Ram Ramblings: Rod Tinsley knows the competition for his starting job is there

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Quarterback Rod Tinsley couldn’t help but chuckle when I asked him how many others have gone after his job since he arrived as a redshirt freshman in 2015.

“I think there’s been about 10 guys,” said Tinsley, who is now a senior and entering his fourth season as the starter.

Tinsley admits he has some competition again this preseason with freshman Dominique Graves and graduate transfer Emiere Scaife and Miles Timmons, who was Tinsley’s backup last season.

“All of us are competing and that’s great to see,” Tinsley said. “And Coach (Ryan McManus) has said the best player will be out there for the opening game.”

So far it appears that Tinsley has kept his hold on the starting job through five practices. He helped the Rams win two CIAA title and they made an appearance in the Division II playoffs after the 2016 season.

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New York Giants sign DB Mike Jones, NCCU Eagles

MIKE JONES
COURTESY: NCCU EAGLES

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey – The Giants today exchanged a defensive lineman sidelined by injury for a defensive back they released two months ago.

The Giants filled the roster opening by re-signing defensive back Mike Jones, a rookie free agent from Temple who was with them from May 14 to June 6.

Jones, 5-9 and 187 pounds, played as a graduate transfer for Temple in 2017 and started every game at cornerback. He recorded 44 tackles (36 solo), one interception and seven passes defensed.

Prior to his season with the Owls, Jones played four years at North Carolina Central and earned All-MEAC first team honors in 2016 and 2014. As a redshirt junior in 2016, he started in all 12 games and tallied 34 tackles (20 solo), two interceptions and three passes defensed.

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Appalachian State to host Morgan State in 2020

COURTESY: MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

BOONE, North Carolina -- The Appalachian State Mountaineers have added the Morgan State Bears to their 2020 football schedule, FBSchedules.com has learned.

Appalachian State will host Morgan State at Kidd-Brewer Stadium in Boone, North Carolina on Sept. 5, 2020. The Bears will receive a $325,000 guarantee for the game, according to a copy of the contract obtained from Appalachian State University via a state public records request.

Morgan State is member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The Bears had a disappointing season in 2017, finishing 1-10 overall and 1-7 in conference play.

The addition of Morgan State tentatively completes Appalachian State’s non-conference football schedule for the 2020 season.

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FAMU: The first trailer for “No Stoppin Us.” The story of the 1978 NCAA I-AA Champions.

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The first peek at the documentary on the 1978 NCAA I-AA Champion Rattlers. Movie premiere Sept. 14, 2018.



FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Experience at QB only going to help Savannah State Tigers

SAVANNAH, Georgia -- Quarterbacks TJ Bell and D'Vonn Gibbons have traveled parallel roads for Savannah State University's football team.

Both are dual threats who, as true freshmen, produced encouraging three-win seasons. Both are sophomores this season and share a similar goal -- be the starter when the Tigers open the season Aug. 30 on the road against Alabama-Birmingham.

Bell and Gibbons are on the same page working toward another common goal -- helping SSU compete for a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title.

"When I think about the last two years, each year we've had a true freshman playing (quarterback) and it's hard to play at a real high level when your quarterback doesn't have much experience," Tigers coach Erik Raeburn said. "This year, that doesn't look like the case. Whoever we put out there will have games under their belt and have been under fire before. Hopefully, that will translate into good quarterback play and we'll be able to compete with everyone."

In 2016, Bell threw for 762 yards and ran for 307 yards while sharing time with another highly regarded freshman, Blake Dever.

Bell threw a touchdown pass in SSU's overtime upset of Bethune-Cookman and had big games in wins over Howard and Norfolk State.

Against Howard, Bell threw for 241 yards and his 6-yard TD pass with 19 seconds left gave the Tigers a dramatic 31-27 victory.

He had 159 passing yards and three TDs and ran for another 149 yards and a score in a 31-14 win over Norfolk.

The 6-foot-3, 195-pounder was the MEAC "Rookie of the Week" after the performance against Howard and the league's "Offensive Player of the Week" after the Norfolk game.

When Dever transferred before the 2017 season, Bell had the starting job when camp opened, no questions asked.

But Bell said he suffered an injury during training camp. He hobbled through parts of games against Appalachian State and Montana before being shut down for the season.

The injury propelled Gibbons, who was part of the Tigers' 2017 signing class, to the forefront.

"It was difficult at first, but everything happens for a reason and I used the time off to learn the playbook better and help D'Vonn out," Bell said. "I felt like a coach after a while."

Gibbons' steady improvement was apparent. The 6-2, 205-pound lefthander finished the season throwing for 1,259 yards and 10 TDs and rushing for 462 yards, and the Tigers ended 2017 on a high note with wins over Norfolk State, Delaware State and South Carolina State.

"I just had to work on myself, my reads, and once I started getting better at that you could see my improvement over the season," Gibbons said. "(Against Norfolk State) everything clicked, offensively and defensively. We looked like a good team out there."

The backstory of the two quarterbacks bodes well for the Tigers' future. Raeburn said he'd like to see one emerge as a clear-cut starter, but has no qualms about rotating two.

"You rotate two linebackers, nobody says anything, but you play two quarterbacks and everyone loses their minds," Raeburn said. "I don't think any coach wants to have two quarterbacks rotating but I have to have a reason not to rotate them. It's the same at every position. If two guys are playing equally, they have to play an equal amount. If one guy is performing better, he gets the playing time."

Neither quarterback appears worried about the scrutiny ahead and seems to welcome competition.

"I came into camp just working to get better," Gibbons said. "I'll let (starting) handle itself and come the first game, whoever's on the field, we're going to do our best to help the team win."

"We're going to make each other better and that's going to be good for the team," Bell said.

And that's a winning attitude, says Raeburn.

"When you're competing for playing time, you want to make sure there's no animosity," Raeburn said. "We're all Tigers and we're all trying our best to beat the other guy out. They want to be the starter because they're playing great not because the other guy is messing up."

SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

TSU Tiger Camp 2018: Day 9 - First Scrimmage

PHOTO GALLERY

Scrimmage #1
Venue: William J. Hale Stadium
Weather: Mostly Sunny, 89
Total Plays: 96

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Tennessee State took part in its first scrimmage of the 2018 season on Saturday morning. The Tigers opened with a 7-on-7 session before engaging in a 96 play scrimmage. The practice game saw a couple breaks which were filled by punt and field goal sessions.

The offense started strong, but was plagued by penalties throughout the day. Transfer quarterback Demry Croft took 37 snaps, while Micheal Hughes worked 28 and transfer Cameron Rosendahl took 26.

Rosendahl threw the only touchdown pass of the day, a 25 yard connection to fellow Georgia Military College transfer Major Bellamy. The offense would add to the scoring with a pair of field goals.

Defensively, the Tigers recorded nine sacks and two fumble recoveries. Redshirt junior Dante' Ferguson led the charge with three sacks and five tackles. Illinois transfer Christion Abercrombie registered a scrimmage high six tackles, including one sack.

TOTALS

• Rushing: 24 carries for 90 yards
• Passing: 24-of-40 for 162 yards
• Touchdowns: One
• Sacks: Nine
• Dante' Ferguson notched three sacks
• Mekhi Brown, Christion Abercrombie, Justin Culpepper, Dwayne Johnson, Timerik Cook and James Green all recorded a sack
• James Green forced a  fumble
• Shakur Jackson and Vincent Sellers recovered fumbles

THE SCRIMMAGE

• The Demry Croft led offense used 13 plays to travel 40 yards on the opening drive (no play or attempt was ran on fourth down).
• Croft went 4-for-6 on the series for 29 yards, including three to Kyle Oliver for 23 yards.
• Justin Culpepper recorded a sack of 11 yards to help stall the drive.
• Cameron Rosendahl moved the second drive across midfield by completing 4-of-5 passes for 23 yards.
• The defense forced its first of six three-and-outs before Micheal Hughes took the field for his first series.
• Hughes drove the offense 48 yards and produced the first points of the scrimmage, a 44 yard field goal by freshman Antonio Zita.
• Wide receiver Treon Harris gained 20 yards on three plays, while transfer running back DeMarco Corbin busted a 15 yard run to cross the 50 yard line.
• The scrimmage was followed by a "3rd down scenario", a Red Zone drill and a 2-Minute Offense series.

RED ZONE DRILL

• Croft ran the first two series', both ending with no points.
• The first series ended as a ball was dropped in the end zone (no fourth down play or attempt was made).
• The second series ended as Zita's 38 yard attempt went off the right upright.
• Rosendahl wasted no time in his first series as he hit Major Bellamy for a 25-yard score.
• On the transfers second series, he again looked to his former Georgia Military Academy teammate on three occasions.
• Bellamy caught the first pass for nine yards before dropping a pass in the end zone.
• Two plays later, the duo combined for another scoring pass, but the play was negated on an illegal man down field penalty.
• Freshman kicker Kaleb Mosley notched another three points with a 28 yard field goal.

TWO MINUTE DRILL

• Micheal Hughes hit Sabree Curtis for 10 yards on the first play of the drill.
• After keeping the ball for a six yard gain, Hughes crossed the 50 with an 11 yard pass to Aaron Cauthen.
• Hughes once again used his legs to keep the drive alive with a 14 yard scamper on a 3rd and 10.
• The Tigers fell short of scoring as a 47 yard field goal attempt failed on the final snap before the clock expired.

OFFENSE

• Junior transfer Demry Croft finished 9-of-18 for 50 yards
• Redshirt junior Michael Hughes was 8-for-12 for 50 yards.
• Junior transfer Cameron Rosendahl completed 7-of-10 passes for 62 yards and a touchdown.
• Treon Harris led all rushers with 20 yards.
• Aaron Cauthen and Sabree Curtis led all receivers with four catches, while Major Bellamy went for 34 yards on two receptions.

DEFENSE

• Christion Abercrombie had a scrimmage high six tackles and one sack.
• Dante' Ferguson mad five stops with three sacks.
• Dajour Nesbeth, LaQuarius Cook, Justin Culpepper, Josh Green and James Green all notched three tackles.
• Culpepper made two of his three stops behind the line of scrimmage, including a sack.
• Khalil Jones recorded the only other tackle for loss that was not a sack.
• Nick Harper, Jr. registered a pass breakup.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Second scrimmage will take place on Sat., August 18
• The Senior Kickoff Luncheon is set for Fri., August 24
• Fan day will be held on Sat., August 25
• Mock Game is set for the evening of Sat., August 25
• Tennessee State will face Bethune-Cookman in the John Merritt Classic on Sat., September 1

Redshirt-Senior Safety LaQuarius Cook- On how the defense performed in the scrimmage
“I think it was alright. We had a lot of places we could improve, but there’s a learning curve. We’re just going to come out and learn from it. We had some guys step up and did some good things for us like Josh Green, Ray Coggins, Nick Harper. We expect that out of them. We’ll keep learning and getting better.”

- On having experience among the safeties and cornerbacks
“We’ve got to keep our d-line and front seven lined up. Our linebackers are pretty smart. The d-line, the plus for them is there are lot of them. We have a lot of depth there. We’ll just be going in and out, keeping them fresh, keeping them going, and get them ready for the next play.”

Redshirt-Junior Offensive Lineman Lachavious Simmons- On the play of the offensive line in the scrimmage
“I think we did pretty well today. We’ve just got to be more mentally focused. We’re going to be good.”

- On scrimmaging
“It’s good for us. It kind of saves our legs as opposed to doing all the individual drills. Coach E (Ehrenfeld) has prepared us all camp, and we just have to drive the ball down the field and score."

TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Prairie View Football Holds Second Scrimmage Of Camp; Sam Houston Game Time Set

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- The Prairie View A&M University football team held its second scrimmage of Training Camp Saturday at Panther Stadium.

Coverage of Panthers Training Camp on pvpanthers.com is sponsored by Texas Farm Bureau Insurance. Texas Farm Bureau Members can receive free tickets to Panther home athletics contests by showing proof of membership at the PVAMU Ticket Office. Panther Nation can visit the local Texas Farm Bureau Agent in Waller to become a member today.

The defense made big plays from start to lead Saturday's scrimmage.

"I thought the defense came out with a lot of energy, and I was pleased to see that," said Prairie View A&M head football coach Eric Dooley. "I thought they made a lot of plays, starting with the first play with them doing a great job, taking advantage of a miscommunication on offense, which we can't have. I thought everyone competed on both sides of the ball. I really liked the effort the defense brought. We have to continue to build and grow off today's scrimmage."

Gameday is exactly two weeks away as the Panthers now start to hone in on the August 25 game at Rice.

"The goal now is to maintain what we've put in, and to continue to execute in all three phases of the game," Dooley said. "The biggest thing right now is I'm pleased we got out healthy. We're going to have some nicks and bruises here and there, but that's football. The biggest plus is the players have come out, competed and played hard with a lot of effort."

SAM HOUSTON GAME TIME SET: Game time has been set for the Panthers' September 8 game at Sam Houston.

The game in Huntsville, Texas will kickoff at 6 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN+.



PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Alabama State Caps First Week of Camp With Scrimmage

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Alabama State put an exclamation mark on the opening week of practice with a scrimmage Saturday morning at the Houston Markham Complex.

"I thought it was a good first scrimmage. You usually get more flags than normal, especially with the recent uniform infractions, which we were able to point out to our guys," Alabama State head coach Donald Hill-Eley said. "We were glad to be able to bring attention to it now rather than during a game and will take what we learned overall from the scrimmage and keep building and adjusting."

The NCAA recently established new uniform compliance rules to be implemented this season. Some notable changes include: the entire knee must be covered; jerseys can't be rolled up to reveal the stomach; back plates can't be exposed and a T-shirt can't show below the jersey.

The seventh day of camp and first scrimmage was productive for the offense. The quarterback group was able to lead the unit into the end zone on a few occasions as the trio continues to have a solid camp.

"We were able to move the ball and played with some consistency. The quarterbacks threw the ball well and are getting better – especially compared to where they were previously – now we just need to get the guys around them to play with a little more intensity. We need to create a philosophy of what we are doing offensively and establish who we are," Eley said. "Defensively, we have a lot of speed but we had too many penalties today; we have to find a way to get that out of our game and let our talent speak."

The Hornets will not practice tomorrow as players have some time off their feet before returning to the field Monday. All practices are open to the public.

Alabama State opens the season at home against Tuskegee September 1 in the Labor Day Classic, with kick set for 5 pm. Season tickets and single game tickets are now sale for the 2018 season. The Hornets play four home games during the campaign with Jackson State, Texas Southern and Mississippi Valley State joining Tuskegee. Several options are available for fans this season, including a Young Alumni package and group rates. For more information, call (334) 229-4551 or visit BamaStateSports.com.

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For complete coverage of Alabama State University Football, follow us on social media at @BamaStateFB (Twitter), /BamaStateSports (Facebook), and @BamaStateSports (Instagram) or visit the official home of Alabama State University athletics at BamaStateSports.com.

Chicago State University Selects Misty Opat and Lance Irvin as New Women's and Men's Basketball Head Coaches

CHICAGO, Illinois -- The Chicago State University (CSU) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics today announced the selection of two new head coaches for the school's women's and men's basketball teams. Misty Opat will lead the CSU's women's team and Lance Irvin will lead CSU's men's team. Both coaches bring significant Division I experience, a passionate commitment to off-court achievement and award-winning track records of success at both the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) levels.

"The hiring of Misty Opat and Lance Irvin marks a new day for Chicago State University," said Z Scott, President of CSU. "We are delighted to have them aboard and look forward to their positive influence in our school community."

According to CSU's Athletic Director, Chris Zorich, "Throughout their careers, both coaches have demonstrated a commitment to inspiring their teams to achieve excellence on and off the court, making them the ideal additions to the CSU family as we commit to strengthening the school's athletic and academic programs."

MISTY OPAT
HEAD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH, CSU
PHOTO COURTESY: ROCK VALLEY COLLEGE

Opat comes to CSU most recently from Rock Valley College in Rockford, Ill., where she led her team to victory in four of the last seven NJCAA Division III National Championships. She also brings seven years of experience at the NCAA Division I level, including assisting the University of Kansas to two Big 12 Conference championships and two NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearances. Opat was named Spalding NJCAA D-III National Coach of the Year in 2015 and 2017, the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year six times, the Region IV Coach of the Year seven times, the District 2 Coach of the Year five times, and the Coach of the NJCAA D-III National Tournament four times.

"I'm thrilled to be joining Chicago State University as head coach of the women's basketball team, which is a hidden gem in an incredible basketball city," Opat says. "I have always focused equally on the athletic achievements and academic accomplishments of student athletes, and CSU's shared commitment to those goals makes this program an ideal fit. I'm proud to lead this team of incredible women to victory."

Irvin has broad coaching experience at both the collegiate and high school levels, and he has deep ties to basketball in the Chicago area as a former star high school player. Irvin comes to CSU most recently from Chicago's Morgan Park High School where he served as varsity boys assistant basketball coach and dean of students. His previous collegiate experience includes men's associate head basketball coach at Southern Illinois University and assistant coach at Southern Methodist University, University of Missouri, Texas A&M University, Iowa State University and Loyola University. Throughout his career, Irvin has helped several players reach the NBA, including Jackson Vroman (Iowa State), Paul McPherson (DePaul), Antoine Wright and Acie Law (Texas A&M). He has also coached several stand-outs, including Tommy Kleinschmidt (DePaul), Brandon Cole (DePaul), Brian Mullins and Kevin Dillard (SIUC), Billy Garrett, Jr. (Morgan Park-DePaul), Cal Davis (Morgan Park-Dayton-Rio Grande Valley Vipers), Charlie Moore (Morgan Park-Kansas), Josh Cunningham (Morgan Park-Dayton) and Ayo Dosunmu (Morgan Park-University of Illinois).

"I couldn't be happier to be joining Chicago State University as head coach of the men's basketball team, which is a tremendous group of athletes ready to make their mark," Irvin said. "This is an exciting time to join CSU, and I look forward to helping this team unlock its potential and achieve great things for the school and the city of Chicago."

"Lance and Misty have impressive histories of building strong relationships with their student athletes and inspiring them to overcome adversity," said Zorich. "This is the first step in building a world-class athletics program that creates leaders both on and off the court, and I can't think of two better people for the job than Lance and Misty."

The women's basketball team kicks off its 2018-19 season on November 7th at Xavier University (Ohio) while the men's team makes its season debut November 6th at Indiana University. For more information or to purchase tickets visit the school's official website at www.gocsucougars.com.

Coach Opat and Coach Irvin will host a press conference this Wednesday (August 8th) at noon in the lobby of the Emil and Patricia Jones Convocation Center on CSU's campus - 9501 S King Dr, Chicago, IL 60628.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT CSU'S NEW HEAD BASKETBALL COACHES MISTY OPAT AND LANCE IRVIN

"Coach Opat has all of the intangibles of a winning coach! She truly cares about her players on and off the field and wants the absolute best for them! I was successful because I had coaches in my corner that took a genuine interest in guiding and directing me. Coach Opat was a direct part of my success. She knows the game! She's a proven winner!"
Tamecka Dixon
Retired 12-year WNBA Player (Los Angeles Sparks, Houston Comets, Indiana Fever)
3-time WNBA All-Star

"Without my loved ones in my life I would not have had the foundation of discipline and hard work it took to reach the next level. From the years I've known Lance, he has been nothing but the best. He has been a great example for others and myself who have been under his wing as former players of his. The relationship that we all formed goes beyond basketball and more importantly it's a friendship that his former players will always cherish. Thank you, Lance and your family, for always having my best interest at heart. Chicago State Basketball has a great leader among them."
Jabari Parker
NBA Player (Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls)

"Congratulations to Misty on her position at Chicago State University as Head Women's Basketball Coach. Over the years I have watched her accomplish extraordinary endeavors as a coach and as a wonderful woman. She cares for your family and players while working the long hours required in coaching. Her passion for teaching is reflected in the spirit of her teams and all those around her. It has been a privilege and honor to recognize her achievements and to call her a friend."
Marian E. Washington
Former Head Women's Basketball Coach
University of Kansas

"Lance Irvin is a terrific hire for Chicago State. I've known Lance since his days as a young assistant coach and he knows Chicago basketball as well as anyone. He has the ability to develop relationships and connect both with his players and recruits. He has a wealth of experience as a college assistant coach, and he's not afraid to roll up his sleeves and put in the hard work it takes to be successful. Perhaps most importantly, he'll provide his team a first-hand example of how to rise above the adversity that we all face in life. I'm excited and proud of Lance's journey. He did not feel sorry for himself when facing his battle with leukemia. Now cancer free, he will use that inner strength to mentor and motivate his student-athletes at Chicago State as he takes the Cougar program to the next level."
Tom Izzo
Head Men's Basketball Coach
Michigan State University

"Chicago State is getting an absolute champion in every sense of the word to lead their women's basketball program. In almost twenty years of college athletics I've seen very few people who have been able set, maintain and model a standard of excellence like Misty Opat. She has had amazing levels of success on the court as evidenced by the national championship rings but, as importantly, has used athletics to transform the lives of hundreds of student-athletes. This is home run hire by any measure for the Cougars!"
Kevin Vest
Athletic Director
Waubonsee Community College

"Lance Irvin is an excellent hire for Chicago State University. Irvin is bright, energetic, hardworking and a great coach. He has experience beyond his years and has worked for excellent great coaches through the years. I am confident he will be an asset to not only the basketball program, but the entire Chicago State University community."
Robert Smith
Head Men's Basketball Coach
Simeon High School

CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITY
Founded in 1867, Chicago State University is a nationally accredited university with five colleges- Health Sciences, Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, and Pharmacy – offering 36 undergraduate and 25 graduate degree-granting programs. Consistently evolving to reflect state-of-the-art trends in higher education, Chicago State University prepares students for success in the twenty-first century. For more information, please visit www.csu.edu.




CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

PVAMU: (WATCH) Hodge Catches Touchdown In Rams' Preseason Opener

BALTIMORE, Maryland – Former Prairie View A&M wide receiver Khadarel Hodge scored a touchdown in the Los Angeles Rams' preseason opener Thursday at Baltimore.

Hodge caught an eight-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter from quarterback Brandon Allen, the Rams' only touchdown of the game.

Watch Hodge TD Catch

Watch Hodge Postgame Press Conference

Last season for the Panthers, Hodge earned first-team All-SWAC honors, as well as Black College All-America accolades from both BOXTOROW and SBN/Power News Radio Network. Hodge was third in the SWAC in both receptions (48) and receiving yards (844), second in yards per catch (17.6) and first in touchdown receptions (12).

In his last seven games, he caught 39 passes for 746 yards and 11 touchdowns, posting three 100-yard receiving games and four multi-TD receiving games. Hodge broke Otis Taylor's 53-year old single-game receiving yards school record with 232 yards on eight receptions and three touchdowns vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Nov. 11. In his three-year career, Hodge caught 104 passes for 1,797 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Hodge caught two passes for 14 yards in the game for the Rams, who will return to preseason action next Saturday, August 18 hosting Oakland.

PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Bethune-Cookman: California Series Highlights #CatsCamp

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Florida – A day before the second scrimmage of fall camp, Bethune-Cookman Football was gripped in an epic 11-on-11 battle Friday afternoon following heavy storms throughout the Volusia County area. While the defense took the won on this day, it was California – yes, the state, that highlighted afterwards.
 
With temperatures cooling off into the lower-80s following the storms, senior writer/historian Dan Ryan meandered over to speak with a few #CaliCats on how they're adjusting to offense, defense, special teams…and Florida.
 
Let's just get this out there because this is a series about California football players adjusting to life in Florida: With the exception of a few isolated franchises in Texas – believe us, we've checked – the closest In-N-Out Burger is literally 2,500 miles away.
 
"Oh, man," laughs junior Marc Martin of Atascadero, California. "Every time we're in LAX [Los Angeles International Airport], we hit that first thing before we go out."
 
Kaelin Humphrey, a Long Beach native, shares the In-N-Out love, but not to that extent. His loyalties are to a place called Mr. Fries Man and a pizza joint that he feels rivals anything in New York City.
 
Yep, the local west coast cuisine is now literally on the other side of the country. But Humphrey has found one iconic local Daytona Beach spot that should make up for it.
 
"Bethune Grill. Super, super place," Humphrey said.
 
Yeah, we're getting to the serious stuff about adjusting to a new region, a new, upgraded way of playing football and college life as training camp continues. But sometimes it's the little things that come into play when making a move like this – even people's attitudes and indigenous wildlife.
 
"Alligators," Humphrey said. "Never seen one before. Never been fishing before, either. My summer roommate [Kendall Batt] took me. We caught a lot of…caught some crabs, think we also caught something I think was called a hook fish. It was a lot of fun."
 
Martin has a little bit of advantage in that department. He's an avid hunter.
 
"You have wild boar here and you don't have to have [a hunting license]," Martin said. "Off-season, I'm definitely going. It's not like in California where I know every where I'm going, but I'm looking forward to it."
 
Where Martin concedes is lifestyle.
 
"California is so relaxed," Martin said. "When you see beaches and dudes surfing and wearing flips … IT'S REALLY LIKE THAT! Summer here in Florida is all about business. Out there it's about vacation."
 
And even though we have surfing here in Florida, our 3 ½ foot waves can't compare to the Pacific Ocean.
 
"You're not going to see me in New Smyrna Beach on a board any time soon," Martin said.
 
The serious adjustment?
 
Time zones.
 
Both admitted it took over a week for their bodies to convert the three hours from Pacific to Eastern time, and that staying light to sometimes 9 p.m. got to be a drag.
 
"One time when we had 5 a.m. workouts, I was up the whole night," Humphrey said. "After the first week, I was fine."
 
Both emphasized that it wouldn't be getting in the way, anyhow.
 
"We're football players," Martin said. "It's a matter of grinding, getting the job done and helping the team."
 
Bethune-Cookman Football will hold its second scrimmage of fall camp Saturday, Aug. 11 at 3 p.m. A location for the closed event has yet to be determined.
 
Follow Bethune-Cookman Football on Twitter (@BCUGridIron) for all of the latest news and updates. For all Bethune-Cookman Athletics news, follow us on Twitter (@BCUathletics), Instagram (@BCUathletics), Snapchat (@BCUathletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/BCUathletics).

SIAC Announces 2018 ESPN Game Schedule

ATLANTA, Georgia -- The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) will return to ESPN with a 5-game slate featured exclusively on ESPN3, announced Wednesday by the league office.

ESPN3 will serve as the exclusive carrier of the league’s package for the second straight season. This year’s slate will feature two classics: White Water Classic and the 83rd Annual Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic, two Saturday night games, and the most-anticipated match-up between the East and West Division at the SIAC Football Championship.

“We are pleased to continue our collaboration with ESPN,” said Gregory Moore, Commissioner, SIAC. “That keen competitive landscape, coupled with our passionate fan following which last year resulted in the SIAC leadering in average football attendance for the 15th consecutive year, makes ESPN3 the perfect platform to provide SIAC member schools and student-athletes with additional exposure opportunities.”

2018 SIAC ESPN Schedule

September 8, 2018 Tuskegee vs. Albany State (White Water Classic) ESPN3
October 6, 2018 Tuskegee at Morehouse (83rd Annual Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic) ESPN3
October 13, 2018 Tuskegee at Fort Valley State ESPN3
November 3, 2018 Albany State at Fort Valley State ESPN3
November 10, 2018 SIAC Football Championship ESPN3

About ESPN3
ESPN3 is ESPN’s live multi-screen sports network, a destination that delivers thousands of exclusive sports events annually. It is accessible on computers, smartphones, tablets and streaming devices through the ESPN App. The network is currently available nationwide at no additional cost to those who receive their high-speed Internet connection or video subscription from an affiliated service provider. It is also available at no cost to U.S. college students and U.S.-based military personnel via computers, smartphones and tablets connected to on-campus educational and on-base military broadband and Wi-Fi networks.

About the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
The SIAC is a NCAA athletic conference consisting primarily of historically black colleges and universities with headquarters in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The SIAC includes 14 member institutions (Albany State University, Benedict College, Central State University, Clark Atlanta University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Lane College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Miles College, Morehouse College, Paine College, Savannah State University, Spring Hill College, and Tuskegee University) which are located within a contiguous six-state footprint (Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee and Ohio). The SIAC sponsors seven men's and six women's sports and is a proud member of the NCAA Division II. For more information, visit www.thesiac.com.

Former East High/Tuskegee University football player focusing on recovery after losing leg in crash

MEMPHIS, Tennessee -- It was his dream to play college football.

Jabari Bailey had finally made it, playing for Tuskegee University.

But on July 11, everything changed for the former East High School linebacker.

“Lucky?” Bailey said. “Lucky I didn’t die. But I wouldn’t say too lucky.”

Bailey stopped on the side of Frasyer-Raleigh Road on July 11 to help jumpstart a friend's stalled car.

“I was in between the two cars,” Bailey said. “I had one leg between and someone ran into the back of it and crushed the leg.”

Frank Smith, 47, is charged with failing to yield, causing serious injury for the crash.

While Bailey's father is working with the District Attorney's office to push for Smith's charge to be upgraded, the former football player's mind is focused on his new chapter in life.

To make a donation to support the Bailey family, go here. Donors should note that contributions to this fundraising effort are not considered donations to the university, and therefore are not considered tax-deductible university donations.

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Phillips: Top football recruit Kayvon Thibodeaux's visit to FAMU is reminder of the significance of HBCUs

NEW YORK, New York -- A few weeks ago, the No. 1 football recruit in the class of 2019, Kayvon Thibodeaux, took an unofficial visit to a historical football powerhouse in Tallahassee, Florida.

The only thing is, it wasn’t Florida State.

It was Florida A&M, one of the premier historically black colleges and universities (HBCU).

And while Thibodeaux did eventually spend some time on FSU’s campus, the Seminoles weren’t the reason the California native made the cross-country trip.

“The moral of the trip was FAMU,” Thibodeaux told the Daily News. “I didn’t just take the trip to go see Florida State, and then just happened to be at FAMU. My whole plan was to go visit FAMU. Florida State was having a camp, so I just went over to the camp.”

For Thibodeaux, a 6-5, 220-pound defensive end, the visit was the first time he’d ever been on the campus of an HBCU. He says he has friends that attend Howard University in Washington D.C. and an uncle that went to Tuskegee University in Alabama. So for the 17-year-old who lives in a state without a single HBCU, this was his chance to experience a campus that he once thought would be like the one he would wind up attending.

“Before I became highly recruited, I always wanted to go to an HBCU. And being who I am now, it gives me an opportunity to,” Thibodeaux explained.

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David Caputo Named DSU Head Women's Basketball Coach

DOVER, Delaware -- Delaware State Director of Athletics Dr. Scott Gines has announced the appointment of David Caputo as the University’s new women’s basketball head coach.

Caputo’s career is highlighted by six conference championships in seven seasons as a head coach, a 136-59 overall record, including 95-16 against conference opponents, two NCAA Tournament appearances and four nationally-ranked teams.

He most recently served as a women’s basketball assistant at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington of the NCAA Div. I Colonial Athletic Association during the 2017-18 season.

His career also includes Div. I assistant coach positions at Louisiana Tech and Florida Atlantic.

Prior to his stint at UNCW, Caputo enjoyed a highly successful four-year run as head coach at NCAA Division II Bloomfield College in New Jersey. In his first season, he led the Bears to the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference championship and the NCAA Tournament for the first time in team history.

Caputo compiled an overall record of 82-36 (.729 win pct.) at Bloomfield, including a 65-11 mark in conference games (.855). His teams claimed three CACC regular season titles and two NCAA Tournament berths.

Under Caputo’s guidance, the Bears won 20-or-more games three times. He was selected as the CACC Coach-of-the-Year in 2015-16 after leading Bloomfield to school records for total victories (24), conference wins (18) and the program’s first at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament. The following season (2016-17), Bloomfield posted a 21-8 overall record and 17-2 conference mark. His two-year conference record of 35-3 was third best among all Div. 2 coaches during the span.

Also during his tenure, Bloomfield produced one CACC Player-of-the-Year, two conference defensive players-of-the-year, an All-America honoree and 10 all-conference players.

From 2011-to-2013, Caputo was as an assistant coach at Louisiana Tech of the Western Athletic Conference. As the team’s recruiting coordinator, his 2012 class of newcomers was ranked No. 1 in the WAC and 55th among all NCAA Div. 1 teams (350 schools). The list included the second-ranked junior college player at her position.

During his first season at Louisiana Tech, the Lady Techsters reached the WAC Tournament championship game.

As an assistant at Florida Atlantic, Caputo helped produce the nation’s 54th best recruiting class during the 2007-08 season, while the 2017-18 UNC-Wilmington newcomers ranked 75th in the country during his year with the Seahawks.

“David Caputo is a proven teacher, leader and winner,” said Gines. “He has an infectious spirit and his career displays passion, perseverance and the fruits of making programs bigger, faster, stronger and more competitive at the conference and national levels.”

Gines added, “David is an adaptive and relentless recruiter with a keen ability to build team cohesion and elevate performance in all areas. I strongly believe he will resonate with our current players, campus, alumni and community.”

Caputo’s career also includes a three-year stint as head coach at Florida’s Indian River Community College, leading the team to three regular season conference championships and three National Junior College Div. I regional Elite 8 appearances from 2008-to-2011.

His 30-5 conference record at Indian River was tops among all Florida junior college coaches during his three years at the school.

The 2008-09 Southern Conference Coach-of-the-Year, Caputo was twice nominated for national top-coach honors while at Indian River. A total of 12 players signed with NCAA Div. I programs while nine more on to other four-year colleges during his tenure at the school.

Caputo previously served as an assistant coach at Bloomfield College and Santa Fe Community College.

“I am honored, humbled and blessed for this opportunity to lead the Delaware State women’s basketball team,” Caputo said. “The program is a sleeping giant and the school is guided by the outstanding leaders. After hearing the vision for the program laid out by Dr. Mishoe (DSU President) and Dr. Gines, I am convinced this is the right move for me and my family.”

Caputo earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Montclair State (N.J.) in 2005.

He and wife Denise have two sons. His oldest son Dana Raysor was a member of the Delaware State men’s basketball team from 2015-to-2017.

Reaction to David Caputo’s Hiring as Delaware State head women’s basketball coach

“I saw first-hand David Caputo’s coaching skill. He’s a passionate teacher who gets the best out of his players. His expertise as a recruiter is second to none. During his year on my staff, we improved in every area in which he had responsibility. I have every confidence that Delaware State will experience expect great success under Dave’s leadership.”
 Karen Barefoot Head Women’s Basketball UNC-Wilmington

“I couldn’t be happier for David Caputo and Delaware State University for this appointment. Dave is a dedicated , hard-working individual who is committed to excellence on and off the court. He’s a brilliant recruiter and teacher of the game, and no task is too big or small for him to tackle. Delaware State got it right with the hiring of Dave Caputo. I look forward to following the team’s success in the years ahead.
Teresa Weatherspoon Former Head Women’s Basketball Coach
Louisiana Tech University WNBA & U.S. Olympics standout player

“I’ve known Dave Caputo for a number of years and was among the many Div. I coaches recruiting his junior college players. Throughout our careers, we have leaned on each other for advice on the game and life. He’s an unbelievable recruiter, teacher and leader. Dave has produced some outstanding players, particularly guards, over his brilliant career. He will do an amazing job at Delaware State and I am excited that we are now together in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.” Audra Smith South Carolina State University Head Women’s Basketball Coach

“Dave took our women’s basketball program to national prominence in his three years at Indian River State College. No one will out-work or out-coach him. He has enjoyed great success at each stop in his career. I will not be surprised if Delaware State women’s basketball begins an immediate rise and returns to power in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in a short time.”
Scott Kimmelman Indian River State College Director of Athletics

DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

UAPB star Casimie to lead Saint Lucia Volleyball

GROS ISLET, SAINT LUCIA, West Indies -- Saint Lucia’s national women’s team is preparing to compete in next weekend’s Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association senior championships in Antigua and Barbuda.

The squad will be led by Lisa Casimie, a 5-11 hitter from Grand Riviere, Gros Islet.

But more recently, Lisa has been making a name for herself at the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, where she has been a major factor in the success of the Golden Lions.

Recently turned 22, Lisa is already earning high expectations going into her last collegiate season, as the senior outside hitter has been named to the preseason All-Conference team by the South West Athletic Conference.

In 2017, Lisa was SWAC Newcomer of the Year, and this year, she is the lone Lady Lion to land on the SWAC first team.

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A&T defensive end Darryl Johnson's idea of summer vacation is more football

DARRYL JOHNSON, Jr.
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

GREENSBORO, North Carolina — The looming dark thunderclouds crept across the sky, headed straight for N.C. A&T’s practice field and the weary young men who sweated through the long afternoon in 93-degree heat.

Practice was almost over. The iron-gray clouds guaranteed that.

Only sprints remained. Two final down-and-back trips across the grass, pushing on tired legs.

Most dreaded it. Most, but not all.

Darryl Johnson, A&T’s third-team All-America defensive end, ran hard, finishing each sprint near the front of his group.

“That’s what leaders do,” Coach Sam Washington said. “D.J. has bought in. He understands what it takes to be successful, and that’s a hard thing for a lot of young guys — to learn and to understand and to realize the commitment it takes.”

Johnson, a 6-foot-6, 240-pound junior, had a breakthrough season as a sophomore last year when the Aggies went 12-0 and won their second black college national championship in three years.

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Christmas has Grambling feeling the holiday spirit

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- De'Arius Christmas is one of the most decorated players on the Grambling roster, but the senior still wants to do more for his team.

"Being a voice. I can lead by example easy. It comes natural, but being vocal is something I been working on since I got to college."

Running back Jordan Jones has already noticed a change, "He's always led by example, doesn't really talk much, but you can see now in our group message and meetings and stuff he's starting to take that leadership role. But I mean everybody followed him anyway. I mean when you got talent like that it's hard not to follow."

Head coach Broderick Fobbs challenged Christmas and others to take charge this year and sees how much of an asset he is in the locker room, "The thing that I love about him is his enthusiasm is infectious. It's always sunshiny and he's always upbeat."

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Pat White boosts Alcorn's coaching staff

COACH PAT WHITE
ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

LORMAN,Mississippi -- Coming off of four straight SWAC regular season championships, expectations are high once again for Alcorn State this year.

But, that doesn't mean the Braves are getting complacent.

Enter first year quarterbacks coach Pat White, who head coach Fred McNair said he's been recruiting for quite some time.

"I'll tell you what, Pat's done a great job with the quarterbacks here man," McNair said. "I'll tell you he's doing an excellent job with them and you know I was excited about Pat you know? I tried getting Pat two years ago to come on board with us and finally this year he submitted to us. So he came in and is doing a great job with the quarterbacks, and he's got expectations of him man. He's very vocal and he expects a lot out of them."

White said so far the transition has been smooth and he's progressing every day. And White says, so far, he's been impressed with his quarterbacks.

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JCSU Golden Bulls Open Football Practice on Friday, Aug.10

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- The Johnson C. Smith football team will begin preparations for the upcoming 2018 season on Friday, Aug. 10 when the Golden Bulls open their preseason camp.

Football student-athletes began arriving on campus earlier in the week. Following a team cookout and meeting on Wednesday evening, business picked up on Thursday with meetings with the athletic training staff, compliance and the issuing of equipment.

It all gets started on Friday with an early morning conditioning session followed by weight room work. Following unit meetings, the team will assemble for the first practice of the 2018 season at 3:00 p.m. on Friday afternoon. The helmet only practice will be followed by dinner and additional meetings for the special teams and the offense and defense squads.

Following a second helmet-only practice on Saturday, Aug. 11, JCSU will don helmets and shoulder pads for the next two practice sessions leading up to their first full pad practice on Aug. 14. Following the practice session on Aug. 15, JCSU will officially open class on Thursday, Aug. 16, with another full pad practice slated for that afternoon.

JCSU begins the season on Thursday night, Aug. 30, playing at local rival Wingate. Kickoff against the Bulldogs is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

JCSU will play in their first home game of the season on Sept. 8 at 6:00 p.m. against Benedict.

Season tickets as well as single-game tickets are available for purchase online by clicking here or by clicking on the tickets button at the bottom right of GoldenBullSports.com.

JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

UAPB football has healthy QB competition

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas -- During spring football, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Golden Lions had two quarterbacks splitting reps as first-year Head Coach Cedric Thomas began his campaign. Junior College transfer Shannon Patrick and senior Roger Totten were the two who participated in the spring, and now two freshmen have been added to the quarterback room.

Freshman quarterback Skyler Perry (6′3, 200 lbs) comes from Edna Carr, a nationally known high school powerhouse in New Orleans, Louisiana. His classmate, David Chapel (5′11, 175), is a former North Little Rock Charging Wildcat. Both Perry and Chapel won state championships as high school starting quarterbacks, and Thomas is happy that they’re apart of the family.



Although Patrick has been the first quarterback to take snaps, Thomas made it clear that the starting job is still up for grabs.

“It’s really a blessing,” Thomas said. “In the spring we had our fingers crossed, toes crossed and everything else. To see four in the picture is huge. The two freshmen, both of them won state championships. Skylar Perry won a big-time state championship at Edna Carr in Louisiana, and David Chapel won a 7A state title at North Little Rock. We’re excited about the two pups, and the job is open. The only people who have jobs on the team now is the coaching staff.

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Bluefield State Men's Basketball Announces 2018 Commits

HEAD COACH DERRICK PRICE

BLUEFIELD, West Virginia -- We are excited to announce the additions to our roster:

6'4 Derek Brandon - from New Garden Friends will be a huge asset to our program coming in this year. Brandon is a winner and has a frame to play multiple positions on the court for us.

6'0 Marcus Neal - From Moravian Prep, Marcus is another winner that won a national championship at his prep school. We are pleased that Marcus will give us depth from an athletic stand point and will help tremendously on the defensive end of the floor.

6'0 Tony Hood - Tony is a former local standout in our area that will bring a side of maturity to our guard play this season. Tony is a prolific shooter and can see the court very well.

6'3 Teyon Henry - Teyon is a dynamic athlete who was a standout player at his previous school. Henry will be transferring from Bluefield College, where he made a huge impact for the Rams. Teyon will be an all-around combo guard for us and has aspirations to be a top player in our program.

6'9 Abraham Eze - Abe will bring something to the Big Blues that we haven't seen in years. He will be a force to be reckoned with in the paint and will shatter the glass for rebounds. Abe will be a presence that will clear space offensively and will clog the lane defensively.

6'4 Brandon Anyanwu - Brandon comes from California and an absolute bully as a guard and will add a lot fire power to our team. Brandon, coming from a Junior College will add a ton of experience to our roster and gives us another wing that can drive downhill to the basket.

6'3 Marquez Cooper - Marquez is a very athletic shooter and lock down defender. He will become a more developed player here with us and will have a chance to have a great career as a Big Blue.

Coach Derrick Price has a very intriguing group coming in this season that he hopes to take his program to new levels. The goals I have for this season are far different than people would think and I like that. We have a chance to make history yet again here at BSC.