PVAMU Panthers Prepare For Bearkat Challenge; Notable Numbers From NCCU Game

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- The Prairie View A&M football team is in midweek preparations for Saturday's game at #4-ranked Sam Houston.

 
The Panthers will play at Sam Houston Saturday at 6 p.m. with a live video stream on ESPN+, a subscription-based online platform and the same network PVAMU played Rice on Aug. 25. The Panther Sports Network radio broadcast begins at 5:30 p.m. online at pvpanthers.com/sportsnetwork.
 
Coming off Sunday's 40-24 win over North Carolina Central in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge has given the players a boost at practice this week. However, PVAMU head coach Eric Dooley has stressed focus in looking forward, and not backward.
 
"I have seen a different energy," Dooley said. "However, you still have to refocus the guys and continue in the habit of doing good things. With success, you have to learn how to handle it, and you have to continue to practice being successful. There's a lot that comes with it. You can build off of it, and sometimes you can regress. For the most part, the guys understand that. On Monday, we put last week's game behind us. It was a great victory. We enjoyed it, and we respect it, but we have to let it go. It's a long season."
 
The Panthers will face fourth-ranked Sam Houston for the second straight year. The Bearkats advanced to the FCS Semifinals last season, finishing with a 12-2 record, and have been consistently been one of the nation's most potent offenses and programs. In 2017, Sam Houston led the FCS in scoring offense (43.3 ppg), passing offense (362.7 ypg), and total offense (538.1 ypg).
 
"They're a great football team – no doubt about it," Dooley said. "They are a well-coached football team. We know we have our challenges ahead of us, but we like our chances. We feel real good about what we are doing. We feel we are growing as a team, so we know it will be a great hard-fought contest like last week."
 
Last season, Sam Houston was able to play its opening season game on Labor Day weekend, as the Bearkats hosted Richmond in a game that was relocated to Waco, Texas and played on Baylor's campus due to the effects of Hurricane Harvey.  For the Panthers, it was the season-opening game as the Labor Day Classic against Texas Southern was rescheduled to Thanksgiving Weekend. In an exciting contest in a Thursday night game televised on ESPNU, PVAMU nearly erased a 21-point deficit, cutting the margin to seven before losing 44-31.
 
This season, the scenario is reversed. The Panthers have already played two games this season, while the Bearkats will play its season opener Saturday.

"When you have a coach (Sam Houston's K.C. Keeler) that understands the ins and outs of college football, it doesn't matter if they've played a game or not," Dooley said."They are going to be prepared when the time comes.  You know you are going to have a well-prepared team, a team that's rested, and a team that's excited and hungry to get out on the field to go against someone else."

 
UPON FURTHER REVIEW Sunday's game stats have been finalized from the win over North Carolina Central. Among the notable numbers:

• The Panthers gained 626 total yards against North Carolina Central. It was the most by a PVAMU offense since gaining 644 yards against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Nov. 8, 2014 in a 51-23 win. The Panthers' 331 rushing yards were the most by Prairie View A&M since gaining 355 yards on the ground against Jackson State on Nov. 21, 2015 in a 56-14 win.
• QB Jalen Morton had career highs in completions (21), attempts (36), passing yards (295), tied a career-high in rushes (13), and set a career high in rushing yards (63).
• RB Dawonya Tucker's career-high 224 rushing yards set a MEAC-SWAC Challenge record. It was the first 200-yard rushing game for PVAMU since Johnta' Hebert's 212 rushing yards vs. Jackson St. on Nov. 21, 2015. It was the most rushing yards in a game by a Panther since Hebert's 35-carry, 250-yard rushing game vs Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Nov. 23, 2013.
• WR Markcus Hardy caught a career-high two TD passes.
• WR Jeffery Rector had career highs in receptions (four) and receiving yards (game-high 98) for the second straight week.
• The Panthers' defense forced eight three-and-outs in the game.
• LB Isaac Claiborne had a career high in tackles (10) for the second straight week.
• DLs Quinton Bell and Jason Dumas each recorded their first career sack.
• CB Ju'Anthony Parker recorded his seventh career interception.
• S Reginald Stubblefield tied a career-high with four pass breakups.
  
  PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Troy Trojans' Neal Brown Press Conference - Florida A&M Game

Purchase Tickets | Gameday Central | Gameday at The Vet

TROY, Alabama – Gameday is back at The Vet as fans have even more to be excited about in and around the stadium as the defending Sun Belt Champions are back for another season.
 
Fans are encouraged to visit TroyTrojans.com/Gameday prior to each visit to campus to see the latest information on parking, traffic flow and tickets for each of Troy's remaining five home games.
 
Trojan Talk
Troy's weekly radio show with head football coach Neal Brown and "Voice of the Trojans" Barry McKnight airs live from 6 to 7 p.m. on the Troy Sports Radio Network. Fans in Troy can catch the show live at Santa Fe Cattle Company and enjoy half-priced appetizers and drink specials.
  
Downtown Troy Friday Night Party 
The Park Band will perform live on the Square in Downtown Troy from 7-10 p.m. Friday.
 
Troy Kids Zone Presented by Marble Slab Creamery and Great American Cookies
The Troy Kids Zone Presented by Marble Slab Creamery and Great American Cookies opens at 2 p.m. and is located in the outfield of Riddle-Pace Field. Children of all ages are invited to take part in the fun with free inflatables until 5:30 p.m. Additionally, all members of T-Roy's Team will also be able to check in and receive their membership packets and t-shirts. 
 
Trojan Walk
Troy's traditional pre-game march into Veterans Memorial Stadium, Trojan Walk, will begin at the intersection of University Avenue and George Wallace Drive. The Trojans will walk through the brick portal into Tailgate Terrace before entering the stadium at Gate 1. Trojan Walk will begin at 3:45 p.m. for the Florida A&M game and members of the 1968 NAIA National Championship team will take part.
 
Troy Football Letterwinners Tailgate
Troy Athletics is hosting a special tailgate for all former Troy football letterwinners in Tailgate Terrace. The cost is $25 for T-Club Members or $35 for non-members. Annual membership dues are $50 for the T-Club or Lifetime Membership is $500. Returning letterwinners will receive four (4) complimentary tickets to the game and a gift, plus free food and drink at the tailgate.
 
Troy Sports Radio Network Pregame Show
"Voice of the Trojans" Barry McKnight, game analyst Jerry Miller and sideline reporter Chris Blackshear will be on the air beginning at 4 p.m. to preview the game on the full Troy Sports Radio Network.

Tailgating with the Trojans
Troy's "Tailgating with the Trojans" show is back for a second season. Hosted by Troy University graduate Sarah Drake. The show will be released following every home game via Troy's social media accounts and will highlight all of the great tailgating that takes place during Troy football games.
 
Student Promotions
The first 1,000 Troy University students inside The Vet on Saturday will receive a free koozie courtesy of Guardian Credit Union. Also, students can purchase a student guest ticket for just $10 through the Troy Ticket Office.
 
Special Presentations
Troy will honor the 50th anniversary of the 1968 NAIA National Championship Team; all former football letterwinners and Ms. Senior USA Sara Jo Burkes – the first senior pageant winner featured on the cover of a major magazine. 
 
In-Game Host
Troy University graduate Sarah Drake will serve as the in-game host for the season opener against Boise State. Sarah was actively involved in TrojanVision and the Broadcasting Club. She served as a sports anchor and reporter for TROY TrojanVision Nightly and Trojan Sports Now shows. She also worked within the athletic department serving as an anchor for The Social Second, a social media released update on Troy Athletics.  
 
High School Band Day
Nearly 1,200 high school band members representing 26 bands will be on hand for one of the most entertaining halftime performances of the year.




TROY UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS
FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Jacksonville State Football 2018 - Weekly Press Conference - Week 2 vs. Mississippi Valley State

JACKSONVILLE, Alabama -- Head coach John Grass, quarterback Zerrick Cooper, wide receiver Josh Pearson and safety Marlon Bridges address the media Monday afternoon. The four commented on the Gamecocks' Week Zero matchup with North Carolina A&T and previewed JSU's upcoming home opener against Mississippi Valley State.



JACKSONVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

THURSDAY Preview: UWA Tigers vs. Miles Golden Bears

#10 WEST ALABAMA (1-0) vs MILES COLLEGE (0-1)

Sept. 6, 2018 l Tiger Stadium | Livingston, Ala. | 6 p.m. CDT l ESPN 104.9

THE SERIES
West Alabama leads 10-1. The Tigers won the last meeting, 13-10, on Sept. 19, 2015 in Birmingham.

WEST ALABAMA
West Alabama is 1-0 after beating Lenoir-Rhyne, 36-32, in the season opener last week.

MILES COLLEGE
The Golden Bears are 0-1 after losing, 37-0, at Alabama A&M last week.

THE COACHES
Brett Gilliland is 30-17 in his fifth season at UWA, his fifth as a collegiate head coach. Reginald Ruffin is 45-31 in his eighth season at Miles and his eighth as a head coach.

COVERAGE
Radio: ESPN 104.9: Robert Upchurch & Will Atkinson handle the call. Nicholas Finch hosts halftime show
Twitter: @UWAAthletics
Stats: http://bit.ly/2Q23AJ3
Video: http://bit.ly/2lls7wI

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF WEEK
Tiger quarterback Harry Satterwhite earned GSC offensive player of the week for Week 1 for his performance in a win over Lenoir-Rhyne. He completed 23-of-44 passes for 256 yards and two scores and directed the game-winning drive for a score with 12 seconds left.



BRETT NEEDS TWO TO OWN, ONE TO TIE
UWA head coach Brett Gilliland needs two wins to move past Frank North into first place on the all-time Tigers head coaching win list. In his fifth season, Gilliland has 30 victories. North won 31 from 1979-84. Below are the top three on the list:

Coach Years W-L-T Pct.
Frank North 1979-84 31-29 .517
Brett Gilliland 2014-Present 30-17 .638
Jim King 1973-76 29-14-1 .663

LAST TIME AGAINST MILES
UWA came from 10 points behind to notch a 13-10 victory at Miles on Sept. 19, 2015. Trailing 10-0 after three quarters, Tyreek Hill scored on a 65-yard catch and run from Trent Thompson with just over nine minutes left and Tyler Rogers scored the game-winner on a 7-yard run with 5:04 left to seal the deal. Quentin Harton and Jared Washington both had 10 tackles for the Tiger defense.

17 of 21
West Alabama has won 17 of its last 21 games, an . 810 winning percentage dating back to the middle of the 2016 season.

COACH G AT HOME
West Alabama has won seven of its last eight games at Tiger Stadium and is 16-8 (.667) at home under Brett Gilliland.

SEPTEMBER
West Alabama was 4-1 last September, with the only loss coming on the road against FCS Samford. The Tigers are 13-4 in September under Brett Gilliland.

FORMER TIGERS ON THE 53
Five former West Alabama players are currently on NFL 53-man active rosters:
Malcolm Butler, CB, Tennessee Titans
Tyreek Hill, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Deon Lacey, LB, Buffalo Bills
Seth Roberts, WR, Oakland Raiders
Dee Virgin, CB, Detroit Lions

NATIONAL POLLS
UWA is ranked No. 11 in the AFCA national poll and No. 10 by D2Football.com

HARRY CLIMBING THE CHARTS
With his performance against Lenoir-Rhyne, QB Harry Satterwhite has moved into fourth place on the all-time UWA passing yards list with 5,041. He is just the fifth quarterback in UWA history to pass for more than 5,000 yards.

COURTESY: UNIVERSITY OF WEST ALABAMA ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

NCCU Football Press Conference: Week 2 vs Saint Augustine's

NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATION

Kent State FlashFAST Football Debuts at Dix Stadium Saturday Against Howard University Bison

KENT, Ohio -- On the heels of an eye-opening performance at Illinois, Kent State fans have more reason to be optimistic for the remainder of the 2018 season, beginning with the home opener Saturday against Howard. The Golden Flashes host the Bison at 3:30 on Parents & Families Weekend as the FlashFAST era makes its Dix Stadium debut. The Flashes' new look offense and defense began to take shape at Illinois as Kent State jumped out a 17-3 halftime lead. Preventing the program's first win against the Big Ten was an Illini fourth-and-goal stop late in the game.

Facts In A Flash
• The Flashes' 84 offensive plays at Illinois were the most in the program's last 35 games.
• Kent State's 28 completed passes were its most in the last 37 games.
• Sophomore transfer Woody Barrett put up unprecedented numbers (387 yards total offense) for a Kent State quarterback in a season opener.
• Antwan Dixon returned to the field, following a long, life-threatening battle with aplastic anemia and scored the first touchdown of the season.
• Fellow wide receiver Mike Carrigan made a career-high eight catches and scored his fourth career touchdown.
• Senior All-MAC First Team inside linebacker Jim Jones led the defense with 11 tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery at Illinois. He led the Flashes with 98 tackles and 6.0 sacks last season.
• In December, Sean Lewis (now 32) became the youngest FBS head coach.
• Junior center Nate Warnock recently earned the No. 54 jersey, honoring the late Jason Bitsko.
• Junior safety Jamal Parker made 10 tackles at Illinois (8 solo). He finished fourth in the MAC in passes defended last year.
• Senior linebacker Matt Bahr was named to the Wuerffel Trophy and Campbell Trophy Watch Lists.
• Kent State returned 11 players who have earned Academic All-MAC honors in their career and two MAC Distinguished Scholar Athletes.



All-Time Series
Last year was the first meeting between Kent State and Howard. The Golden Flashes scored a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns to hold off the upset-minded Bison 38-31. One week earlier Howard shocked UNLV. Justin Rankin and Raekwon James each caught touchdown passes. The Golden Flashes are 4-1 all-time against the MEAC.

TV/Video/Radio
Saturday's game game can be seen on ESPN+ with Michael Reghi (play-by-play) and Je'Rod Cherry (analyst), who are calling the Kent State-Howard matchup for the second straight year. The game can be heard live on 640 WHLO and the free Golden Flashes Radio channel on iHeartRadio with a one-hour pregame show. Ty Linder will handle the play-by-play duties and is joined by 10th-year color analyst Rob Polinsky.  Jacob Pavilack will be on the sideline. By 2017, iHeartRadio reached over 100 million registered users.

Looking Like a Veteran
In his first career FBS start, Woody Barrett completed 28 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 117 yards and one touchdown at Illinois. Spending his first year at Auburn, Barrett played at Copiah-Lincoln Community College last season, before winning the quarterback job at the end of preseason camp.

Barrtett ranks 11th in the nation in total offense (387.0) per game and ninth in the nation in completions per game (28.0). His 117 rushing yards are the second most in the MAC. During one stretch Barrett completed 28-of-34 passes.

A New Look O-Line
Along the with Barrett, the offense saw three linemen make their first career FBS starts at Illinois: junior left tackle Jamil Viaud, freshman left guard Julian Sams and junior right guard Chase Van Hoef. The Flashes do not have a senior among their offensive linemen.
• Former running back Myles Washington made his debut as a starting tight end.

COURTESY: KENT STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

FAMU Rattlers & Marching 100 - The Weekend Rewind 1

COURTESY:
GOFAMU ATHLETICS
FAMUATHLETICSCOM
FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY 

Alabama A&M set to renew old UNA rivarly

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — Yurik Bethune knows the stakes.

Even though it's not a conference game, the Alabama A&M outside linebacker understands the value of playing an in-state opponent.

Especially when the opponent is only located about 80 miles away from campus.

Alabama A&M hosts North Alabama on Saturday, renewing an old football series that once was played almost every year. Kickoff at Louis Crews Stadium is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Because a large crowd is expected, fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Alabama A&M ticket office at 256-372-4700 or visiting www.aamutix.universitytickets.com.



"There is a lot of excitement around campus," said Bethune, who was named the SWAC's Defensive Player of the Week following a strong performance in the Bulldogs' 37-0 win against Miles. Bethune finished with six tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and three quarterback pressures.

"Both teams are coming off good wins to open the season. And because of how close our schools are in location, it seems like everyone is excited about the matchup."

UNA (1-0), which is playing its first season as a Division I FCS program, opened the season last week with a 34-30 win at Southern Utah.

Alabama A&M and UNA have played 22 times, with the Lions holding an 18-3-1 advantage in the series. The last time the two Tennessee Valley programs played was in 1997, with UNA winning 49-20 in front of a crowd of 19,487 at Louis Crews Stadium.

For Alabama A&M (1-0), the prominent storyline from Week 1 was the Bulldogs' defense. Alabama A&M held Miles to 115 total yards, with just 80 on the ground. Miles also was held to just one third-down conversion in 13 attempts.

Dating back to last season, Alabama A&M now has posted a shutout in six consecutive quarters. The last points surrendered by the Bulldogs was in the second quarter of last season's finale against Kentucky State.

"Defensively, we played extremely well," Alabama A&M coach Connell Maynor said. "Our front seven, especially our front four, dominated the line-of-scrimmage. Those guys did exactly what we know they are capable of doing."

Through the first three quarters, Alabama A&M produced points on almost every possession.

Sophomore quarterback Aqeel Glass made plays in the passing game, completing 10 of 18 attempts for 185 yards and two touchdowns, and all four running backs used by Alabama A&M averaged more than 5.5 yards per carry.

Freshman running back Gary Quarles led Alabama A&M with 51 rushing yards and a touchdown, averaging 7.3 yards per carry, while junior Jordan Bentley rushed for 45 yards and a score — averaging 5.6 yards per carry.

"Coming into the game, we wanted to spread the ball around and get everyone involved," Glass said. "After watching the film, I feel like we did some good things — some things we can build on.

"There is a lot of excitement about this game. We're excited to get this opportunity, not only because we're playing for our team and our school, but because we get an opportunity to play for HBCUs across the country."

ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Missouri State Home Football Opener with Lincoln University of Missouri Moved to 11 a.m. CDT Start

SPRINGFIELD, Missouri -- Due to anticipated heavy thunderstorms in the Springfield area Thursday (Sept. 6) afternoon and evening, Missouri State University's football home opener against Lincoln University of Missouri will be moved to an 11 a.m. CDT kickoff Thursday at Robert W. Plaster Stadium.
 
With classes in session Thursday morning, BearFest Village tailgating activities will not be held, and parking will be on a first-come, first-served basis in all university lots. Shuttle services are available at no charge for fans parking in the BearPark North parking garage.
 
The game will air live on 101.3 FM KTXR locally, along with participating MSU Bears Radio Network affiliates. However, the game will not be shown on ESPN3, as originally scheduled.
 
Tickets for the game are still available in all sections by calling (417) 836-7678 or visiting MissouriStateBears.com. Missouri State students are admitted free of charge with a valid BearPass ID.

COURTESY: MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATION

Le Guillou, Price-Spraggins garner GCAC weekly awards

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana volleyball sophomores Eva Le Guillouand Vivica Price-Spraggins are recipients of Gulf Coast Athletic Conference weekly awards for Aug. 27-Sept. 2. Le Guillou is Setter of the Week, and Price-Spraggins is Defender of the Week.
     
Both honors were announced Tuesday.
     
Le Guillou, from Velizy-Villacoublay, France, produced 152 assists, 33 digs, 12 blocks and six aces in four matches at XULA's Big Easy Blastoff. She had three consecutive assist-dig double-doubles, and she served a career-high-tying four aces in a victory against Point. Her nine total blocks Saturday in victories against Martin Methodist and Webber International were one more than the first 32 matches of her XULA career.
     
Price-Spraggins, from Chicago and a graduate of Whitney Young Magnet High School, recorded eight blocks three times in 31 hours at the Big Easy Blastoff. In a victory against Webber International (2017 NAIA nationals qualifier), she became the first XULA player to reach eight blocks in a three-set match. Price-Spraggins also sparkled offensively during the four matches, hitting .554 with 44 kills and only three errors in 74 attacks.
     
Le Guillou has won both GCAC Setter of the Week awards this season, and she has five in her career. Price-Spraggins's award was her first this season and the second of her career.
     
XULA (6-2) will compete Friday and Saturday in Alabama at the University of Mobile Invitational. Its Tuesday home match against Tougaloo was postponed until Oct. 15 due to the approach of Tropical Storm Gordon.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold 

North Carolina A&T Aggies Makes Major Jump In National Polls

EAST GREENSBORO , North Carolina – North Carolina A&T football secured its highest ranking in a media poll in 25 years when they reached No. 5 in the nation in the latest FCS STATS media poll.

The American Football Coaches Association Coaches poll’s latest rankings have the Aggies at No. 6. The Aggies have been a part of the coaches poll for 35 straight weeks. The BoxToRow black college football poll has N.C. A&T ranked No. 1 ranked once again. The Aggies have been ranked 58 straight weeks in the black college poll. In 37 of those weeks, the Aggies have been BoxToRow’s top-ranked team.

But the media poll is where the Aggies made the biggest wave. They earned two first-place votes to tie their highest national ranking in school history. N.C. A&T reached No. 5 in the FCS media poll in 1993 after a 6-0 start that included wins over Appalachian State, Western Carolina and Liberty.



N.C. A&T is there again after a 2-0 start that includes wins over then No. 6 Jacksonville State and FBS in-state foe East Carolina. N.C. A&T garnered first-place votes in a national poll for the first time in school history. The Aggies top-5 ranking will be on the line on Saturday when the Aggies face Gardner-Webb at 6 p.m., at BB&T Stadium. It will serve as the Aggies home opener.

“We’re so excited to get back here you just don’t know,” said N.C. A&T coach Sam Washington. “They asked me last night what I wanted. I said I want to go home. It was a very long weekend, it’s been a very long camp and a long trip to Montgomery. We are so excited to come back and play at home.”

NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY AGGIES SPORTS INFORMATION

TSU's Delano Spencer Heading to Poland on First Pro Deal

DELANO SPENCER BIO – TSUTIGERS.COM

NASHVILLE, Tennessee --- Delano Spencer (Atlanta, Ga.), the top scorer for the Tennessee State men’s basketball team during the 2017-18 season, will officially begin his professional career with AZS Koszalin in Poland. The 2018 TSU graduate was the 10th leading scorer in the Ohio Valley Conference a year ago with 15.5 points per game.

“I’m happy to fulfill my dreams of becoming a professional basketball player,” Spencer said. "I appreciate everything TSU has done for me. I want to thank God and everybody who has been on this journey – family, coaches, teammates and friends – with me to this point. It’s truly a blessing for me and my family.”

Spencer transferred to Tennessee State prior to the 2016-17 season after two standout seasons at Coffeyville Community College. The shooting guard proved to be an explosive scoring option for the Tigers, posting 707 points to go with 150 rebounds and 59 assists in his two years in Nashville.

• For TSU, Spencer appeared in 59 games with 36 starts from 2016-18.
• The 6-3 guard posted 37 double-digit scoring efforts.  
• As a senior in 2017-18, Spencer scored 20 points or more in a game on seven occasions.
• In one of his last career home games, the senior put up a career-high 32 points in a victory over Morehead State.
• The Atlanta native also registered 14 points at Kansas, 26 versus Lipscomb and 23 points at Belmont during his senior season.
• Since the conclusion of the 2015-16 season, TSU has had seven men’s basketball players transition into the professional game: Delano Spencer, Darreon Reddick, Tahjere McCall, Keron DeShields, Wayne Martin, Xavier Richards and Jordan Reed all signed their first pro deals.

TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Ken'Darrius Hamilton Signs with Professional Team in Cyprus

KEN’DARRIUS HAMILTON BIO – TSUTIGERS.COM

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Former Tennessee State men’s basketball forward Ken’Darrius Hamilton (Montgomery, Ala.) will begin his professional career with Omonia Nicosia in Cyprus.

Hamilton played two seasons (2016-18) at TSU after transferring from Meridian Community College. The 6’9 forward played in 56 career games with 40 starts during his TSU career. He posted 7.8 points and 4.1 rebounds per game with 35 total blocks.

• Hamilton increased his scoring average from 7.1 points per game as a junior to 8.5 during his senior season in 2017-18.
• The versatile big man made 52 three pointers in his two years at TSU, including 29 a year ago.
• Hamilton posted 19 career games with 10 or more points for the Tigers, including two double-doubles.
• His career high for points of 21 came on Feb. 9, 2017 at Tennessee Tech, while his season high as a senior was 19 points.
• Since the conclusion of the 2015-16 season, former TSU players to ink their first professional deals include: Hamilton, Delano Spencer, Darreon Reddick, Tahjere McCall, Keron DeShields, Wayne Martin, Xavier Richards and Jordan Reed.

TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Poll climb: Nuggets collect 1st-ever national votes

NEW ORLEANS — Ten days after earning its first-ever victory against a ranked opponent, Xavier University of Louisiana volleyball produced another first Tuesday: points in the NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll.
     
The Gold Nuggets (6-2) received four points from a panel of 19 coaches and ranked 38th among the 39 teams receiving votes. XULA is the first Gulf Coast Athletic Conference team to receive votes since former member Mobile in November 2009.
     
"It's a boost for our program that we are becoming nationally recognized," second-year XULA head coach Pat Kendrick said.
     
XULA defeated then-No. 22 Indiana Wesleyan in four sets Aug. 25 at the Mid-South Crossover Challenge in Bowling Green, Ky. This is the 11th season of XULA volleyball. Prior to the Indiana Wesleyan match, the Gold Nuggets were 0-14 against top-25 teams.
    
The next rankings will be announced Sept. 19.

XULA's Tuesday home match against Tougaloo was postponed until Oct. 15 due to the approach of Tropical Storm Gordon. Weather permitting, the Gold Nuggets' next competition will be Friday and Saturday in Alabama at the University of Mobile Invitational — four matches in all.
    

NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 Poll (first-place votes in parentheses — records through Sept. 2) Rank Previous School Record Points 1 5 Park (Mo.) (17) 5-0 528 2 9 Grand View (Iowa) (1) 7-0 508 3 14 Columbia (Mo.) 5-1 487 4 1 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) (1) 8-2 486 5 4 Viterbo (Wis.) 8-3 440 6 RV Rocky Mountain (Mont.) 11-1 439 7 6 Westmont (Calif.) 8-1 422 8 11 Midland (Neb.) 8-2 418 9 3 Missouri Baptist 11-2 395 10 13 Southern Oregon 10-0 385 11 10 Hastings (Neb.) 4-0 366 12 2 Dordt (Iowa) 5-1 338 13 RV Vanguard (Calif.) 11-1 306 14 7 College of Idaho 6-4 296 15 NR Providence (Mont.) 7-1 289 16 7 Northwestern (Iowa) 7-3 254 17 RV Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) 10-1 238 18 17 Georgetown (Ky.) 6-1 205 19 NR Saint Francis (Ind.) 11-2 195 19 20 Madonna (Mich.) 5-0 195 21 15 Eastern Oregon 6-4 183 22 18 Doane (Neb.) 6-2 153 23 12 Montana Tech 6-5 129 24 21 Bellevue (Neb.) 5-3 125 25 NR The Master's (Calif.) 10-3 111 Dropped from the rankings: No. 16 Cornerstone (Mich.), No. 19 Corban (Ore.), No. 22 Indiana Wesleyan, No. 23 Ottawa (Kan.),No. 24 Northwest (Wash.), No. 25 Jamestown (N.D.)  Others receiving votes: Corban 102, SAGU (Texas) 95, Aquinas (Mich.) 73, Central Methodist (Mo.) 65, Jamestown (N.D.) 52, McPherson (Kan.) 51, Saint Xavier (Ill.) 27, Reinhardt (Ga.) 23, Campbellsville (Ky.) 23, Lourdes (Ohio) 22, William Woods (Mo.) 8, Ottawa (Kan.) 7, Xavier (La.) 4, Trinity Christian (Ill.) 3 Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications XULAgold.com XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA  twitter.com/xulagold www.facebook.com/xulagold

Gordon gets in the way, XULA conference opener postponed

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana closed at 4 p.m. Tuesday due to the approach of Gordon in the Gulf of Mexico, and as a result the Gold Nuggets' home volleyball match against Tougaloo was postponed.
     
The match, also scheduled for Tuesday, was to have been XULA's Gulf Coast Athletic Conference opener. It has been rescheduled for 6 p.m. Oct. 15 at XULA's Convocation Center.
     
The Gold Nuggets' all-time record on Sept. 4: one win, three losses and three weather postponements. Also washed out on that date because of tropical activity were matches against city rival Loyola in 2011 and 2012.
     
Tropical Storm Gordon was expected to make landfall near the Mississippi and Alabama border Tuesday night. The National Weather Service said Gordon could strengthen and become a Category 1 hurricane.
     
Next for XULA, weather permitting, will be a trip to Alabama for the University of Mobile Invitational. The Nuggets will play Friday at 2 p.m. against Mobile and 6 p.m. against St. Thomas (Texas) and Saturday at 2 p.m. against Life and 4 p.m. against William Carey. Inheriting the role of XULA's first GCAC opponent will be city rival Dillard — 1 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Convocation Center.
    
 XULA is 6-2 after winning 3-of-4 matches in its Big Easy Blastoff this past week.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold 

Alabama A&M Football Review with " Coach Connell Maynor"

NEXT GAME: SEPT. 8, 2018, TIME: 6:00 PM, ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY vs. UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA, Lewis Crew Stadium, Huntsville

ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Hardin: North Carolina A&T Aggies' two-day odyssey ends well

GREENVILLE, North Carolina — When the long weekend finally ended, a historic win streak continued.

N.C. A&T’s stunning 28-23 win over East Carolina sent a shockwave across the state and a seismic shift here in Greenville.

The game ended in a delirious final sequence that left a sparse crowd of ECU fans booing their team and a spirited traveling pack of Aggies shrieking over another win over another FBS program, this one an improbable two-day victory that might ultimately be one of the most memorable in A&T history.

The lightning and rain from Saturday night washed the game into a sweltering Sunday afternoon. Almost no one came to watch, which made for a strange end to a 36-hour slog with the elements.



A&T headed back home with a gut-wrenching win and will now face Gardner-Webb then begin its defense of MEAC and national championships.

The trip to Greenville was meant to be a payday for the school and a road trip experience in one of the coolest game-day atmospheres in North Carolina. Let’s just say the atmosphere in Greensboro would’ve been better.

CONTINUE READING

AAMU Volleyball Rallies Late to Topple Memphis On the Road

AAMU ROSTER

MEMPHIS, Tennessee -- The Alabama A&M University volleyball team never lost faith in Wednesday's non-conference match, prevailing by a 3-2 score over The University of Memphis. The hosting Tigers gained an early 2-1 advantage, but the Lady Bulldogs swung the momentum back in its own direction in the fourth and fifth sets to claim the victory.

With its nail-biting 3-2 (16-25, 25-18, 21-25, 25-17, 15-13) victory, Alabama A&M picked up its third non-conference match of the season and garnered some momentum heading into the Southern Illinois Invitational on Friday.

Freshman Alana Cox (Madison, Ala.) led a potent Lady Bulldogs attack with 14 kills with only four attack errors and a .312 attack percentage. Sophomore Maya Evans (Houston,Tex.) was a force at the net with 13 kills, three blocks and served two aces. Gant contributed 11 kills.

"I am so proud of the fight I saw in our team tonight," Head Coach Rose Powell said. "We had some individuals step up and play a big role in the in. We will us this to build on this coming weekend tournament."

Junior Astonia Gray (Dekalb, Tex.) had all of her five kills in the all-important fifth set, with a .714 attack percentage, while setter Megan Evans (Houston, Tex.) passed out 36 assists.

First-year Maci Battle (Meridianville, Ala.) led the back-row defense with a game-high 20 digs, followed by Gant who added 12.

BOX SCORE

ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

First look: After top 10 win, Auburn returns home to host Alabama State

Auburn (1-0) vs. Alabama State (1-0)
When: Sept. 8 at 6:30 p.m. CT
TV:  SEC Network Alternate
Where: Jordan-Hare Stadium
Betting line: N/A

Hornets this season:
Alabama State is in its first full season under coach Donald Hill-Eley, who led the Hornets to a 5-1 mark to end last season as the interim coach. The Hornets were picked to finish second in the SWAC East in the preseason and had six preseason second team All-SWAC honorees.

After opening with a 26-20 overtime win over Tuskegee, its first win in the rivalry since 2011, ASU opens a six-game road stretch at Auburn. It will be one of two FBS games this season for ASU, which travels to South Alabama on Oct. 13.

While the Hornets are not expected to pose any challenge to Auburn, the game is significant because it is ASU's first ever trip to the Plains.

Impact player: QB Darryl Pearson Jr.
Pearson, a redshirt-sophomore, threw for a career-high 164 yards with a touchdown and had 15 rushing yards and a score in a 26-20 overtime win over Tuskegee in the Labor Day Classic.

He was a preseason second team All-SWAC selection.

ASU head coach Donald Hill-Eley gives his thoughts following the win over Tuskegee. pic.twitter.com/VJdNcirLQ5

— Kamarri Darrington (@kamarrid) September 2, 2018

CONTINUE READING

Jones Plans To Run In Hopes of Rebuilding Morgan Football

http://www.hsrn.com/

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- Morgan State’s interim head coach Ernest Jones plans to run into the challenge of rebuilding the football program. In an era of run pass option (RPO) offense Jones prefers limiting the pass, focusing on the rush, and hard nose defense as they look to restore credibility to the program which is three years removed from sharing a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship.

“This is a new day and are creating a new identity on offense,” Jones said to the AFRO. “We don’t care who knows it. We are going to line up and give the ball to our bruising, physical running backs. You may know what’s coming but it will be hard to stop”.

ones faces an uphill battle as he tries to re-energize their students, fan base, and keep the team motivated. The Bears are ineligible for postseason this year as the program failed to meet the NCAA’s Academic Progress Rate (APR) score of 930 for the second time in three years. The APR monitors eligibility and student-athletes’ progress toward graduation. Despite the improvement from 893 to 920 Morgan State can only be a spoiler to teams who are contending for the MEAC title and berth in the Celebration Bowl.

CONTINUE REAFDING