Alabama A&M expects stronger defense

Photo: Re'Quincia Mack, SWAC preseason Player of the Year, Junior, 5-8 Centerfielder, Buckhorn H.S., Huntsville, AL. Mack batted last season .361 with 8 homers, 28 RBIs, 48 hits, scored 37 runs and had a .932 fielding percentage.

New coach Brown says team can make tournament

Nedra Brown is hoping to do for Alabama A&M's softball program what she did for the Bulldogs' volleyball team. Brown guided the volleyball program to the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship last October in her first season. She'll try to do the same thing in softball.


Photo: Debra Borcherding, SWAC preseason Pitcher of the Year, Senior, Right Handed Pitcher, Ames H.S., Ames, IA. Borcherding was 8-16 with a 5.41 ERA last season on a bad defensive club.

"We want to be competitive every time we take the field," said Brown, whose team opened the season Saturday dropping a doubleheader at Tennessee State. "If we can do that and improve over the course of the season, we'll have a chance to get into the (SWAC) tournament and hopefully make a run at it."

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AAMU 2008 SCHEDULE
(Date Opponent / Event Location Time / Result

Sat., Feb. 16 at Tennessee State Nashville, Tenn. L, 7-2
at Tennessee State Nashville, Tenn. L, 6-3

Univ. of Memphis Tournament
Fri., Feb. 22 vs. Ark.-Pine Bluff Southaven, Miss. 12:00 pm CT
vs. Evansville Southaven, Miss. 4:30 pm CT
Sat., Feb. 23 at Memphis Southaven, Miss. 2:15 pm CT
vs. Morehead State Southaven, Miss. 4:30 pm CT
Sun., Feb. 24 vs. SE Missouri Southaven, Miss. 10:00 am CT

Tue., Feb. 26 vs. Auburn Huntsville, Ala. 1:00 pm CT
vs. Auburn Huntsville, Ala. 3:00 pm CT
Tue., Mar. 4 at Tenn.-Martin Martin, Tenn. 1:00 pm CT
at Tenn.-Martin Martin, Tenn. 3:00 pm CT

SWAC East-West Roundup
Fri., Mar. 7 vs. Ark.-Pine Bluff * Shreveport, La. 10:00 am CT
vs. Southern * Shreveport, La. 1:00 pm CT
Sat., Mar. 8 vs. Texas Southern * Shreveport, La. 1:00 pm CT
Sun., Mar. 9 vs. Prairie View * Shreveport, La. 10:00 am CT
vs. Grambling * Shreveport, La. 1:00 pm CT

Wed., Mar. 12 vs. Memphis Huntsville, Ala. 2:00 pm CT
vs. Memphis Huntsville, Ala. 4:00 pm CT
Fri., Mar. 21 vs. Alabama State * Huntsville, Ala. 3:00 pm CT
Sat., Mar. 22 vs. Alabama State * Huntsville, Ala. 12:00 pm CT
vs. Alabama State * Huntsville, Ala. 2:00 pm CT
Fri., Mar. 28 at Jackson State * Jackson, Miss. 5:00 pm CT
Sat., Mar. 29 at Jackson State * Jackson, Miss. 12:00 pm CT
at Jackson State * Jackson, Miss. 2:00 pm CT
Mon., Apr. 7 vs. Belmont Huntsville, Ala. 2:00 pm CT
vs. Belmont Huntsville, Ala. 4:00 pm CT
Fri., Apr. 11 vs. Miss. Valley * Huntsville, Ala. 4:00 pm CT
Sat., Apr. 12 vs. Miss. Valley * Huntsville, Ala. 12:00 pm CT
vs. Miss. Valley * Huntsville, Ala. 2:00 pm CT
Fri., Apr. 18 at Alcorn State * Alcorn State, Miss. TBA
Sat., Apr. 19 at Alcorn State * Alcorn State, Miss. TBA
at Alcorn State * Alcorn State, Miss. TBA

SWAC Tournament
Thu., Apr. 24 SWAC Tournament Houston, Tex. All Day
Fri., Apr. 25 SWAC Tournament Houston, Tex. All Day
Sat., Apr. 26 SWAC Tournament Houston, Tex. All Day
Sun., Apr. 27 SWAC Tournament Houston, Tex. All Day

FAMU 2008 Football Schedule Finalized; includes Southern University

Photo: Florida A & M University President Dr. James H. Ammons continues to deliver on promises made to the FAMU community. The rivalry game with Southern University will go forth in 2008.

TALLAHASSEE, FL (Feb. 18) – Florida A&M University, in co-operation with officials from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and member schools, announced Monday the resolution of a conflict on their 2008 schedule which will allow them to play Southern University in Baton Rouge.

The two longtime rivals will play in A.W. Mumford Stadium on the Southern campus on October 18, 2008, a move from the originally contracted date of September 20.

Florida A&M will now play 12 games in 2008 with the addition of the Southern game, with one open date on September 13.

FAMU President James H. Ammons and Athletic Director Bill Hayes worked for the past several weeks with MEAC Commissioner Dennis Thomas and South Carolina State Athletic Director Charlene Johnson to move the Rattlers’ October 18 home game with SCSU to October 4, paving the way for the Southern game to be played.

“We want to express our thanks to Commissioner (Dennis) Thomas and Ms. Charlene Johnson and her staff at South Carolina State for working with us in this matter,” said President Ammons upon announcing the resolution.

“The FAMU-Southern series has a rich tradition behind it, dating back to the 1940s, and it is extremely popular with the alumni and supporters of both schools, so we felt it important to do all we could to preserve the relationship between us by working out this situation,” Ammons concluded.

With the recent expansion of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, an additional league game was added to all schedules, causing a shift in play dates beginning with the 2008 campaign.

Since the FAMU-Southern contract was agreed to prior to the 2007 season, the newly-aligned MEAC scheduling format was not taken into account.

The new MEAC schedule alignment eliminated the open date that FAMU had on the third week in September for the past several years, causing the conflict.

The result left the Rattlers with road games at both Southern University and Howard University on September 20.

Additionally, the agreement between FAMU and Southern was to have begun in 2007, but both schools agreed to put the four-year deal on hold for one season to accommodate the SWAC/MEAC Challenge in Birmingham, Alabama last year.

FAMU and Southern will begin talks shortly to work out future play dates for the remaining years on the contract.


FLORIDA A&M 2008 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

1. AUG. 30 ALABAMA STATE HOME/Bragg Stadium
Sports Hall of Fame

2. SEPT. 6 at Delaware State* Dover, DE/Alumni Stadium

3. SEPT. 20 at Howard University*+ Philadelphia, PA/Franklin Field

4. SEPT. 27 Tennessee State@ Atlanta, GA/Georgia Dome
Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic

5. OCT. 4 S.C. STATE* HOME/Bragg Stadium
Football Reunion • Parents’ Weekend

6. OCT. 11 WINSTON-SALEM STATE HOME/Bragg Stadium
1,000 Strikes Recognition Game

7. OCT. 18 at Southern University Baton Rouge, LA/Mumford Stadium

8. OCT. 25 at Norfolk State* Norfolk, VA/Dick Price Stadium

9. NOV. 1 MORGAN STATE* HOME/Bragg Stadium
Homecoming Weekend

10. NOV. 8 at North Carolina A&T*` Greensboro, NC/Aggie Stadium

11. NOV. 15 HAMPTON* HOME/Bragg Stadium
Senior Day • Community and Youth Day

12. NOV. 22 Bethune-Cookman#* Orlando, FL/Florida Citrus Bowl
Walt Disney World Florida Classic XXIX

(*)-Conference game; (+)-Philadelphia; (@)-Atlanta Classic; (#)-Florida Classic (Bold) - Games played in Florida

Morgan State's Hill-Eley talks Bears football recruiting class

Photo: Morgan State University head football coach Donald Hill-Eley.

Signing Day earlier this month was a fruitful one for Morgan State head coach Donald Hill-Eley. The Bears signed 23 players to its 2008 recruiting class, including four transfers from DI programs. Hill-Eley was kind enough to answer questions about MSU's recruiting class last week.

From the looks of your class on paper, it appears defense -- and linebacker in particular -- were heavy areas of emphasis. Do you feel you adequately addressed those needs?

Hill-Eley: Yes, we needed to beef up at the linebacker spot as well as the defensive line. I think we got some impressive young men where in the past we had to take freshmen and sit them out a year of two to get them up to playing level. But we’ve got a group of young men who can come in and at least help us out on special teams. Because of the program and the continuity, we’ve been able to recruit a little bit better athletes every year. Every year it’s gotten better with the quality of the athletes. We’ve gone from no-star kids to two- and three-star kids. So it’s putting us in the game that we’re getting more of the first-tier than second-tier players.

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DSU to enter crazy confines of Corbett

Photo: Interior of Corbett Sports Center, North Carolina A&T State University.

A&T's gym known for frat-like atmosphere

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Among the words used to describe Ellis F. Corbett on a bronze plaque outside the building named in his honor is fraternity leader. The plaque was made 30 years ago, but perhaps the ones responsible had the ability to know what the future held.

There is maybe no better way to describe the activities inside Corbett Sports Center, a non-descript, white brick building set in the monstrous downtown campus at North Carolina A&T, than frat-like.

Once inside the door on a game night, expect to stand shoulder to shoulder.

With the onslaught of rap music over the loudspeakers, forget about being able to hear the person next to you. But that's the charm. It awaits every opponent that enters its confines, like the Delaware State men's basketball team tonight.

The game, to broadcast on ESPNU, tips off at 7.

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For North Carolina Central University, Division I humbling, rewarding

Eagles crash-land often in first year at top NCAA level, but the money is good

DURHAM, N.C. - Imagine being an athletic competitor -- someone who has been taught all your life to play to win. Now imagine being an athletic competitor and knowing you have virtually no chance. For members of N.C. Central's men's basketball team, imagining is unnecessary. In their first season at the highest level of college basketball, losing has been their almost certain fate. Only one team out of 341 in Division I has fewer wins than Central, whose record went to 3-23 with a win against Chowan on Saturday.

Losing is hard on the players, dispiriting for the fans, but oddly profitable for Central. As a newly minted D-I school, Central is a team big-time basketball schools are eager to play -- and pay -- for another notch in their win column. In NCAA circles, these are "guarantee games," in which a team agrees to visit for a price and makes no demand for a return match at its home arena.

Records show that NCCU has received $434,500 so far, the combined take from 21 road games -- including 17 guarantee games. Every guarantee game was a loss. Central has fewer home games this season than any team except Presbyterian College. Of Central's first 16 games, 15 were on the road.

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Great Story! The Eagles will prevail in the end and the move to Division I will be proven the right move to make. However, the athletic director need to ease back on the guarantee games in 2008/09 and give the team a competitive chance of getting a .500 record. Money is important to sustain the program, but it is also very important to the players and for recruitment to show competitive progress. There is no shame for NCCU, as none of the current Division I HBCUs could defeat Duke, Florida or Nebraska at their home arena or neutral site for that matter.

Central deserves membership in a conference.

The administrators at NCCU should not limit themselves to only the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference but should make overtures to the Big South Conference and the Southern Conference. The MEAC has severe limitations in developing a comprehensive marketing program that generates serious revenue for the conference from television, satellite radio and Internet, with little income being generated for the member institutions. NCCU should consider all options.

-beepbeep

Southern University baseball looks to reconstruct infield

Photo: 2007 SWAC Championship game with Southern vs. Prairie View; Southern Jaguars head coach Roger Cador is on left in third base box.

As if rebuilding most of its pitching staff, from starters to bullpen, wasn’t enough, Southern’s baseball team also faces another daunting challenge: reconstructing its infield.

While junior Calvin Anderson is a mainstay at first base, Southern, 26-18 and the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament runner-up last season, projects to have three new starters in the infield: freshman Demario Ellis, from Pasadena (Calif.), at second base; junior Michael Oliver, a transfer from Consumnes River College, at shortstop; and junior Romeo Bracey, from Kanakakee Community College, at third base.

“Those kids have shown me enough, in the fall and now,” coach Roger Cador said.

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Delaware State Lady Hornets get solid play from bench

Photo: Selena Galloway scored 12 points, 1 rebound and 1 steal against Norfolk State. The 5-8 Sophomore guard is from James Ferris H.S., Jersey City, NJ.

NORFOLK, Va. -- Every game that teams from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play brings them one step closer to the grand finale of the season: the conference tournament. On Saturday afternoon, during the first game of his team's last road trip of the regular season, Coach Ed Davis had a big chance to tweak the little things -- like the play of his bench -- which, in the end, could help the Hornets to a second consecutive tournament championship.

With a highly productive performance from their reserves, the Hornets shot a season-high 57 percent from the floor to breeze by Norfolk State, 81-55, at Echols Hall. In improving its overall record to over .500 for the first time this season, DSU (13-12, 8-3 MEAC) scored its most points since putting up 87 against Howard in the 2005-06 season.

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The Lady Hornets return to action on Monday at first place North Carolina A&T. The 4:00 p.m. contest will be televised live on ESPNU.

Tennessee State Softball Sweeps Alabama A&M in Opener

Tennessee State Sports Information

Nashville, Tenn.--- The Tennessee State University softball team opened the 2008 season with a sweep over visiting Alabama A&M University (7-2, 6-3) Saturday at Tiger Field. TSU moves to 2-0 while A&M falls to 0-2.

Leading 2-0 in the fifth inning of game one, TSU posted five runs on five hits and three A&M errors. The Bulldogs rallied to score two runs on two hits in the seventh inning before the Lady Tigers went on to win 7-2.

Photo: Alabama A&M University Lady Bulldogs 2008 Softball Team

TSU jumped ahead 5-0 in the second game following a three run, four hit inning in the third. Alabama A&M scored one run in the fifth and two runs in the sixth inning but TSU would go on to win the game 6-3.

Amanda Vaught picked up both wins with a total of 18 strikeouts. Brittany Webb led with four RBI’s and registered a triple in the first game.

TSU returns to action this Wednesday at home against Lipscomb University in a double header. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Tiger Field.

Alabama A&M will play at the University of Memphis Tournament beginning on Friday before returning for the home opener vs. Auburn on Tuesday, February 26.

Jackson State sends Prairie View into deep freeze in O.T.

Photo: Jackson State's Carena Easley, senior 5-10 guard scored 10 points, 8 rebounds and 1 block in the upset win over Prairie View. This former All-Stater is from Romulus, Michigan, Inkster H.S.

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas- The Prairie View A&M Lady Panthers (15-8, 10-1 SWAC) had a 12-game winning streak snapped with a 70-60 loss to the Jackson State Lady Tigers (12-10, 10-2 SWAC) in overtime. The Lady Panthers held a ten point advantage at 54-44 with 3:57 remaining in the contest. From that point JSU managed to go on a 12-2 run which was sparked by Dequisha Davis three point basket at the 3:38 mark of the half.

Jackson State went on to bring the game to a 56 all tie with fifteen seconds left to play in regulation. Prairie View A&M would subsequently answer taking a two point lead after a successful Candice Thomas lay-up with seven ticks left on the game clock.

The Lady Tigers weren’t quite ready to concede a PVAMU victory as they battled back to tie the game on an Erlexis Cooper lay-up as the game clock expired. The overtime period was all JSU as the Lady Tigers went on to outscore Prairie View A&M 12-to-2, in what was the games final stanza.

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North Carolina A&T wins shootout over UMES Hawks

Photo: UMES Ed Tyson scored 30 points (10 of 18, 5 of 5 3-pointers), 4 assists and 1 steal on the Aggies. The 6-2/200 sharp shooting guard is from Baltimore, MD Walbrook H.S.

GREENSBORO -- Austin Ewing scored 22 points, and N.C. A&T used a strong shooting performance to take a 95-85 victory over Maryland-Eastern Shore on Saturday.

The Aggies (13-11, 7-4 MEAC) took advantage of a hot hand in the first half and ran up a 48-31 lead, and that was the difference. The edge was built on 59.3 percent field goal shooting, compared to 37 percent shooting for the Hawks (4-22, 2-9).

Both teams heated up in the second half. UMES hit 61.1 percent of its shots, while A&T improved on the opening half with a 63 percent effort.

Ed Tyson hit all five of his 3-point shots and scored a game-high 30 points for the Hawks. Gary Lee scored 17, Ishmawlyl McFadden 13 and B.J. Nimocks 10 for UMES.

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WSSU Rams win 58-57 at Howard U. to end their road skid

Photo: Jamal Durham free throws help WSSU defeat a struggling Howard Bison team. The 6-6/215 junior forward and Computer Science major is from North Davidson H.S., Winston-Salem, N.C.








WASHINGTON, D.C. - Jamal Durham, who has been fighting a shooting slump, hit two crucial free throws with two seconds left last night to lift Winston-Salem State to a 58-57 victory over Howard.

The Rams broke a nine-game road losing streak this season and a 14-game road losing streak over the past two seasons. “It’s just a relief,” Durham said. “There’s no doubt that we’ve struggled on the road, so this is nice that I was able to help out my teammates and hit the shots.”

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Lady Eagles Soar Over Bethune Cookman Wildcats, 68-45

Photo: Whitney Cunningham scored 10 points to help defeat BCU. The 6-3 junior center is from Western H.S., Baltimore, MD and is majoring in Psycology.


DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Freshman Arielle Townes led five players in double figures with a career-high 12 points and Coppin State defeated Bethune-Cookman 68-45 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play on Saturday in the Ocean Center.

Townes, from Joppatowne, Maryland finished the game 4-of-5 from the floor including making both of her three-point attempts. The Eagles also received 11 points from Rashida Suber and 10 points each from Whitney Cunningham, Shalamar Oakley and Sesalie Johnson.

Coppin State (14-11, 8-3 MEAC), which won for the eighth time in its last nine games, shot a school-record 93.3 percent from the foul line by making 14 of 15 attempts.

The Eagles limited Bethune-Cookman (4-19, 1-10 MEAC) to 20.6 percent shooting in the second half and 24.6 percent overall.

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Ashley Hampton leads St. John to the Final Four

Photo: Ashley Hampton blasted Merritt Island Christian with 29 points and 17 rebounds to move her team to the final four in Class 1A.

OCALA - The Ashley Hampton Express is headed to Lakeland.

The St. John forward and Florida A&M University Lady Rattlers basketball signee continued her postseason onslaught, hanging 29 points and 17 rebounds on second-ranked Merritt Island Christian Saturday night, and moving the Lady Saints into their first-ever Class 1A final four.

Sixth-ranked St. John (22-5) sprinted out to an 11-0 lead and cruised to the 57-45 victory in the 1A-2 region finals. "We're going to state," Hampton said after her fifth straight postseason double-double. "I'm unexplainable excited right now. "For three years we've been getting to the same point . . . but now we've got the determination and the drive, and the chemistry - it always goes back to the chemistry - we're just really lucky to have that."

St. John head coach Kim Pompey-Bell, who also happens to be Hampton's mother, couldn't hide her pride after leading the Saints to the final four in just her second season at the helm.

"It's amazing to watch (Ashley)," Pompey-Bell said. "I've taught her since she was 3-4 years old, so to see her grow and prosper and develop. She's amazing. And she gets better and better every game." "But it's a team effort. (Ashley's) got her talents and so do the other girls. Without the rest of them, she wouldn't be where she is now."

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Kim Pompey-Bell in her prep days was a basketball superstar at Vanguard High School, Ocala and at Division I, University of South Alabama, where she still holds the school record for 3-point shots made. In this case, the apple didn't fall too far from the tree for this blue chip student-athlete carrying a 4.42 grade point average.

Jackson State signs Pascagoula back touted as gamer

Photo: Jackson State University head football coach Rick Comegy is finding the players to keep the SWAC Championship trophy permanently in Jackson.

Jackson State football coach Rick Comegy said he'd be signing up to three more recruits after the Feb. 6 signing day passed last week. However, he didn't plan on finding one of those guys at the grocery store.

"I was shopping one day and met a guy who coached over at Millsaps," Comegy said. "He said, 'Coach, have you heard of this guy Vick Ballard?' I said no. "He said, 'Man, I'm telling you coach. ...' "

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How does a back/receiver that is rated a Rivals Two Star get overlooked by Mississippi Valley State University and Alcorn State University, programs that need a serious upgrade in talent? This 5-foot-11, 189-pounder out of Pascagoula is now a JSU Tiger. Ballard ran for 1,028 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior. He also caught 15 passes for 529 yards.

Sounds like a every down running back/receiver to us. Great signing class, JSU.

Alabama State Hornets sweep Alabama A&M Bulldogs

Photo: Alabama A&M University's 6-11/205 senior forward, Mickell Gladness had 17 points, 8 rebounds and 5 block shots, but it was not enough for a Bulldog win over rival Alabama State in front of a home crowd of 5,291 at Elmore Gym.

HUNTSVILLE -- Different venue, same result. Behind 26 points from Andrew Hayles, Alabama State jumped out to a big first-half lead over rival Alabama A&M and didn't allow the Bulldogs within striking distance the rest of the way.

The Hornets swept the regular season series with an 85-70 win.

"Against A&M, you know we're going to be ready to play and come out strong," Hayles said. "That's how it was tonight. We were just focused and playing as a team from the start. Everybody played together and followed the game plan."

And so are the Hornets (14-8, 10-2).

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Simpson's half-court heave ends HU Pirates' slide

Photo: Sophomore guard Vincent Simpson, 6-1/170, was the game high scorer with 24 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal. Simpson hit the game winning three point shot to avoid overtime. He is a product of Cardinal Dougherty H.S., Philadelphia, PA.



Vinny Simpson beats the buzzer and South Carolina State as Hampton wins at home after two straight road losses.

HAMPTON - Vinny Simpson's heave from half court as time expired went off the backboard and in to avert overtime and salvage a trying day for Hampton University's men's basketball team.

Hampton moved the ball in 2.4 seconds to beat South Carolina State 77-74 Saturday in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game at an electrified HU Convocation Center. Adrian Woodard found Simpson with the inbound pass on the right side, and Simpson took a dribble before turning and launching.

"I'm the third option on that play," Simpson said. "I usually don't loop across, I pop out from the 3-point line. But I saw an open spot.

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North Carolina A&T flatten UMES Lady Hawks

Photo: Ta'Wuana Cook scored 28 points and 5 assists in leading six Aggies players in double figures. The 5-8 sophomore guard from Fayetteville, N.C. Seventy-First H.S. is our choice for Player of the Year in the MEAC.





GREENSBORO, N.C. – The North Carolina A&T women’s basketball team won again with a 105-79 win over Maryland-Eastern Shore Saturday afternoon at Irvin-Corbett Court.

Once again the Aggies looked dominant against a MEAC team in the top half of the standings. And once again, the Aggies made it difficult for a team to figure out which Aggie to slow down as they placed six players in double figures led Ta’Wuana Cook’s 28 points and five assists.

The Aggies (18-5, 11-0) played so well, even the normally hard-to-please head coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs hinted for the first time this season that the 2007-08 Aggies might be a pretty good team.

“I don’t think there is any question we are hard to defend,’’ said Bibbs. “Last year people felt like if they stopped Amber Bland we would struggle. But this year we have people who can score, people who can finish, people who can make things happen and I don’t see anything wrong with that.”

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DSU Hornets miss chance to make up ground at NSU

Photo: Senior forward Roy Bright #45 had another monster game against Norfolk State scoring 29 points on 11 of 21 shots (7 of 14 3-pointers) as DSU fell short.

NORFOLK, Va. -- As they departed the Echols Hall floor, fighting through bouncing cheerleaders and playing band members to get to the dressing room, each Delaware State player walked briskly with his head straight as if in a drill line.

In a tightly played game with little room for error, three key mistakes with fewer than two minutes to play were DSU's undoing in a 65-63 loss to Norfolk State. The loss spoiled a 29-point effort by senior guard Roy Bright, one shy of a season-high. He made 7-of-14 3-pointers and 11-of-21 shots overall despite nearly missing the game due to a badly sprained right wrist.

The Norfolk band, offered a rare chance to play a curtain call after the final buzzer, explained the euphoria. The Spartans' win, combined with first-place Morgan State's 90-89 overtime loss at Florida A&M, put them in a tie with the Bears with five games left to play.

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This is getting serious, as the MEAC best two teams Morgan State and Hampton are struggling with five games to go. The dark horses are Norfolk State and Delaware State, neither with enough talent and bench strength to make an impact in the NCAA Tournament play-in game. Who predicted that Norfolk State would be in the conference race tied for first place this late in the season? Nobody!

Adams, Morgan State Silence Lady Rattlers, 55-51

Photo: Corin Adams led the Lady Bears with 18 points, 3 assists, 3 steals and 5 rebounds in 38 minutes of action at FAMU. The 5-7 sophomore guard from Brooklyn, NY Madison High School also had zero fouls for the entire game.

MSU Sports Information


TALLAHASSEE, FL - Slow starts are nothing new for the Morgan State women’s basketball team, of course not to the liking of head coach Donald Beasley. Matter of fact – slow stats are what the Lady Bears seem to be accustomed to.

So the constant stoppage of play during the first half of Saturday afternoon’s Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game at Florida A&M, due to a malfunction in the shot clock, played no effect on the Lady Bears getting into a flow.

Morgan State fell behind by as much as 13 point (21-8) in the first half, but bounced back by forcing turnovers with its defense and scoring easy transition baskets to gain a 55-51 MEAC victory over FAMU at Gaither Gymnasium.

Corin Adams finished with a team-high 18 points and Shalane Price added 11 points for the visiting Lady Bears, who dealt FAMU its third loss in its last four games.

With the victory, Morgan State (15-9, 7-4 MEAC) extended its winning streak to a season-tying four games and won just its fifth game over the Lady Rattlers in the series’ 36 meetings, while earning it second two-game winning steak over FAMU in the series.

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FAMU upset Morgan State in O.T.

Photo: Lamar Twitty led the Rattlers in scoring with 28 points, 10 rebounds with 10 of 14 shooting from the floor over MEAC leader, Morgan State.

Demps' free throw in OT gives Florida A&M 90-89 win over Morgan State.




TALLAHASSEE, FL - Darryl Demps' free throw with 13.7 seconds left in overtime boosted Florida A&M to a 90-89 upset win over Morgan State in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game on Saturday.

Demps, a walk-on player, who was only in the game because FAMU's other two big men Akini Akini and Larry Jackson had fouled out, made 1-of-2 from the free throw line and the Bears turned the ball over at the other end to seal the win.

The Rattlers (11-14, 5-6 MEAC) snapped a four game losing streak with the victory.

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Darryl Demps (23) is a freshman forward, 6-6/215 that attended Florida High School in Tallahassee. He is currently majoring in architect design and executed the final two plays just like Coach Harris drew it up on the board. Just call Demps HERO for this game.

Does anyone have a good explaination on why the attendance to this game was only 1,123 for a game with the conference leader?

The Legend of the Hill

Mercurial play characterizes season to date

Photo: Chief Kickingstallionsims (#42), Alabama State University, 7-1/265 center, junior class, Boyton Beach, Florida Blanche Ely H.S./Stetson University.

With the Southwestern Athletic Conference season just past the halfway mark, there's only one way to describe the play during the conference season - consistently inconsistent.

Just about every program outside of Alabama State and Alcorn State has had wild swings in their play. Arkansas-Pine Bluff is the lone team who has consistently been back and forth on a nightly basis - not stringing more than three wins or two losses in a row.

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FAMU recruit leads team to Regional 1A Finals

Photo: Florida A&M University basketball signee Ashley Hampton (#4), a 5-9 senior guard, St. John's Lutheran has taken the Saints on her back and averaged 30 points and 19 rebounds throughout the regional playoffs. Hampton has maintained a 4.42 grade point average while being the top player in Marion County, Florida in Basketball and Volleyball.

ONLY ONE WIN FROM FINAL FOUR

Region 1A-2

No. 2 MERRITT ISLAND CHRISTIAN (19-2) AT No. 6 ST. JOHN (21-5)

When: Tonight, 7 p.m.

Winner gets: The winner between Seffner Christian (15-10) and Sarasota Christian (23-5) in the Class 1A state semifinals next Wednesday at the Lakeland Center.

How they got here: Merritt Island Christian got past Central Florida Christian 56-45 and followed it up with a 51-44 over Foundation Academy; St. John downed Geneva 59-39and won on the road at Lake Mary Prep 58-52.

Notes: The Saints finally slammed the door on the regional semifinal round after three consecutive losses and look to get past the Cougars, who were winless in their previous five playoff outings before this season. Merritt Island Christian's only losses were against Circle Christian (56-50) and Heartland Christian (61-50) and hasn't lost since Jan. 25.

St. John has been hot of late as well thanks to the play of Florida A&M University Lady Rattlers signee Ashley Hampton, who has averaged 30 points and 19 rebounds in the regional tournament.

Hampton's finest hour came in Tuesday's regional semis against Lake Mary Prep, as she scored 31 points and grabbed 21 rebounds to help the foul-plagued Saints to the huge road win. Alexis Samuel and Amy Ergle have also had solid postseason efforts, while the rest of the supporting cast has stepped up when needed.

St. John, which has made the regional playoffs in six of the past seven seasons and 12 of the last 15 overall, last made the regional finals in 2002 when it lost to Gainesville Oak Hall. Merritt Island Christian, playing in its first regional final, won its first district title since 1999 and dominated its opponents by an average margin of victory of 31.5, but has come back to the pack in the regional round.

Delaware State needs some help to win fourth MEAC title

Photo: Forward Roy Bright #45 leads the Hornets in scoring and is in second place in the MEAC scoring race averaging 18.7 ppg.

Confident Hornets ready for second-place Norfolk State

DOVER -- The next two weeks will decide if Delaware State will be crowned a four-time Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men's basketball champion or have its streak of regular-season titles end.

Trailing first-place Morgan State by two games, the Hornets begin their mission tonight when they travel to Norfolk State (12-10, 8-2 MEAC). Hornets coach Greg Jackson is skeptical about his team's chances. He said the confidence gained by beating Hampton and Howard in the Hornets' past two games isn't enough to propel his team past Morgan State (15-8, 9-1) and to a fourth straight title.

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Firings, hirings at Texas Southern University signal president's resolve

Photo: Texas Southern University President, Dr. John Rudley.

First week's housecleaning demonstrates his desire for stability

Texas Southern University's new president marked his first week on the job by making sweeping changes to the top ranks of the troubled institution's administration.

"This should signal that we will make the changes required," John Rudley said Friday.

Rudley replaced the provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, Bobby Wilson, and fired athletic director Alois Blackwell.

Rudley also inherited an athletic department with budget shortfalls, poor performance on the field and in the classroom and an NCAA investigation into the tennis teams. The problems led to Blackwell's dismissal, Rudley said.

Only 16 percent of students earn bachelor's degrees within six years of arriving at TSU, compared with the state rate of 55 percent.

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ASU Hornets take heed of Alabama A&M's improvement

Photo: The Hornets travel to Huntsville, AL today for the rematch with the Bulldogs.

A month back, Alabama State made a mockery of its rivalry game against Alabama A&M. The Hornets jumped out to a big lead, sent most of the crowd home by halftime and coasted to an 18-point victory.

That win has made things a little tough on ASU head coach Lewis Jackson this past week. The biggest challenge is that the Bulldogs of today are not the Bulldogs of four weeks ago and Jackson is doing all he can to make sure his players realize that.

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He lives for weekends: HU Pirates Assistant Coach Eric Williams

Basketball provides a weekly break for Hampton University men's assistant coach Eric Williams, whose battle against cancer is at the same time teaching and inspiring the Pirates.

If you didn't know, you might not notice the suit getting a little looser each game. Or the yellow "Live Strong" bracelet peeking out from under the sleeve. It might be easy to write off the fatigue in the face to too much time on the road recruiting and too many long nights reviewing game film.

But Eric Williams is working much harder than a typical first-year college assistant basketball coach. And he only coaches on game days.

His real task is during the week, when he undergoes radiation and chemotherapy treatments for cancer. The 44-year-old transitioned from the high school to college ranks last fall in the midst of a medical crisis.

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Williams is a native Washingtonian, a 1986 graduate of Saint Augustine's College, coached previously at Norfolk's Norview High School, Washington, D.C. Archbishop Carroll High School and at Central High School in Prince George's County, MD. He also coached Boo Williams Nike Elite AAU team from 2002-06.

A shipload of folks know Williams at all levels in life, so let us lift this brother up in collective prayer. Amen.

Basketball's African American Pioneers

A forgotten ballplayer walked into a small reception room last week at the Reagan Building, had the privilege of meeting the famous Earl Monroe -- and promptly told the Pearl a story.

While Monroe was becoming NBA royalty in New York, Perry Wallace played for a pittance in the Eastern League, a basketball minor league, and moonlighted as a math teacher at the Pearl's Alma mater, Philadelphia's John Bartram High School.

CONTINUE READING THIS ENGAGING ARTICLE ON THE FILM "BLACK MAGIC."

Photo: Perry Wallace#25, during his playing days at Vanderbilt University.

Who is Perry Wallace? Here is a brief bio of this trail blazing pioneer...

Perry Wallace grew up in Nashville and played basketball and ran track for Pearl High School from 1963 to 1966. In 1966, Wallace's basketball team went 31-0 and won the TSSAA state basketball championship in the first year in history the tournament was played on an integrated basis.

Perry won All-Metro, All-State and All-American honors. He was valedictorian of his high school class. After high school, he enrolled as a scholarship athlete at Vanderbilt University where he would become the first black varsity basketball player in the SEC.

He led the team in rebounding each year with a career average of 11.5 per game (second best in school history). His average of 17.7 points per game still ranks as the 11th best average in Vanderbilt history. In his senior year, he was named to the All-SEC second team and became a member of the 1000-point club.

He graduated from the Vanderbilt School of Engineering and was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers. Over the years, he has received numerous awards for his efforts in integrating the SEC. Wallace was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.

Since graduation, Wallace received a law degree from Columbia University in New York where he was awarded the Charles Evans Hughes Fellowship and worked as an attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice. Perry is now a Professor of Law at the Washington College of Law, The American University, Washington, D.C.

Alabama A&M University soccer team wins academic honor

Photo: Alabama A&M University head soccer coach Salah Yousif.

Alabama A&M's men's soccer team was recently honored by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America as a national scholar team.

Fourteen of Salah Yousif's 19 players on this year's roster made the dean's list and the team is carrying a cumulative grade point average of 3.20.

This is the first time the men's soccer team has received such an honor. The Bulldogs finished the season with a 9-8-1 record.

L.C. Cole leaves Lanier H.S., heads for Texas Southern University

Photo: L.C. Cole, defensive coordinator, Texas Southern University.

L.C. Cole has coached his last football game at Sidney Lanier High School.

After two surprisingly successful seasons as the Poets' head coach, Cole submitted his resignation this week and plans to leave the school by the end of the month. Cole, the former Alabama State University coach, will join his brother, Johnnie, at Texas Southern University as defensive coordinator.

"This is an opportunity to get back into college ball and I just can't pass that up," Cole said.

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Is anyone surprised by this move with TSU head football coach Johnnie Cole being appointed interim athletic director at Texas Southern just 48 hours ago? We knew it was coming and expected it within the same week former athletic director Alois Blackwell selected Johnnie Cole as head football coach. No surprise here.

Delaware State set to open softball season in North Carolina

DOVER -- The Delaware State softball team opens the season with doubleheaders at Winston-Salem State on Saturday and North Carolina Central on Sunday.

The Hornets finished 24-29 and reached the semifinals of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament last season. Top returnees include junior Megan Lambertz, who hit .318 with 26 RBIs and went 5-5 as a pitcher. Senior infielder Nicole Demers hit .296 with five home runs. The top returning pitcher is sophomore Brittney Ruark, of Seaford, who had 11 wins and 78 strikeouts last season.

Ousted SCSU basketball player will get appeal

Photo: Junior Forward David Cobb

South Carolina State basketball player David Cobb’s status has been changed from “dismissed” to “suspended” pending an appeal, Bulldog Athletics Director Charlene Johnson said Thursday.

Cobb was dismissed by Coach Tim Carter this past weekend in Baltimore after the team’s loss to Coppin State. The school has said the action came following Cobb’s violation of team rules.

Johnson, who is attending the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Indoor Track Championship in Landover, Md., said she has spoken with both Cobb and Carter and the matter will be handled expeditiously through the Student-Athlete Appeals Committee.

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Finally, someone at South Carolina State University with some authority over the coaching staff is reviewing this matter and giving this kid his due process. Coaches are not always right, especially losing coaches under extreme stress to win.

Hopefully, this issue will get quickly resolved to the satisfaction of all concerned and the student-athlete can continue his academic and athletic career at S.C. State. The faculty must stop treating our students at HBCUs like they are throw-aways.

Some folks just have a way of creating unnecessary law suits for failure to follow appropriate internal procedures.

Was it really necessary to have a SCSU Campus Cop drive from Orangeburg, SC to Baltimore, MD to retrieve this player, when he could have returned with the team? What did that task cost the tax payers and the athletic department budget?

Next time, Coach Tim Carter--spare us the drama and use good, mature judgment.

Chesapeake woman bowled over at Norfolk State

CHESAPEAKE, VA - Cathryn Myrick's infectious giggle and can't-miss tongue piercing make it hard to believe she's 30. But what really slays folks: More than twelve years after graduating from Oscar Smith High School, where she played nothing more than the viola, bass and clarinet, Myrick is a college athlete.

Her tuition and books are paid for at Norfolk State, thanks to a powerful left handed hook. Meet Cathryn Myrick - college bowler.

First question: "Norfolk State has a bowling team?" Indeed. The Spartans are among the best in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, headed to the conference championships next month for the first time in their five-year history. Myrick, recruited from the lanes at AMF Indian River, is a big reason why.

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University of Maryland Eastern Shore bowling ranked 2nd in nation

Photo: University of Maryland Eastern Shore Head Bowling Coach Sharon Brummell has her team ranked second in the nation.

UMES HAWKS GAIN HIGHEST RANKING EVER, ARE 2ND IN NTCA NATIONAL POLL; Earns five first place votes.

HACKENSACK, N.J. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) women's bowling team has achieved something no other team in the history of UMES athletics has done; earned a second place ranking in a national poll. The Lady Hawks moved up one spot from third in the latest National Tenpins Coaches Association (NTCA) poll and received an impressive five first place votes.

UMES earned the ranking after capturing the championship at the NCA Mid-Winter Classic, an event featuring nine of the top 10 teams in the country. They also took a third place finish in the Bowie State Classic tournament that featured 20 teams.

"This is amazing," said Head Coach Sharon Brummell. "To be ranked second in the country and to receive those first place votes is just great. The young ladies and I are so proud of this accomplishment."

The Lady Hawks are second only to Nebraska who held down the top spot for the second consecutive poll. They received 14 out of the 20 first place votes.

The current NCAA Champions, Vanderbilt University fell to third after a disappoint tournament at the Mid-Winter Classic. UMES topped the Commodores in their only meeting at that event. Vanderbilt received the other first place vote.

Sacred Heart was fourth, up from eighth place after an impressive stretch and Central Missouri moved down a spot to fifth place.

UMES is coming off of a second place finish in the Capital Classic where they posted a 9-1 mark. They currently stand 87-20 on the year and were 78-19 at the time of the poll voting.

They next head to Baltimore, Md. to bowl in the Morgan State Invitational. #1 Nebraska will be at the event and a possible one vs. two meeting could take place.
The event will be held on February 16-17, at Columbia, MD.

In addition to UMES, others ranked are: Alabama A&M University ranked #9; Delaware State University #10 (tied); Jackson State University #12 and Southern University #13 from the MEAC and SWAC. Other ranked HBCU institutions are shown in the poll in bold type below.

2007-08 NTCA FEBRUARY NATIONAL POLL

Season Record 1st Place Total Previously

Rank Institution, City, State W – L – T Votes Points Ranked
1. University of Nebraska – Lincoln, NE 47 – 12 – 0 14 616 1
2. Univ. of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD 78 – 19 – 0 5 571 3
3. Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 51 – 19 – 0 1 527 2
4. Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CT 61 – 11 – 0 498 8
5. University of Central Missouri. Warrensburg, MO 52 – 18 – 0 452 4
6. Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, NJ 67 – 29 – 0 430 5
7. New Jersey City University, Jersey City, NJ 59 – 22 – 0 390 6
8. Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR 42 – 20 – 0 318 7
9. Alabama A&M University, Huntsville, AL 47 – 17 – 0 285 9
10T Minnesota State University – Mankato, MN 40 – 16 – 0 250 11
10T Delaware State University, Dover, DE 64 – 26 – 0 250 10
12. Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 44 – 23 – 0 171 12
13. Southern University, Baton Rouge, LA 53 – 34 – 0 168 13
14. Adelphi University, Garden City, NY 44 – 49 – 0 115 15
15. University of Wisconsin – Whitewater, WI 29 – 31 – 0 112 16
16. Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, NC 60 – 7 108 14
17. St. Peter’s College, Jersey City, NJ 38 – 41 – 0 57 19
18. St. Paul’s College, Lawrenceville, VA 64 – 37 – 0 44 17T
19. St. Francis College, Brooklyn Heights, NY 33 – 49 – 0 41 17T
20. Bowie State University, Bowie, MD 64 – 38 – 0 31 20

Also receiving votes:
Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD; Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA; Hampton University, Hampton, VA; Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX; Elmhurst College, Elmhurst, IL; Texas Southern University, Houston, TX; Louisiana Tech, Ruston, LA; Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City, NC; Shaw University, Raleigh, NC; Howard University, Washington, DC.

Point system:
NTCA voters rank the top 20 teams on their ballot. Each position has an assigned point value, ranging from 32 points for first place and one point for twentieth place. The sums for every team receiving votes are then sorted into descending order. The specific point values follow:
1st place = 32 points, 2nd = 29, 3rd = 27, 4th = 25, 5th = 23, 6th = 21, 7th = 19, 8th = 17, 9th = 15, 10th = 13, 11th = 11, 12th = 9, 13th = 8, 14th = 7, 15th = 6, 16th = 5, 17th = 4, 18th = 3, 19th = 2, 20th = 1.

Based on our research, this accomplishment is historic for an HBCU institutuion. No other minority institution has been ranked above #3 (UMES) in the history of the NTCA polls.

Former Morgan State coach Mitchell joins 'Skins staff

Photo: Lyvonia "Stump" Mitchell, Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs, Washington Redskins.

ASHBURN, Va. - Stump Mitchell followed Jim Zorn to the Washington Redskins on Wednesday, joining the team as running backs coach.

Mitchell, the Seattle Seahawks running back coach since 1999, will also have the title of assistant head coach with the Redskins. He and Zorn worked together on the Seahawks staff from 2001 through last season. "He's been a running back in this league, and I know him very well," Zorn said. "And I know how he teaches. He's an excellent teacher."

Mitchell played nine NFL seasons in the 1980s (1981-89). He was head coach at Morgan State from 1996-98 before joining the Seahawks.

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For those that do not know, Lyvonia Albert "Stump" Mitchell at 5'-9", 198 pounds was a product of The Citadel that was drafted in the 9th round (226th overall) in the 1981 NFL draft. Michell had a nine year NFL career making All-Pro one-time in 1984. The St. Marys, Georgia native still ranks as the Cardinals' all-time leader in combined yardage (11,988) and is second in rushing yardage (4,649).

Mitchell played his high school football at Camden County High (Class of '77), a 4A school in Kingsland, GA. But prior to that time he came under the tutelage of Pop Warner coaches Alvin Glover, Lemon Dawson and Ricky Anderson. Stump was the second leading rusher in the country in his senior season at The Citadel.

Mitchell is an excellent example of how you combine education with hard work, and there are no limitations on how far you can go to the top of your profession. But, Education must always be placed as FIRST priority!

For those that don't believe there is career advancement after a job as a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference head coach, read the following very slowly: Stump Mitchell is now ASSISTANT HEAD COACH/Running Backs, for the Washington Redskins, which is one of the most powerful and storied franchises in the NFL. This is a great accomplishment for a former MEAC/Morgan State University head football coach.

The only limitations are those that we set in our own minds.

-beepbeep

Tennessee State University softball team to host Alabama A&M in season opener

Courtesy: Tennessee State Sports Information

Nashville--- The Tennessee State University softball team will kick off the 2008 season with a double header against Alabama A&M Saturday, Feb. 16 at Tiger Field. The first game of the double header is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m.

Last season the Tigers recorded their best record in the history of the program (35-23). In addition to that history making accomplishment, Head Coach Joyce Maudie was named the 2007 OVC Coach of the Year while returning players Amanda Vaught and Tamara Perkins also received OVC honors.

Following the contest against Alabama A&M, TSU will host cross-town Lipscomb on Wednesday, February 20. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.

TSU Tigers Rally for 75-70 Win Over Murray State

Courtesy: Tennessee State Sports Information

The Tennessee State Tigers (11-15, 8-9) rallied back from a thirteen point second half deficit to defeat the Murray State Racers (15-10, 11-6) in Nashville on Thursday (2/14) at the Gentry Center.

TSU senior Andrae Belton came off the bench to lead all-scorers with 16 points, including a game deciding 3-pointer with 0:18 remaining in the game. Bruce Price added 15 points, Reiley Ervin tallied 14 points and Darius Cox chipped in 11 points. Cox barely missed a double-double as he pulled down a game-high 9 rebounds.

Murray State was led in scoring by Bruce Carter and Ray George who scored 13 points each, with Danero Thomas chipping in 11 points.

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Alcorn State facing constant battles as Division I have-not

ALCORN STATE, Miss. -- The bus rocked gently, bringing the Alcorn State basketball team back from its pregame meal. Standing in the aisle, sophomore Troy Jackson held on to the back of a seat as he recited from memory a few lines of "The Negro Speaks of Rivers."

I've known rivers.
I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins.

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FAMU Kicks Off President's Tour

Photo: Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University President, Dr. James H. Ammons

FAMU Kicks Off President's Tour: FAMU Up Close and Personal

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida A&M University (FAMU) President James H. Ammons will start his eight city tour beginning March 8, 2008, to meet students, parents, business executives and alumni throughout the state as he works to build enrollment and donor and corporate support.

“This tour will give us the opportunity to tell our story to people across Florida and help us continue to boost enrollment while recruiting some of the state’s best and brightest students,” said Ammons.

The tour will take Ammons and a team of administrators, recruitment advisers, and students through eight cities including Jacksonville, St. Petersburg, Miami, Pensacola, Dothan, Ala., Daytona Beach, West Palm Beach and Sarasota. Ammons also will visit the homes of two high school seniors who have been offered full scholarships to FAMU for fall 2008.

“This is an excellent opportunity for me to personally meet students and tell them why they should attend Florida A&M University,” said Ammons. “Florida is a very competitive market in terms of choice for higher education, and I want students, parents and supporters to understand that FAMU has something very unique to offer.”

The FAMU Connection, the university’s recruitment/performing group, will accompany President Ammons on the trip along with several FAMU administrators and student ambassadors and leaders appearing at high schools and student receptions.

Macalester's Hudson: The first, but forgotten until now

ST. PAUL , Minn. -- On Dec. 21, 1971, Don Hudson was named head football coach at tiny, academically elite Macalester College in St. Paul. He made history. It should have been headline-news type of history: He was the first black head football coach at a predominantly white college.

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Southern signs defensive end

As expected, Southern’s signee list is growing. This time, the Jaguars addressed their defensive line. The paperwork for Assumption High of Napoleonville defensive end Delwin Williams (6-foot-3, 240 pounds) was faxed Tuesday to Southern.

SU coach Pete Richardson said the Jaguars likely will add three or four more players. Williams gave Southern its 20th signee. Because the Jaguars will bring back all of their defensive linemen next season, stocking up on at that position was not a priority.

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FAMU game off Southern University 2008 schedule

Jaguars-Rattlers series in jeopardy

Florida A&M no longer has Southern scheduled in football in 2008, leaving the Jaguars scrambling for a game and putting a four-game series with the Rattlers at least on hold and possibly in jeopardy.

FAMU and Southern were to begin a four-game contract Sept. 20 with a game at SU’s A.W. Mumford Stadium. However, on that date FAMU will play Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference foe Howard in Philadelphia.

“We haven’t given up hope, but it’s not looking good,” first-year Florida A&M Athletic Director Bill Hayes said of finding a way to play this season.

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According to the contract, FAMU will have to pay $20,000 as a penalty for not playing Southern this season.

What a waste of FAMU monetary resources with two open dates showing on the FAMU schedule--September 13 and October 4, 2008. The Rattlers have only 11 games scheduled in a season where 12 games are permitted.

WSSU Hall of Famer-- Earl the Pearl's story to be told in film

Photo: Earl Monroe retired Winston Salem State University jersey, where he won a national championship with the Rams.

Before Earl Monroe dazzled NBA fans with his flamboyant game, the Hall of Famer honed his skills at little Winston-Salem State University under the tutelage of legendary coach Clarence "Big House" Gaines.

The 6-3 guard's wizardry earned him several nicknames, including Earl the Pearl, Black Jesus and Thomas Edison — because of the moves he invented. Monroe, who averaged 41.7 points his senior year at WSSU, is one of the subjects of an upcoming film on historically black colleges and universities, "Black Magic."

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For you young college and high school students, you don't know beans about basketball unless you have watched Earl "The Pearl" Monroe shake and bake with Walt "Clyde" Frazier. These clips are no accident, but hall of fame material. You will enjoy watching them...

Thowback - Earl "Thomas Edison" Monroe



Earl "The Pearl" Monroe, Career Game Hightlights

Hampton University commitment sticks

Photo: Senior Adrian Woodard, 6-4/200 takes shot over NSU, is from Lee County H.S., Sanford, N.C.

One of Hampton's two most veteran players stays vital amid major program changes.

HAMPTON, VA - Much has changed around Adrian Woodard in four basketball seasons at Hampton University, but he has adapted.

The senior is the consummate team guy in a group where the coach and most of the players have changed during his playing days. Recruited by coach Bobby Collins out of high school, Woodard played for him two seasons before Kevin Nickelberry took over. Although unsure how that would pan out, Woodard was committed to finishing his basketball career and degree at HU.

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Morgan's New Day

Photo: Boubacar Coly had been named Defender of the Week in the MEAC for six consecutive weeks.

Morgan State basketball coach Todd Bozeman admits he is a staunch advocate of the power of positive thinking and the man-to-man defense. Those two components have helped pave the way for the Bears' scintillating run to the top of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference standings.

It also helps to have a shot-blocking, rebounding machine named Boubacar Coly prowling the back line.

"I believe you can have success if you put your mind to it," said Bozeman, who in only his second season has Morgan rolling along at a 15-8 (10-1 MEAC) clip that has generated enthusiasm not seen on Hillen Road in many a year.

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The Bears have not had a big man of Coly's considerable talent since the legendary Marvin "The Human Eraser" Webster, a 7-1/225 center who posted unbelievable statistics at Morgan. In 1975, Webster averaged a double double with 17.5 points and an astounding 19.9 rebounds per contest. The former Baltimore’s Edmondson High School star was known for his incredible blocking ability and instinct.

Webster was blocking shots before they became an NCAA recorded statistic. His 1974 Bears squad won the NCAA College Division National Championship. How many of you remembered that Morgan State University accomplishment?

Webster was named the Associated Press National College Division Player of the Year in 1976. He was the second player drafted in the 1975-76 American Basketball Association (ABA) draft, before the league was merged with the NBA, by the Denver Nuggets. He had a noteworthy 10 year NBA career and still holds the Seattle Supersonics record with 21 rebounds in a half. Webster also played in the NBA Championship series with the Settle Supersonics against the Baltimore Bullets, i.e., Washington Wizzards.

The Bullets won the 1978 NBA Championship over Webster's team in game seven for the Bullets first NBA championship.

Like Webster, Coly is averaging nearly double/double with 10.5 rebounds per game, 9.5points and 2.5 blocks per game. He has already earned his Bachelor's degree in International Business prior to transferring to Morgan State from Xavier University. Coly should have his Master's completed prior to being drafted/signed by the NBA as he is extremely smart and a tremendous hard worker on both the court and the classroom.

Coach Bozeman and Morgan State will surprise a few teams when they face the Bears in the NCAA Tournament as Coly is a superior defender. It's taken three decades, but the Bears are once again a powerhouse in the East. Be aware of the Bears!

-beepbeep

North Carolina A&T releases '08 football schedule

GREENSBORO, N.C. – North Carolina A&T head coach Lee Fobbs announced the release of the Aggies 2008 football schedule on Wednesday. The schedule includes seven (7) home games with a season opener with Division II, Johnson C. Smith University visiting Aggie Stadium on August 30. Fobbs should win his first game as head coach and end the string of 27 straight Aggie defeats that lead the NCAA in that category for Division I.

The schedule includes a total of 12 games with a first meeting with Big South Conference foe Coastal Carolina visiting Aggie Stadium on Sept 27. The Aggies will also play at North Carolina Central University in Durham on Oct 4.

With any success on the football field this season, the Aggies should overtake Norfolk State for home stadium average attendance supremacy in 2008.

2008 North Carolina A&T Football Schedule

Date Opponent Location Time

Aug. 30 Johnson C. Smith Aggie Stadium TBA
Sept. 6 Winston-Salem State Aggie Stadium TBA
Sept. 13 Norfolk State Norfolk, Va. TBA
Sept. 20 Hampton Hampton, Va. TBA
Sept. 27 Coastal Carolina Aggie Stadium TBA
Oct. 4 N.C. Central Durham, N.C. TBA
Oct. 11 Morgan State
(Homecoming) Aggie Stadium TBA
Oct. 18 Delaware State Dover, Del. TBA
Oct. 25 Howard Aggie Stadium TBA
Nov. 1 Bethune-Cookman, Daytona Beach, Fla. TBA
Nov. 8 Florida A&M Aggie Stadium TBA
Nov. 22 S.C. State Aggie Stadium TBA

Alabama State's Coach Barlow says NFL can wait

Photo: Coach Reggie Barlow interviewed for Denver Broncos receivers coaching postion on Monday in Denver.

Reggie Barlow said Tuesday that he expects to return as Alabama State's head coach next season and will not accept a possible job offer from the Denver Broncos. Barlow spent Monday in Denver interviewing with head coach Mike Shanahan for a job as the Broncos' receivers coach, but said Tuesday that he didn't think now was the best time to make the jump to the NFL.

"Do I ultimately want to coach in the NFL? Yes," Barlow said. "But I just don't think right now is the time for that. I've brought in some good coaches here, and I sat in a lot of living rooms and made promises to kids. It's a very, very tough decision. But I think I'm content here at Bama State. That's what I told my wife. That's what I've told (ASU officials)."

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Dismissal unjust, ex-SCSU player says

Photo: SCSU 6-7/215 junior forward David Cobb from Brooklyn,NY/Our Savior Lutheran HS/(SUNY Delhi).

David Cobb is no longer a member of the South Carolina State men's basketball team. That didn't stop the 6-7 junior forward from speaking to The Times and Democrat newspaper (T&D) on Tuesday about his dismissal from the Bulldogs by first-year head coach Tim Carter.

"I decided to go public because I don't want this to continue to go on," Cobb said. "When they dismissed me from the team, it was just get dismissed and just try to finish out your year and go somewhere else. But it's more than that. You're hurting my future by taking away Division I basketball.

Cobb said he was booted from the team primarily because he expressed his feelings. "I think that's wrong. I feel like I should be able to express how I feel to a coach."

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