castellanos	Tight End	Kentucky State	North Brunswick, N.J.
Javarrius Cheatham	Wide Receiver	Tuskegee	Greenville, Al
Mike Green	Wide Receiver	Albany State	Albany, GA
Justin Hardy	Running Back	Miles	Homewood, AL
Brett Sylve	Running Back	Kentucky State	Hammond, LA.
Jamie Glenn	Offensive Lineman	Albany State	Snellville, GA
Jean Cyriaque	Offensive Lineman	Morehouse	Durham, N.C.
Justin Brown	Offensive Lineman	Benedict	Marietta, Ga
Darrius Hicks	Offensive Lineman	Fort Valley State	Camilla, Ga
Lowell Richardson	Offensive Lineman	Tuskegee	Miami, Fl.
Antonio Johnson	Defensive Lineman	Morehouse	Birmingham, Al
Marquel Shelton	Defensive Lineman	Miles	Bessemer, Al.
Terrance Leatherwood	Defensive Lineman	Tuskegee	Northport, Al
Charles Williams	Defensive Lineman	Benedict	Barnwell, S.C
David Brown	Linebacker	Fort Valley State	Ellenwood, GA.
Davoris Thomas	Linebacker	Tuskegee	Mobile, Ala.
Xavier George	Linebacker	Benedict	Jacksonville, Fla.
Aaron Dore	Defensive Back	Fort Valley State	McDonough, GA.
Darnell Hill	Defensive Back	Tuskegee	Miami, Fl.
Cameron Young	Defensive Back	Fort Valley State	Eastman, Ga
Travionte Brown	Defensive Back	Benedict	Albany, GA
Dalton Hall	Kicker	Tuskegee	Hartsville, South Carolina.
Gabriel Ballinas	Punter	Albany State	Guadeloupe, Mexico
Brett Sylve	Kick Returner	Kentucky State	Hammond, La.
Lorenzo Smothers	Punt Returner	Fort Valley State	Buena Vista, Ga

 
Second Team

Slade Jarmon	Quarterback	Fort Valley State	Pensacola, Fl
Ryan Edwards	Tight End	Morehouse	Atlanta, Ga
Johnathon Sanders	Wide Receiver	Clark Atlanta	East Point, Ga
Amyr Smith	Wide Receiver	Morehouse	Atlanta, Ga
Terraris Saffold	Running Back	Central State	Hayneville, AL.
McKinley Habersham	Running Back	Albany State	Savannah, Ga
Marcus Campbell	Offensive Lineman	Kentucky State	Radcliff, Ky.
Roger Womack	Offensive Lineman	Miles	Birmingham, Ala.
Craig Hinson	Offensive Lineman	Benedict	Hephzibah, Ga
Rochelin Romain	Offensive Lineman	Tuskegee	Pompano Beach, Fl.
Jah-Mai Davidson	Offensive Lineman	Clark Atlanta	Snellville, GA.
Demetrius Harris	Defensive Lineman	Fort Valley State	Decatur, Ga
Antonio Johnson	Defensive Lineman	Morehouse	Birmingham, Ala.
Bundrea Conway	Defensive Lineman	Morehouse	Lansing, MI
Kali James	Defensive Lineman	Tuskegee	Stockbridge, GA.
Austin Stephens	Linebacker	Miles	Mumford, Ala.
Kailen Abrams	Linebacker	Central State	Detroit, Mi.
Kevin Dawson	Linebacker	Tuskegee	Tallahassee, Fl
Quantavious Singletary	Defensive Back	Clark Atlanta	Moultrie, Ga.
Nicco Whigham	Defensive Back	Fort Valley State	North Lauderdale, Fl.
Jaylin Boyd	Defensive Back	Albany State	Fairburn, Ga
Macaiah Page	Defensive Back	Morehouse	Upper Marlboro, MD
Carlos Saldana	Kicker	Clark Atlanta	Austell, Ga.
Vincente Luis Juan-Pena	Punter	Lane	Temple City, Ga
Lorenzo Smothers	Kick Returner	Fort Valley State	Buena Vista, GA
Brett Sylve	Punt Returner	Kentucky State	Hammond, La.

 
 BENEDICT COLLEGE TIGERS SPORTS INFORMATION

Fred Watson tabbed to lead men's basketball

FAIRFIELD, Alabama -- Miles College is proud to announce that Fred Watson has been selected as the school's next men's basketball coach.

"When the search process started, our mission was to find a coach who possessed two defining characteristics: a relentless recruiter, and someone who has been part of building a winning culture in the SIAC. These characteristics were non-negotiable," said Miles College Director of Athletics Reginald Ruffin. "With Coach Watson, we not only found a proven recruiter and winner, but we also found someone with an unwavering commitment to engaging and motivating communities throughout basketball. His commitment to developing young men into great athletes is astounding, but most importantly, developing great scholars is more impressive. We can't wait for the Miles College family to meet and embrace our new coach."

For the past 16 years, Watson has coached at his alma mater, Benedict College, and consistently had his teams among the elite in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) and on the national level. Last season, he won his 300th career game and has a record of 320-150 (.681 winning percentage). Watson has had winning seasons for the past 15 consecutive years, eight 20-win campaigns, five SIAC Regular Season titles and five SIAC Tournament championships.

"We are committed to building a perennial championship program at Miles College, and I believe that Coach Fred Watson will lead us in that direction," said Dr. George T. French, Jr., President of Miles College "His record speaks of his accomplishments and makes me comfortable that we have found the right person to lead this program to success on the court and in the classroom."

Additionally, Watson has been named SIAC Coach of the Year six times, his teams have earned nine NCAA South Region Tournament berths and one Sweet 16 Appearance. Just as important, Watson done an outstanding job matriculating his players, with an 85 percent graduation rate of his student-athletes.

"This is a great opportunity for myself and my family," Watson said. "We're excited to join the Miles College family and look forward to embracing the Fairfield and Birmingham communities. Having coached in the SIAC for the past 16 years, I've been impressed by the tremendous support this program has received. We're excited for what this job has the potential to become and we're up to the challenge, not to just develop great athletes but to follow the recipe of (Miles College President) Dr. George T. French, Jr., which is to develop great scholars that will one day become productive citizens."

MILES COLLEGE GOLDEN BEARS SPORTS INFORMATION