Culver Column: FAMU got its coach, now give him time

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Let’s start with the obvious: Alex Wood is a good hire for Florida A&M’s next head coach.

Wood comes equipped with decades of coaching experience at the collegiate and NFL levels. He’s known as an offensive mastermind capable of getting the most of the personnel he has while implementing potent schemes.

Last season, as interim head coach at Buffalo, Wood went 2-2 and led a team that averaged 438.2 yards per game on offense. He was on staff for Miami teams that won the national title in 1989 and 1991 and has even coached the likes of NFL Pro-Bowler Daunte Culpepper.

He’s the proven winner with NFL experience and a strong vision that everyone who hangs out in the comments section of FAMU football stories has been clamoring for.

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VIDEO COURTESY FAMU ATHLETICS

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In CIAA, it's always hoops season

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- No offense to football, volleyball, track and field or baseball, but the CIAA revolves around basketball.

When the league kicks off basketball season with its preseason media day in October, attention turns to February and Charlotte, site of the postseason tournament. In Division II, the CIAA tournament is still the biggest dog on the block, rivaled only by the ACC and Big East in all the land regardless of division.

It’ll also be in Charlotte for at least six more years after the city, CIAA and the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority reached an agreement in September.



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2014 The Sports Network FCS All-America Team

With position, player, school, class, height, weight:

First Team - Offense
QB - John Robertson, Villanova, Jr., 6-1, 221

RB - Marshaun Coprich, Illinois State, Jr., 5-9, 205; Gus Johnson, Stephen F. Austin, Sr., 5-10, 224; Zach Zenner, South Dakota State, Sr., 6-0, 220

FB - Seth Fisher, Richmond, Jr., 6-2, 232

WR - DeAndre Carter, Sacramento State, Sr., 5-10, 185; R.J. Harris, New Hampshire, Sr., 6-0, 201; Cooper Kupp, Eastern Washington, So., 6-2, 195

TE - MyCole Pruitt, Southern Illinois, Sr., 6-3, 255

OL - Joe Haeg, North Dakota State, Jr., 6-6, 299; Mason Halter, Fordham, Sr., 6-8, 297; Chad Hamilton, Coastal Carolina, Sr., 6-3, 305; Max Holcombe, Jacksonville State, Sr., 6-3, 290; Collin Seibert, Eastern Illinois, Sr., 6-4, 290

AP - David Johnson, Northern Iowa, Sr., 6-1, 229

PK - John Lunsford, Liberty, PK, 6-1, 180

KR - Pokey Harris, Murray State, Sr., 5-10, 173

First Team - Defense

DL - Kyle Emanuel, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-3, 251; Javon Hargrave, South Carolina State, Jr., 6-2, 295; Davis Tull, Chattanooga, Sr., 6-3, 240; Zack Wagenmann, Montana, Sr., 6-3, 250

LB - Quinn Backus, Coastal Carolina, Sr., 5-10, 215; Don Cherry, Villanova, Jr., 6-1, 221; Nick Dzubnar, Cal Poly, Sr., 6-2, 250; Connor Underwood, Indiana State, Jr., 6-3, 240

DB - Jacob Hagen, Liberty, Sr., 6-3, 205; Donald Payne, Stetson, So., 6-0, 215; Christian Ricard, Stony Brook, Sr., 6-1, 205; Jaquiski Tartt, Samford, Sr., 6-1, 218

P - Kyle Loomis, Portland State, Sr., 6-2, 230

LS - Chris Highland, Illinois State, Sr., 6-2, 230

PR - Antonio Hamilton, South Carolina State, Jr., 6-0, 185

Second Team - Offense

QB - Vernon Adams Jr., Eastern Washington, Jr., 6-0, 200

RB - John Crockett, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-0, 215; Chase Edmonds, Fordham, Fr., 5-9, 185; Tyler Varga, Yale, Jr., 5-11, 220

FB - Brandon Howe, Cal Poly, Sr., 6-2, 225

WR - Adam Drake, Eastern Illinois, Sr., 6-2, 199; Darrin Peterson, Liberty, Jr., 6-2, 190; Brian Wetzel, Fordham, Sr., 5-11, 190

TE - Harold Spears, New Hampshire, Sr., 6-4, 255

OL - Cole Caruthers, Central Arkansas, Sr., 6-4, 292; Nick Easton, Harvard, Sr., 6-3, 300; Antoine Everett, McNeese State, Sr., 6-3, 325; Darren Pinnock, Morgan State, Sr., 6-4, 330; Jake Rodgers, Eastern Washington, Sr., 6-6, 315; Jack Rummells, Northern Iowa, Sr., 6-5, 300

AP - Johnta Hebert, Prairie View A&M, Jr., 5-10, 195

PK - Michael Schmadeke, Northern Iowa, Jr., 5-10, 181

KR - Devin Rahming, Duquesne, Sr., 5-11, 170

Second Team - Defense

DL - Jeff Covitz, Bryant, Sr., 6-2, 255; James Cowser, Southern Utah, Jr., 6-4; 244; Zack Hodges, Harvard, Sr., 6-3, 235; Alec May, Georgetown, Sr., 6-4, 255; Xavier Williams, Northern Iowa, Sr., 6-2, 309

LB - Tony Bell, UT Martin, Sr., 6-1, 200; Evan Byers, Bucknell, Sr., 6-0, 235; Isiah Corbett, Southeastern Louisiana, Sr., 6-3, 250; Lynden Trail, Norfolk State, Sr., 6-7, 250

DB - Colten Heagle, North Dakota State, Sr., 5-11, 206; Gordon Hill, Sacred Heart, Sr., 6-0, 220; De'Ante Saunders, Tennessee State, Sr., 5-11, 220; Caleb Schaffitzel, Missouri State, Sr., 6-0, 215

P - Ben LeCompte, North Dakota State, Jr., 5-10, 200

LS - Phil Faccone, Wagner, Sr., 5-9, 195

PR - Ladarius Vanlier, Tennessee Tech, Jr., 5-8, 175

Third Team - Offense

QB - Justin Arias, Idaho State, Sr., 6-1, 210

RB - Malcolm Cyrus, Alabama State, Sr., 5-10, 180; Khairi Dickson, Saint Francis, Jr., 6-0, 182; Connor Kacsor, Dayton, Sr., 6-0, 200; Dy'Shawn Mobley, Eastern Kentucky, Jr., 5-11, 217

FB - Andrew Bonnet, North Dakota State, Jr., 6-3, 250

WR - Chris King, Duquesne, Jr., 6-1, 196; Mark Roberts, Lamar, Sr., 6-3, 190; Jake Wieneke, South Dakota State, Fr., 6-4, 205

TE - Nick Boyle, Delaware, Sr., 6-6, 270

OL - Jermaine Barton, Illinois State, Sr., 6-7, 315; Mike Coccia, New Hampshire, Sr., 6-3, 301; Cornelius Edison, Portland State, Sr., 6-3, 295; Vince Kowalski, Villanova, Sr., 6-4, 298; Corey Levin, Chattanooga, So., 6-5, 285; Jaime Martinez, Sacred Heart, Sr., 6-4, 340

AP - Tarik Cohen, North Carolina A&T, So., 5-6, 172; Chandler Curtis, Mercer, Fr., 5-10, 186

PK - Ryan McCrum, Southeast Missouri, So., 6-0, 228

KR - Xavier Roberson, Southeastern Louisiana, Jr., 5-9, 180

Third Team - Defense

DL - P.J. Hall, Sam Houston State, Fr., 6-1, 270; Sage Harold, James Madison, Sr., 6-4, 245; Mike Reilly, William & Mary, Sr., 6-4, 265; Devaunte Sigler, Jacksonville State, Jr., 6-5, 292; Gary Wilkins, Furman, Sr., 6-3, 240; Jonathan Woodard, Central Arkansas, Jr., 6-6, 271

LB - Kourtney Berry, Alabama State, So., 6-0, 215; Christon Gill, Western Carolina, Sr., 6-0, 225; Jerome Howard, Prairie View A&M, Sr., 6-0, 216; Mike Zeuli, Princeton, Sr., 6-2, 230

DB - Imoan Claiborne, Northwestern State, Sr., 5-11, 187; Jarrett Dieudonne, Wagner, Sr., 6-1, 190; Matt Hermanson, Montana, Sr., 6-1, 198; Jermaine Hough, Jacksonville State, Jr., 5-10, 180; Tye Smith, Towson, Sr., 6-0, 170

P - Lachlan Edwards, Sam Houston State, Jr., 6-5, 214

LS - Shane Ballard, Coastal Carolina, Sr., 6-3, 210

PR - Michael Jones, North Carolina Central, So., 5-10, 180

In the FCS Huddle: Top 10 FCS stories of the year

EXCERPT:

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (SportsNetwork.com) --  North Dakota State football has been the story of the decade in the FCS, but in 2014 the Bison have had some sharing to do within their Missouri Valley Football Conference.

Illinois State earned a share of the Valley title alongside NDSU and, although both programs didn't meet in the regular season, they will square off in the FCS championship game on Jan. 10 in Frisco, Texas - the first time the two national finalists are members of the same FCS conference.

Here's a Top 10 countdown of a memorable 2014 across the FCS, dominated by you-know-what conference:

6. Grambling Revival - First-year coach Broderick Fobbs turned around the fortunes of Grambling State, his alma mater, a year after a turbulent season in which there was three different coaches in charge, the players staged a six- day walkout in protest of conditions in the program and refused to travel to a game at Jackson State - forcing the Southwestern Athletic Conference program into a forfeit - and the Tigers won only one game for a second consecutive season. Under Fobbs, the historically black national power won its first seven SWAC games and nearly reached the conference championship game in a 7-5 campaign.

2. Coaching Carousel - The head coaching changes for 2014 got a head start late last year and it wasn't pretty. An unsettling 28 of the 124 FCS programs - a whopping 22.6 percent - had new head coaches this season. The big successes included Fobbs (Grambling State), Klieman (North Dakota State), Greg Gattuso (Albany), John Grass (Jacksonville State), Everett Withers (James Madison), Lee Hull (Morgan State), Jody Sears (Sacramento State), K.C. Keeler (Sam Houston State) and Clint Conque (Central Arkansas). The big-name changes after this season included former Nebraska coach Bo Pelini stepping into a ready-to-go situation at Youngstown State, Brian Jenkins leaving Bethune-Cookman for Alabama State and Bob Stitt replacing the retiring Mick Delaney at Montana.

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Duquesne Dukes Returns to Action on Dec. 28 vs. Maryland Eastern Shore

DUQUESNE MEN'S BASKETBALL GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Game 10	Maryland Eastern Shore (6-8) at Duquesne (4-5)
Date | Time	Sunday, December 28, 2014 | 2:00 p.m. ET
Location	A.J. Palumbo Center (4,406) | Pittsburgh, Pa.
Game Notes	Complete Game Notes
Live Video	A-10 Digital Network (click "live events" tab)
Radio	ESPN 970 AM / iHeartRadio / 3WS HD2
Streaming Audio	Red Zone Media
Live Statistics	Gametracker
Live Statistics	StatBroadcast
Social Media	@ GoDuquesne
Tickets	call 412-232-DUKE (3853)

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania -- Duquesne leads the series 2-0 ... this is the first meeting since a 74-71 DU overtime win on Dec. 31, 2002 ... UMES, which finished 6-24 last year, is in its first season under Bobby Collins ... Collins came to UMES from Winston-Salem State where he led three of his last four teams to the NCAA Division II tournament.

UMES THIS YEAR
Maryland Eastern Shore, which opened the season with eight-straight games away from home, has won five of its past seven ... the Hawks, who have played 14 games, are 2-1 against the A-10 with a 106-66 loss at VCU (Nov. 20), a 72-66 win at Fordham (Nov. 29) and an 82-80 win at St. Bonaventure in their last game on Dec. 22 ... UMES had not defeated a current A-10 team in 45 years prior to the win at Fordham ... UMES, which went nearly four years without a non-conference road win, is 3-5 on the road, the Hawks ended the streak with a 53-41 win at Mount St. Mary's on Nov. 19 ... 10 days later, they won at Fordham ... this is the third of six more consecutive road games for UMES ... leading scorer, 6-9, 245-pound Michael Myers, has taken a page out of the Ovie Soko scoring book ... Myers (14.0 ppg.), who played junior college ball at Angelina (Tex.) JC, has gone to the line 114 times in 14 games (8.1 attempts per game) ... Soko, who is currently playing professionally in France, averaged a school record 9.6 FTA/g.last season for the Dukes.

UMES UPENDS BONNIES
Maryland Eastern Shore is coming off an impressive 82-80 win at St. Bonaventure on Dec. 22 ... the Hawks, who led by as many as 16 in the first half, shot 53.7 percent, including 10-of-17 from 3-point ... Michael Myers led five Hawks in double figures with 19 points ... Devin Martin (17 points) and Ryn Andino (12 points) hit four 3-pointers each for the Hawks ... Martin (4-7), Andino (4-6) and Devon Walker (2-4, 12 points) were the only three players to attempt a 3-pointer for UMES ... the 82 points were 10 more than UMES' previous season high (in a 72-66 road win over another Atlantic 10 school, Fordham, on Nov. 29).

LEFTOVERS FROM UMASS LOWELL
Leftovers from Duquesne's 79-63 win over UMass Lowell on Saturday, Dec. 20: Duquesne ended a four-game losing streak by shooting .518 from the field, including a Jim Ferry Era-best 12-of-20 (.600) from 3-point ... Micah Mason, who entered the game 6-of-26 from the arc in his four previous games (20 total pts.), hit all five of his 3-point attempts in scoring a team-high 17 points ... Derrick Colter, Jordan Robinson and Jordan Stevens added 10 points each ... Robinson's point total was a career high, as were Stevens' seven assists ... the Dukes assisted on 21 of 29 field goals ... Dominique McKoy, in his first start of the year, had a game high-tying six rebounds ... all 15 Dukes in uniform played ... DU led by 29 before emptying the bench ... the Dukes outscored the River Hawks 23-9 in fast break points and 36-12 in bench points ... DU went 7-of-11 from 3-point in jumping out to a 40-24 halftime lead ... DU outrebounded UML 37-27.

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Jenkins' B-CU departure leads top local college stories of 2014

COACH BRIAN JENKINS

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida  --It had become a December routine.

Bethune-Cookman football coach Brian Jenkins, fresh off another wildly successful season, would interview with another school and then remain with the Wildcats.

But this year, Jenkins broke the routine and ended his five-year tenure at B-CU.

Jenkins' departure for Alabama State earlier this month leads the News-Journal's top 10 local college stories of 2014.

Departures, arrivals and returns highlight the list. In the same year the NAIA football championships arrived in Daytona Beach, Embry-Riddle announced it will be leaving that organization to compete on the NCAA Division II level.

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Howard's Terrence Tusan's motives a mystery

DENTON, Texas  -- A former coach and family friend of the Howard Bison running back who was one of two suspects fatally shot during an attempted robbery in Texas says Terrence Neal Tusan was a "good kid" and student.

Tusan, 22, was killed on Sunday at a Denton, Texas, apartment complex. Denton police say five people were involved in some sort of altercation during the home-invasion robbery.

"He was a good kid," Clarence Nevels, a former coach and mentor to Tusan, told the Denton Record-Chronicle. "He had good grades and was just down at AT&T Stadium for Thanksgiving Day Madness Youth Football speaking to students about believing in themselves."

Tusan, who was at home on holiday break from the Washington D.C., school, was killed along with 18-year-old Jakobi Dmon Gipson.

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Temple Men's Basketball Closes Out Non-Conference Slate Sunday vs. Delaware State

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania  --  Temple men's basketball wraps up the non-conference poriion of its schedule Sunday with a home game against Delaware State. It will be the first-ever meeting between the schools with tip time set for 5:00 p.m. The game will be televised by ESPN3 and broadcast on 1210 AM WPHT.

Fans bringing new, unwrapped toys to game will receive $5 off the price of tickets.   Temple basketball players will deliver these toys to Shriner's Hospital for Children in early January.  

Fresh off an incredible upset of #10 Kansas, the Owls (8-4) will look to remain unbeaten at the Liacouras Center,  Temple is 5-0 in the building this season and 175-55 all-time.

A trio of guards tops the Cherry and White in scoring with senior Jesse Morgan leading the way with a 16.5 average.  JuniorQuenton DeCosey, who has scored in double figures in 11 straight games, is averaging 15.1 points per game while senior co-captain Will Cummings (14.8 ppg.) tops the team in assists (3.8 apg.).

Junior transfer Jaylen Bond (6.3 ppg.) leads the team in rebounding (6.6 rpg.) while junior Devontae Watson (2.3 rpg.) rounds out the starting five.

Delaware State (5-7) has lost three of its last four, including an 83-70 defeat at Oregon.  Senior center Kendall Gray (11.5 ppg,), who leads the MEAC with a 10.4 rebound average, did not make the trip to Oregon, and is listed as game-to-game due to suffering from an undisclosed illness. 

Senior guard Amere Gray leads DSU in scoring with a 19.1 average and is the reigning MEAC Player of the Week. Senior forward Tyshawn Bell also averages double figures with 11.5 points per game.

Delaware State has played all but two of its games on the road. The Hornets toppled Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, 72-65, on November 28 and also have wins at Penn (77-75, OT) and at Delaware (66-53).   

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Marquette Hosts Morgan State Sunday At 1 p.m. CT

MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin -- The Marquette University men’s basketball team (7-4, 0-0 BIG EAST) wraps up its season-long five-game homestand Sunday, Dec. 28 at 1 p.m. CT when the squad hosts Morgan State (2-10, 0-0 MEAC) in non-conference action at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. FOX Sports 1 will feature MU’s 10th national television broadcast of the campaign, with John Sadak (play-by-play) and Dickey Simpkins (analyst) calling the action. Sunday’s action will also mark the conclusion of the non-league portion of the Golden Eagles’ 2014-15 campaign. Marquette opens BIG EAST Conference action Dec. 31 at DePaul.

TV Info: FOX Sports 1 | Radio Info: 540 ESPN

Marquette Game Notes  | Morgan State Game Notes 

BIG EAST Featured During New Year’s Marathon

The BIG EAST Conference will ring in the New Year with a full day of BIG EAST Basketball for the second annual New Year’s Eve Tip-Off Marathon on FOX Sports 1.

From noon until midnight, fans can watch the debut of the 2014-15 conference slate as all 10 teams battle it out for BIG EAST glory.

The schedule of games is St. John’s at Seton Hall (11 a.m. CT), Butler at Villanova (1:30 p.m. CT), Marquette at DePaul (4 p.m. CT), Creighton at Providence (6:30 p.m. CT) and Georgetown at Xavier (9 p.m. CT).

Marquette Has Had Success In Morgan State Series

The Golden Eagles have claimed each of the five all-time meetings with Morgan State, with the most recent matchup coming during the 2006-07 campaign (77-57, Dec. 22).

The two programs first met in the 1988-89 campaign and each of the outings have come in Milwaukee. Marquette is 27-0 all-time against programs currently in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

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Tennessee State Tigers Travel to UT Volunteers, Saturday

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  -- The Tennessee State University men’s basketball team will travel to the University of Tennessee on Saturday for a game at Thomson Boling Arena at 7:30 p.m.

The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network.

The Tigers (2-10) will face the Volunteers (6-4) for the fourth time in their history. UT has won the previous three meetings. The last game between the two took place last season with TSU falling 88-67.

TSU lost 67-45 their last time out to Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders went on an 18-0 run to begin the game. The Tigers were able to quell the offensive onslaught for the remainder of play, but could not drum up their scoring efforts in response. At its smallest, the gap between the two teams was nine before ballooning to the final of 22.

On the other hand, Tennessee is coming off a 64-54 victory against Mercer. The Volunteers beat the Bears for the second time in a calendar year. Their first meeting was in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Josh Richardson heads up a three-pronged scoring attack with 16.3 points per game. Kevin Punter (10.1) and Armani Moore (10.0) are the other two Volunteers who average double-digit scoring.

TSU will look to counter with their double edged sword of Jay Harris and Marcus Roper. Both average 11 points per game and have been the go-to guys on offense for the Tigers.

The game will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Knoxville. For those who cannot make it to the game, it will be broadcast on the SEC Network.

Just three non-conference games remain on the Tigers’ schedule before the gauntlet of OVC play begins.

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After up-and-down career, Howard University Bison Greg McGhee eyes NFL future

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Howard quarterback Greg McGhee is an advocate of correct posture.

Down 26-13 with four minutes remaining in the third quarter of the season finale against rival Hampton, Howard returner Richard Aiyegoro muffed a punt. Hampton recovered. Knowing the turnover would likely cost Howard the game, Aiyegoro put his head down in anguish.

McGhee pulled Aiyegoro’s helmet back up.



“We’re going to get [the football] right back,” said, McGhee, who then relayed that message to other teammates, many of whom surrounded the quarterback with their heads down. “Keep the same energy and swagger we had the first kickoff.”

McGhee would be fully justified if he lowered his head as well. Since he played his last down of high school football, his pursuit of an NFL roster spot has suffered repeated setbacks.

However, whether the Bison rebounded to beat Hampton or were blown out in ...

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2014 FAMU Wind Symphony In Concert

Ram Ramblings: A lot to be thankful for on Christmas Eve

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Nobody really knows why folks take stock of their lives around the holidays but it's a tradition that continues.

That's why Christmas Eve is as good a time as any to be thankful for a lot of things. A healthy family is atop the list and my wife and I couldn't be prouder of our 11 and 9-year-old.
But as they get older it's apparent they are getting somewhat of an attitude but I guess that will be more of an issue when they become teenagers.

If you are a Winston-Salem State fan then 2015 should be a good year. From all indications the new chancellor (Elwood Robinson) will be engaging and is definitely a fan of athletics.

During football season Dr. Robinson wasn't shy about ...

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JCSU Golden Bulls up and down at break

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- Johnson C. Smith can get off the see-saw for the holidays.

The Golden Bulls’ up-and-down season has produced a 6-6 record heading into January’s CIAA schedule, revealing a team that has yet to establish an identity.

“I thought we could be better. I think we have to remain at our growing edge and I thought there were times we did not do that, so we were not focused on growing and getting better. That’s what I’m still after – trying to get the team better and more mature. Hopefully, we’re getting some signs of consistency.”

JCSU hasn’t been able to sustain it during nonconference play, although the Golden Bulls have been competitive despite losing all-CIAA forward Emilio Parks for a month with a knee injury. The initial diagnosis suggested a ligament tear that would sideline him for the season, but a second revealed a less severe injury. He returned last week and scored 25 points in two games.

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GSU Coach Broderick Fobbs get state honors

PHOTO COURTESY: GRAMBLING STATE ATHLETICS

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Grambling State coach Broderick Fobbs and Louisiana Tech quarterback Cody Sokol are among the individual award winners on the 2014 All-Louisiana college football team announced by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.

Fobbs was an easy choice of the voters for the state's coach of the year after taking Grambling from a last-place finish and one win a year ago to competing for a division title. Grambling won seven games against SWAC opponents. Fobbs was the Southwestern Athletic COY and also a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award.

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SCSU: After years dancing for crowds, Eddie Moe ‘dancing for Jesus’

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- When South Carolina State University’s Marching 101 gets new uniforms, on each shoulder will be an insignia in remembrance of the life and legacy of “Eddie Moe.”

Mourners filled St. Paul Baptist Church Tuesday to pay their final respects to Eddie Moore Jr. one of Orangeburg’s most beloved sons.

Across the nation he was known as Eddie Moe, but to family he was “Junior,” said Moore’s sister, Minister Virginia Berry White.

“Whatever Eddie Moe was to you, he was to us,” she said.



“There was something special about Eddie beside his disabilities,” she said. “He began to take shape into God’s purpose right before our eyes. He changed from Junior to Eddie Moe the celebrity and became the one God would use for such a time as this.”

White said her brother’s life makes for the ultimate Christmas story.

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SCSU: Service for ‘Eddie Moe,’ a simple man, fit for a king

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- Upon leaving the homegoing service for Orangeburg’s Eddie “Eddie Moe” Moore Jr. Tuesday at St. Paul Baptist Church, a sobering thought came to mind. I had just witnessed a funeral for a simple man, but a service befitting a king.

“If we all could be so fortunate,” I thought. “What a way to be remembered?” Hundreds of people from near and far packed the sanctuary. A host of others viewed the service from an overflow location at the church.

Almost everyone who sang or spoke – including those who made reflections – remembered a simple man, who, although possessing no power, owning no college degrees, no great status in life, no riches, stood tall.


COURTESY: Donna Stevenson 

“He had personality,” said the Rev. Dr. Chauncey Priester during his eulogy. Indeed he had and so many of us benefited from that personality. Speaking from Luke Chapter 16, Priester recounted the parable of the rich man with power and a lavish lifestyle, and Lazarus, who had little or nothing but was favored by God. For you biblical scholars — and many of us — you know the story, and as Priester noted: “Will the Least Liked Become the Most Popular.”

Eddie Moe was extremely popular in his own quiet way. Whether standing near the corner of Magnolia and Chestnut streets daily waving to all that passed and displaying an infectious smile, or wowing the crowds at South Carolina State University sporting events, or leading the renown Marching 101 band in parades and on-field performances with his energetic dance routines, he demonstrated personality.

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PVAMU Knock Off C-USA North Texas 70-67 Behind Scott's 26-Point Effort

DENTON, Texas  --  Playing in his final regular season game in the Dallas area, senior Montrael Scott went out with a bang as he scored 26 points to lead Prairie View A&M to a 70-67 win over Conference USA's North Texas on Tuesday night.

Back-to-back treys by John Brisco early in the game turned a 7-6 PVAMU lead into a 13-6 lead and the Panthers remained ahead by seven (15-8) after Scott's jumper with 13:13 remaining. A 7-0 run by the Mean Green tied the game at 15-all until layups by Jaryn Johnson and Tre Hagood ended the run and gave PVAMU a 19-15 advantage.

North Texas, coming off a defeat over Creighton of the Big East this past weekend, turned the tables and went on a 15-4 surge over the next six-and-a-half minutes to move ahead 30-23 with 2:15 remaining. Junior guard Jacoby Green stopped the bleeding with a jumper at the 2:05 mark and the Panthers held ground as UNT claimed a 34-27 halftime advantage.

The Mean Green claimed their largest lead of the contest five minutes into the second half as they led PVAMU 44-33 after Deandre Harris' layup. A trey by Montrael Scott cut the deficit to single digits (44-36) but UNT went ahead by 11 once again after Harris' three-pointer.

Sensing the game slipping away, the Panthers turned up their intensity and Scott led the way as he scored 10 points during a seven-minute span which saw the Panthers reclaim the lead at the 7:05 mark after Karim York's jumper. UNT regained the lead but the Panthers kept on fighting as two free throws by York and a Scott layup swung the margin back in PVAMU's favor as they led 61-59 with 4:58 on the clock.

PVAMU's defense shut down the Mean Green from that point as they would only attempt seven shots over the final four minutes while the Panthers kept charging as they led 66-59 with three minutes remaining after York's trey and Tre Hagood's basket. The Mean Green closed to within 66-61 with 2:33 on the clock and a Panther turnover and missed layup led to a trey by UNT's Jordan Williams and PVAMU clinging to a 66-64 margin.

With the Mean Green on their heels, Scott missed a jumper but picked up a huge offensive rebound to eat more clock which led to a UNT foul and 1-of-2 free throws by Reggis Onwukamuche as PVAMU led 67-64 with 28 ticks left.

The Panther defense stepped up as Hagood logged a huge steal immediately following a UNT timeout which led to layup by York and a two-possession, 69-64 lead. However, UNT continued to be a thorn in the team's side as TJ Taylor's trey narrowed the deficit to 69-67 with eight seconds left. UNT fouled PVAMU's Jacoby Green with three seconds left but UNT still had a chance to tie as Green connected on 1-of-2 from the charity stripe.

UNT had one final chance to tie but Williams' three-pointer fell short as the Panthers picked up their first win over the Mean Green in series history.

Scott finished with 26 points and went 4-of-8 from the three-point line. Brisco followed with 11 points while Tre Hagood had another all-around performance with eight points, eight assists and seven rebounds.

The Panthers will enjoy their Christimas holiday and close out the year in style as their next game is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 30 in Hawai'i as they'll face Hawai'i.

BOX SCORE

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Howard University player one of two suspects killed during Denton robbery

Terrence Neal Tusan
Redshirt Junior RB
5' 6"/150 lbs.
Photo Courtesy: Howard U. Athletics

EULESS, Texas  --  A former Euless Trinity football star who was home from college for Christmas break was one of two suspects killed in a Denton home invasion robbery over the weekend, authorities said late Tuesday.

Terrence Neal Tusan, 22, who went on to play football for Howard University in Washington, D.C., and Jakobi Dmon Gipson, 18, both of Arlington, were fatally shot Sunday evening at the CastleRock at Denton apartment complex, according to the Tarrant County medical examiner’s office.

The medical examiner listed the men’s deaths as homicides due to gunshot wounds.

Earlier Tuesday, Tusan’s mother, who said she had not heard from her son in two days, had reported him missing to Arlington police.

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Gold Rush's Wright is GCAC Player of the Week again

MORRIS WRIGHT

NEW ORLEANS — For the second time this season, Xavier University of Louisiana's Morris Wright is the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week in men's basketball.

Wright — a 5-foot-10 junior guard from Zachary, La., and a former Zachary High School and Baton Rouge Community College standout — earned the honor for Dec. 15-21 after averaging 18.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.5 steals during the Gold Rush's 2-0 week. Wright scored 15 points, made 6-of-6 free throws and grabbed five rebounds in a 72-63 hone victory against Faulkner, then he had 22 points, five assists and a career-high-tying steals in a 92-82 overtime victory at NAIA No. 5 William Carey which snapped the Crusaders' 29-game home winning atreak.

Wright scored six points during a 10-0 run to begin overtime and helped Xavier's record its first road victory against a top-10 opponent in nearly seven years.

Xavier, 11-4 and ranked 22nd in NAIA Division I, will play NAIA No. 9 Concordia (Calif.) at 7 p.m. next Tuesday at XU's Convocation Center.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

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Echebelem is All-Louisiana, Player of Year runner-up

Chinedu Echebelem

NEW ORLEANS -- When Xavier University of Louisiana's 2014 women's volleyball season started, Chinedu Echebelem was a 3-year standout player transitioning to student manager. She was looking ahead to completing her academic obligations in December. But when the Gold Nuggets opened with two straight losses, she rethought her role.

"I decided I had much more that I could contribute to the team," Echebelem said.

Echebelem asked to rejoined the team, was accepted without hesitation, and she helped get the Gold Nuggets back on track. Xavier won its first 10 matches after Echebelem's return -- the second-longest streak in the program's history -- won its fourth consecutive regular-season and tournament championships in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference and earned a fourth straight automatic bid to the NAIA National Championship.

Echebelem, a 5-foot-6 outside hitter from Dallas and a graduate of Duncanville High School, added to her 2014 honors late Saturday when she was named All-Louisiana first team by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association. She was runner-up for Player of the Year; Louisiana-Lafayette setter Andrea Hole edged Echebelem by one vote.

"Nay (Echebelem) picked up where she left off last year," XU coach Hannah Lawing said. "When she rejoined the team she was in shape and ready to go. She stepped in and gave us great senior leadership."

Echebelem recorded 205 kills, 264 digs, nine aces, 25 assists and 17 blocks in 22 matches and reached career highs for kills per set, digs per set and hitting percentage. She had eight kill-dig double-doubles, including 21 kills and 21 digs Oct. 1 in a five-set victory at SUNO.

Echebelem was selected GCAC Player of the Year and, for the third time, All-GCAC. She was CoSIDA Academic All-District and repeated as a Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

It's the fourth straight year that Xavier has All-Louisiana representation and the third straight year the Nuggets have a first-team selection.

Lawing, whose Nuggets finished 20-6 overall and 14-0 in the GCAC, was runner-up in voting for Louisiana Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season. Earning that honor was Northwestern State's Hugh and Stephanie Hernesman, who are co-coaches and married to each other.

An LSWA panel of sports publicists selected the All-Louisiana team, which consists of players from NCAA Division I and NAIA members.

2014 All-Louisiana Women's Volleyball team

FIRST TEAM
Chinedu Echebelem, senior, Xavier
Kaci Eaton, sophomore, Nicholls State
Andrea Hole, senior, Louisiana-Lafayette
Briana Holman, sophomore, LSU
Cati Leak, junior, LSU
Mackenzie Neely, senior, Northwestern State
Kalynn Egea, senior, Nicholls State

SECOND TEAM
Eva Allen, junior, Loyola
Rachel Cagnina, senior, McNeese State
Stacey DiFrancesco, senior, Northwestern State
Glynna Johnson, junior, Northwestern State
Tea Juric, sophomore, Tulane
Malorie Pardo, senior, LSU
Rebecca Redgen, senior, Louisiana Tech
Marcela Araya, senior, Louisiana-Monroe

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Andrea Hole, Louisiana-Lafayette
Voting: Hole 4, Echebelem 3, Holman 2, Neely 2, Allen 1

LIBERO OF THE YEAR: Kalynn Egea, Nicholls State
Voting: Egea 7, Araya 2, Morgan Todd (Southeastern Louisiana) 2, Haley Smith (LSU) 1

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Kaci Eaton, Nicholls State (only nominee)

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Sarah Ray, Tulane
Voting: Ray 5, Bayleigh Hoffman (Louisiana-Monroe) 4, Gina Tillis (LSU) 3

COACH OF THE YEAR: Hugh and Stephanie Hernesman, Northwestern State
Voting: Hernesmans 6, Hannah Lawing (Xavier) 3, Fran Flory (LSU) 2, Heather Mazeitis-Fontenot (Louisiana-Lafayette) 1.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

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Florida A&M's President Hires a Winner in Head Football Coach Alex Wood

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- With the announcement today of the hiring of Head Football Coach Alex Wood, Florida A&M University president Dr. Elmira Mangum delivered on her promise.  In all respects, she selected a strong leader and winner!  I like this hire and the University has my financial support.



THE ALEX WOOD FILE

Overall, Wood brings an impressive coaching resume to FAMU, spanning nearly four decades of work on both the collegiate and professional levels.

From 1989-93 he was part of Dennis Erickson’s staff for the Miami Hurricanes, coaching the running backs, while helping the Canes to a pair of National Championships (1989 and 1991) and a perfect 12-0 season in 1991.

After serving as offensive coordinator for two seasons at Wake Forest (1993-94), he was named as the head football coach at James Madison University.

Wood led the Dukes to an 8-4 record in his first season including a trip to the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs. In his four-year tenure at JMU, Wood compiled a record of 23-22.

Wood moved into the pro ranks in 1999, when he was hired by Dennis Green as the quarterbacks coach of the Minnesota Vikings. He spent four seasons with the Vikings’ organization.

In his first year with the team, the Vikings selected Daunte Culpepper in the first round of the 1999 NFL Draft. By Culpepper’s second season, the young star not only took over the starting quarterback job but earned a start for the National Football Conference (NFC) in the Pro Bowl.

He tied for the NFL lead with 33 passing touchdowns and ranked second in the NFC with 3,937 yards. Culpepper led the Vikings to the NFC Central title and a spot in the conference championship game.

In 2001, Culpepper was lost to a season-ending injury but still managed to finish third in the NFC in completion percentage (64.2).

The Culpepper-Wood combination was back at it again in 2002. Culpepper spearheaded the NFL’s second-ranked offensive unit and in the process the Vikings’ quarterback finished second in the NFC in passing yardage (3,853) for the second time in Wood’s tenure.

Wood was named wide receivers coach by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2003. In his one year in Cincinnati, Wood coached two players in the top 10 of receiving yards in the AFC (Chad Johnson and Peter Warrick). Johnson led the AFC with 1,355 yards on 90 receptions. He also had 10 touchdown receptions.

In 2004, Wood rejoined Green on the staff of the Arizona Cardinals. Wood served one season as the offensive coordinator for the Cardinals, overseeing the offensive staff and handling play-calling responsibilities.

He spent the 2006-07 seasons as the passing game coordinator at the University of Arkansas and ultimately ended up back in the Midwest, helping the RedHawks of Miami of Ohio become the first team in Division I history to go from one victory to double digit wins.



WOOD’S IMPACT AT BUFFALO

The four seasons Wood led the Buffalo offense, the Bulls featured one of the nation’s most prolific attacks both in yardage gained and points scored.

In 2014, The Bulls’ offense rolled up 4,820 total yards (2,855 passing, 1,955 rushing), while averaging 32.3 points per game.

In 2013, UB's offense again flourished, as for the second straight season, the Bulls rushed and passed for over 2,000 yards (2,176 yards rushing, 2,955 yards

passing). The Bulls scored 30 or more points in a school-record eight straight games. Wide Receiver Alex Neutz set the school record with 30 career receiving touchdowns en route to being named All-MAC First Team.

In 2012, UB’s offense rushed for 2,120 yards and passed for 2,391 yards, becoming the first team in the Division I-A era to rush and pass for over 2,000 yards. In addition, Neutz became just the third receiver in school history with 1,000 receiving yards in a single season.

In 2011, his first season as offensive coordinator, the Bulls’ offense saw significant improvement. UB averaged eight more points and 68 more yards of total offense per game than in 2010. Buffalo had 13 plays of 40 or more yards in 2011 - the most in its Division I era.

As wide receiver coach, Wood coached Marcus Rivers to his first All-MAC selection. In addition, Alex Nuetz had the best season of his young career with a team-high 641 receiving yards in only nine games.



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FAMU hires Alex Wood as new head football coach

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M announced the hiring of Alex Wood as its 17th head football coach on Tuesday during a 3 p.m. news conference at the Galimore-Powell Fieldhouse. 

Wood has more than 35 years of coaching experience at the high school, collegiate and professional levels

Prior to accepting the top job at FAMU, Wood served as offensive coordinator at the University of Buffalo (UB) from 2011-14. This past October, he was tapped to serve as interim head coach replacing head Jeff Quinn, who was relieved of his duties, for the final four games (2-2).

Wood is credited with directing a prolific offense at Buffalo, which averaged over 400 yards and 30 points per game during his four-year stint. In 2014, the team finished fourth in total offense and third in scoring offense in the Mid-American Conference, and in 2012 became the first Division I FBS program to amass over 2,000 yards rushing and passing in the same season.

He served as running back coach at University of Miami from 1989-93 helping the team to a pair of national championships, including a perfect 12-0 in 1991.

Wood served as head coach at James Madison University (JMU) from 1995-1998 and led them to an 8-4 record and the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs in 1995.

Wood also served as a coach in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals, and the Minnesota Vikings.

“When President (Elmira) Mangum tasked me with completing the search for a head coach with a proven record of developing a competitive program, possessing high moral and ethical character, capacity to inspire our student -athletes, and the capabilities to take the program in a new direction, one of the first persons that came to mind was Alex Wood,” said Interim AD Nelson Townsend. “The stars aligned perfectly for FAMU to get a coach of the caliber of Alex,” added Townsend.

“I am delighted to join the Rattler family,” said Wood at the news conference. After meeting with Interim AD Nelson and President Mangum, I am thoroughly convinced that working together with Board of Trustees, students, faculty, alumni, and supporters that I can build a competitive football program that will play a positive role in helping FAMU enhance its brand and achieve its mission of becoming a best-in-class academic institution.”

Commenting on the hiring of Wood, President Elmira Mangum said, “I applaud the ability of Interim AD Townsend to swiftly, yet carefully and deliberately, complete the search for a new head coach. Moreover, I commend him for identifying a person with the capabilities and integrity of Alex Wood.”

ALEX WOOD PERSONAL: Wood is a native of Massillon, Ohio, and was a standout football player and wrestler at Washington High School. He and his wife, Rosa, have three children--Jerrel, Alex and Natalie. His son Alex is the defensive coordinator at Wayne (NE) State College.

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Commentary: B-CU’s hiring of Terry Sims looks like the right move

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida — Quite often, when a head coach leaves a program, many people within that program call out for the promotion of an existing staff member.

But usually, when a coach leaves a program, it’s not his choice. While promoting an existing assistant might comfort the players, recruits and current coaching staff, it makes little sense. It’s time to change directions entirely.

Sometimes, however, continuity isn’t just popular and convenient. It also can be the right move.

The promotion of Terry Sims from assistant to head coach at Bethune-Cookman looks like the right and proper move. It looks for all the world like an athletic program that didn’t try to outsmart itself.

“Continuity of leadership,” was a phrase tossed around a few times Monday when Lynn Thompson, B-CU’s athletic director, introduced Sims for the first time as the top Wildcat.

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Dawson Odums is staying at Southern, Bethune-Cookman promotes assistant head coach Terry Sims to head coach

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Southern coach Dawson Odums isn’t going to Bethune-Cookman.

The Wildcats received permission from the Jaguars on Friday morning to interview Odums, who has led Southern to the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship games in each of his two seasons as head coach.

But they apparently never met with Odums, who was defensive line coach at B-CU from 2005-07, before promoting assistant head coach Terry Sims early Monday afternoon. Sims replaced Brian Jenkins, who resigned last week to become head coach at Alabama State.

B-CU, which won a share of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship and was ranked No. 2 nationally this past season, also received permission to speak with Tennessee State coach Rob Reed, but he agreed to an extension Friday night.

The Wildcats were paying Jenkins $265,000 per year after he received a raise two years ago when he was a finalist for the Southern job before the Jaguars promoted Odums from interim coach to head coach.

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