TSU Football Spring Practice Begins Monday

Photo: Texas Southern's incoming transfer QB Bobby Reid is ranked #22 of 123 NFL potentials by NFL scouting. He should be the starter for the 0-11 Tigers (2007).

Houston - Texas Southern Football spring practices begin Monday, April 7th for the 2008 season under the leadership of new Head Coach Johnnie Cole. The team will go through drills and conditioning five days a week through April 25th.

The practices will be held at TSU’s Alexander Durley field from 3:30 pm – 6:00 pm Monday thru Friday and the public is welcomed. The spring game is scheduled for April 26, 2008 at 3:30 pm at Texas Southern.

Texas Southern’s most celebrated new player for the 2008 season is former Oklahoma State quarterback Bobby Reid. In 2006 at OSU, Reid passed for 2266 yards with 24 touchdowns and rushed for 500 yards with five touchdowns.

The Houston native was the Houston Touchdown Club’s Offensive Player of the Year and all-Greater Houston, all-District and the district MVP his senior year at North Shore high school. Reid led his team to the 2003 State Class 5A Championship in an undefeated season. He was named to both the national and Texas top 100 recruiting lists.

The media may contact the sports information office to arrange interviews, photo and video opportunities.

Returning starters:

No. Player Pos Ht Wt Cl Hometown Previous School
2 Osborne, William WR 5-7 160 JR Marshall, TX Marshall HS
23 Gardner, Camreron CB 5-10 175 JR Fort Worth, TX North Crowley HS
38 Beck, Camrunn DB 6-0 245 JR Sacramento, CA Florin HS
40 Fonua, Junior FB / LB 5-11 220 SR Rancho Cucamonga, CA Rancho Cucamonga HS
42 Chism, Carl DB 5-11 192 SR Washington, DC Dematha HS
44 Fulghum, Dejuan LB 6-1 215 SO Killeen, TX Harker Heights HS
46 Blakney, Willie LB 6-0 205 JR Washington, DC Dematha HS
48 Robins, Roland TE 6-3 270 SR Houston, TX Yates HS
53 McCall, Craig LB 6-1 225 JR Killeen, TX Harker Heights HS
63 Knighten, David DT 5-11 300 SR Bradenton, FL Lonewood Ranch HS
64 Wilson, Reggie OL 6-1 300 SO Plano, TX Plano East HS
65 Perez, Mario OL 6-4 310 JR Schafter, CA Schafter HS
67 Ford, Glenden DT 6-3 290 JR Washington, DC Dunbar HS
70 Hardrick, Matt OL 6-6 340 JR Eatonville, FL Florida State
74 Wiggins, Kevin OL 6-8 340 JR Washington, DC Dunbar HS
78 Malone, Joe DL 6-7 350 SR Houston, TX Clearbrook HS
88 Haith, Brian (BJ) WR / KR 6-1 180 JR Upland, CA Upland HS
90 Valmore, Matthew DL 6-2 290 SR Houston, TX Jones HS
96 Johnson, Bert DE 6-4 275 SR Long Beach, LA Long Beach CC
98 Olomojobi, Segun LB 6-2 240 SR Sugar Land, TX Dulles HS

2008 Signees include:

NAME POS HT WT SCHOOL HOMETOWN
1 Stephen Owens Ath 6'4" 220 Alvin Alvin, TX
3 sport letterman in Football, Basketball and Track. QB Threw for 1400 yds and TE 12 Catches for 220 yds

2 Robert Hersh K 5'11" 210 Pearland Pearland, TX
Number 2 Kicker of 140 at Texas Kicker Camp. 2nd Team All District Kicker(23 Extra Points and 4 FGs)

3 Marc Ellis WR 6'4" 20 Willowridge Missouri City, TX
2-Time 1st Team All-District 23-5A, Basketball player that avgs. 15 points per game

4 Samuel Gordy LB 6'1" 200 Denton Guyer Denton, TX
All District LB, Lead the team in tackles

5 Christian Bernard FB 5'9" 245 Denton Guyer Denton, TX
All District DL with good speed and explosion

6 Donald Holloway OL/DL 6'3" 270 Mitchell Memphis, TN
45 Tackles, 10 Tackles for lost and 7 Sacks, All Conference

7 Kenyan Torry QB 6"2" 175 Mitchell Memphis, TN
2875 Passing Yards and 27 Touchdowns, 1115 Rushing and 5 Touchdowns, 10 Receptions and 4 Ints

8 Darius Green DL 6'4" 295 Mitchell Memphis, TN
8 Sacks, All Conference

9 Lewis McCaster DL 6"3" 255 Mitchell Memphis, TN

10 Justin Toliver DB 6'0" 185 Mitchell Memphis, TN

11 Antonio Harris FB 5'10" 210 Mitchell Memphis, TN

12 Ashton Rucher OL 6'6" 315 Mitchell Memphis, TN
All Conference

13 Joshua Robinson QB 6'4" 200 Clinton Clinton, LA

14 Ian Williams OL 6'7" 330 Pensacola Pensacola, FL
1st Team All Conference OL with great size and strength

15 Ricky Williams LB 6'0" 215 Pensacola Pensacola, FL

16 Wayne Ingram TE 6'3" 230 John Curtis New Orleans, LA

17 Kydarian Wilkins DB 5'8" 165 South Oak Cliff Dallas, TX
Rivals.com Top 20 Texas, 1st Team All District and 1st Team All Region

18 Demarcus Washington DB 5'8" 160 Lincoln Dallas, TX
1st Team All Region and 1st Team All District

19 Montgomery Jackson DB 6'0" 175 Northeast Oklahoma City, OK
OK 4A District Co-DB of the year, 1st and 2nd Team WR; Also lead the state in INTs

20 Joseph Igboeli DB 6'2" 165 South Grand Prarie Grand Prarie, TX
Texas All State and 1st Team All District

21 Andrew Phorne OL 6'6" 335 Carter Dallas, TX
1st Team All District

22 Chivas Belton DL 5'10" 270 Klein Forest Houston, TX
2-Time 1st Team All-District 17-5A, Led team in TFL with 22.

23 Eric Johnson WR 5'11' 180 Lufkin Lufkin, TX
1st Team All District 2 years and Basketball player

24 Christian Davis OL 6'6" 265 O.D. Wyatt Duncanville, TX
1st Team All District 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008

25 Harry Brown Ath 6'2" 175 Port Arthur Memorial Port Arthur, TX
1st Team All District with 1884 Yds Passing and 10 Touchdowns

26 Brian Arnwine LB 6'0" 190 South Grand Prarie Grand Prarie, TX
1st Team All District LB and Co-Defensive Player of the Year in the District

27 James Davis WR 6'3" 200Lufkin Lufkin, TX
2nd Team All District 06 and 1st Team All District 07, Basketball Player

NCCU Football announces the addition of two coaches

Cabell Named Defensive Coordinator, Gladden Tagged Running Backs Coach

DURHAM, N.C. - North Carolina Central University head football coach Mose Rison has announced the addition of two coaches to the Eagles staff, defensive coordinator Jake Cabell and running backs coach Marcus Gladden.

"We are fortunate to have both of them as part of this football program," Rison said. "They coach with a great deal of enthusiasm and energy."

Cabell, a veteran defensive coach who played for and graduated from the University of Nebraska, will serve as NCCU's new defensive coordinator.

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MVSU Green finalist for Jacksonville State coaching vacancy

Photo: Mississippi Valley State University James Green is looking to move up the coaching ladder as a finalist for the Jacksonville State head basketball coaching vacancy.

Jacksonville State University has named four finalists for its vacant men's basketball coaching job.

They are University of Alabama assistant Philip Pearson, Hoover High boys head coach Charles Burkett, Mississippi Valley State University head coach James Green and University of Massachusetts associate head coach Timothy Maloney.

Those four will be invited to come to campus next week for further interviews after they were among about a dozen candidates screened by a committee and recommended to JSU President Bill Meehan.

Coach Green led MSVU to the NCAA Tournament this season after winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament. He was also head coach at Southern Miss from 1996 to 2004 and has been an assistant at Alabama, Iowa State, Texas A&M and Idaho.

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Offense has ASU Hornets up to speed

Photo: Alabama State players have adjusted well to the spread offense (Texas Tech style) implemented by offensive coordinator Ben Noonan.

When he first made the decision to bring the spread offense to Alabama State, head coach Reggie Barlow guessed he might see some surprising things from his players. He figured one or two guys would come out of nowhere to be major contributors.

He wasn't exactly going out on a limb with those ideas.

Because of its simplicity, producing surprise players has become one of the most common attributes of the spread offense.

"It reduces everything down to its simplest form and allows players to worry about just one or two plays," Barlow said. "Think about it. Before, our play list out here for seven-on-seven drills, we would have several plays and run them all one or two times. Now, we've got seven (plays). And we run them over and over and over and over. That takes a lot of thinking out of things for the players."

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Arboleda the last line of defense for FAMU

Photo: FAMU LB Dannel Shepard missed making tackle against Southern's RB Brian Threat in 2007 game.

When Victoriano Arboleda came to FAMU three years ago, he simply wanted to get in where he could fit in on the Rattlers’ football team. That meant playing linebacker with an occasional assignment on special teams.

Now in his senior year he’s where he wanted to be in the first place – playing safety. The move is one of two position changes that coach Joe Taylor made to shore up the Rattlers’ last line of defense, where sophomore Donnie Alexander was the only returning player.

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FAMU DBs making strides in spring practice

Archive Photo: Southern's Jamorris Stewart being tackled by FAMU DB Jason Beach after catch and run in 2007 game.

Defensive back Gregory Clark didn't like what he'd just witnessed Thursday while standing on the sidelines with a group of FAMU defensive players. What had happened? A catch was completed in the secondary.

Clark bit down on his mouthpiece so hard it was clear that he didn't want plays like this happening to his unit. "All you have to do is watch the quarterback because nine times out of 10 they're going to throw a slant," he said loud enough for his counterparts to hear.

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Legendary coach Billy Joe says Miles is like heaven

Achive Photo: Coach Billy Joe being honored by the FAMU community on Sept. 15, 2007 at Bragg Memorial Stadium.

Billy Joe has been to the mountaintop in the game of football.

He has a Super Bowl championship ring to prove it. He has plaques in three halls of fame, including the National Football Foundation's College Football Hall of Fame where he was inducted alongside Joe Paterno in 2007.

He has more wins than any black-college football coach not named Eddie Robinson with 237.

So, why would he pick Division II Miles College as the place to end his three-season retirement?

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Miles College Purple Marching Machine

Texas Southern Gets Permission to Talk to PVAMU McClelland

Photo: PVAMU athletic director Charles McClelland

School Looking for New Athletics Director

HOUSTON, TX -- Texas Southern University's search for a new athletics director now includes Prairie View A and M Athletics Director Charles McClelland. Prairie View A and M President George Wright told FOX 26 Sports he was contacted Tuesday by T.S.U. President John Rudley.

"I have granted TSU permission to talk to Charles McClelland about their vacant athletics director position," Wright said.

Texas Southern has been searching for a new AD since firing Alois Blackwell in February.

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FAMU linebacker coach, Holmes, has high standards

Photo: FAMU Inside Linebacker coach Earl Holmes.

If Florida A&M linebacker coach Earl Holmes had to pick a player to demonstrate a stunt or blitz technique, there's a good chance senior Vernon Wilder would be his choice. "The fact is, he is a leader," Holmes said. "He doesn't lead by his mouth. He leads by example.

"He is the first one to give me everything he has on every play and guys respect that. With his work habits, I think a lot of good things are going to come."

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TSU set to name Harvey as new basketball coach

Photo: Texas Southern University new head basketball coach Tony Harvey.

Texas Southern University will introduce Tony Harvey as its new men's basketball coach Friday at an 11 a.m. news conference, according to two people familiar with the situation.

Harvey coached as an assistant at Missouri from 1999-2004, helping the program to four straight trips to the NCAA Tournament. According to media reports, he left the school in 2004 after being accused of multiple NCAA rules violations, including giving cash to former guard Ricky Clemons and impermissible contact with recruits. He was then cleared of any wrongdoing in early 2006.

Harvey has also had coaching stints with Southern and Eastern Michigan.

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More drama at TSU...read the entire article on what Blackwell did before he was fired. Does the Tigers know how to stay out of court or what?

The charges that were filed against Harvey while at Missouri were:

(a) In a formal notice of allegations, the NCAA accused Harvey of giving player Ricky Clemons $250 in violation of NCAA rules. Harvey denied that allegation; and (b) Harvey was accused by the NCAA of treating high school and Amateur Athletic Union coaches to meals and then seeking reimbursement from the university by misrepresenting who received the meals.

Harvey resigned from his position as the associate head basketball coach at Missouri prior to being cleared of all charges by the NCAA's Infraction Committee. The university bought out the remainder of Harvey’s contract in exchange for a promise that Harvey would not try to sue the school. Missouri paid Harvey $136,000 in exchange for his resignation and a vow to never sue.

During the summer of 2003, Ricky Clemons was arrested for assaulting Jessica Bungee and spent 42 days in jail. On his work release program he was found at Missouri's president Elson Floyd's house driving and wrecking an ATV.

After Mizzou, Harvey started a new career as a sports agent and held the position of Director of Basketball Operations for MAC Sports and Entertainment.

Let's summarize....Texas Southern's acting athletic director/head football coach Johnnie Cole is still under NCAA Infraction Committee investigation for the mess created by he and his brother, L.C. Cole at Alabama State University.

L.C Cole is presently defensive coordinator at TSU, hired by his brother Johnnie Cole in January 2008. The Alabama State University case is not expected to be completed and resolved by the NCAA until 2009. Both Cole brothers were fired from Alabama State in 2003, for alledged rules infractions.

Lane College, where Johnnie Cole left a head coaching position for TSU is now on NCAA probation for rules violations in the athletic department. Cole was not responsible for these violations.

In 1999, Johnnie Cole was banned from the coaching staff at Tennessee State University where he served as offensive coordinator. After a 17 month investigation concluded, there were several NCAA rules violations. Tennessee State was hit with self-imposed sanctions by the NCAA.

Harvey, a former sports agent is now introduced as the new TSU basketball coach.

What a recipe for possible disaster with three coaches with a shaky past with the NCAA Infractions Committee in the same athletic department.

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Fans say Grambling basketball can bounce back, despite recent struggles

GRAMBLING — Supporters insist Grambling State’s new basketball coaches will take over programs with a wealth of potential, despite last season’s slumping records.
That starts with GSU’s sparkling new Assembly Center, a long-awaited hoops facility that opened a year ago. Already, it’s been featured on a national television broadcast, as Grambling faced Southern in February.

A recruiting cornerstone for years to come, it bolsters many boosters’ resolute belief that things can get better in the wake of Grambling’s twin announcements on Tuesday that neither men’s coach Larry Wright nor women’s coach David “Rusty” Ponton would return.

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Photo: Interior of GSU new Assembly Center (GSU vs. JSU 2008).

Grambling should be an expert on how not to recruit a new coach after the FAMU bru-ha-ha with Rod Broadway a few months ago. Before sending up trial balloons in the press, the Grambling power brokers need to pick up the telephone and call Patricia Bibbs, Willis Reed and others, and see if they are first "interested" in the Grambling openings.

Secondly, forget the high school coaches for any head coaching position(s) in the SWAC. That in itself says, Grambling ain't serious about basketball, especially with 8-10 "money games" on the schedule each season.

Reed was a great Grambling and New York Knicks player, but 99.9% of the youth today are clueless and he just as well be Mr. Irrelevant. Few know that Reed coached in the NBA as a head coach with the Knicks and at Creighton University.

If the brand on the building does not read--LSU, Louisiana Tech, UL-Monroe, UL-Lafayette, Tulane, New Orleans, McNeese, Northwestern State or other such mid-major program, Grambling could hire Knicks coach Isaiah Thomas and the results would be nearly the same.

Doug Williams, with all the name recognition, could not change the trend of blue chips going the other direction away from HBCUs, like Grambling. Former coach Larry Wright of NBA Washington Bullets fame, couldn't change that nor compete outside of the SWAC for talent.

It will take more than name recognition and a new facility to build a success basketball program. It's a great START, but you need a great recruiter and teacher at the head of these programs. HBCUs need to find another revenue stream other than "money games" which destroys most programs, the conference RPI, and many head coaching careers in both SWAC and MEAC.

My two cents says, go to the Division II level and select a coach that's proven and committed to building these programs. It's not an overnight project nor should GSU waste time being the training grounds for rookie coaches that should not be at the Division I level. Go for the proven coach that has built NCAA championship level programs with little financial support at the D-II level.

Finally, leave those high school coaches alone. They do a fine job at that level and its necessary to produce good/great college players, but Division I is not high school.

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Norfolk State's football recruit/Sherando’s Brisco is fastest in 100 meters

Photo: Running back Markeith Brisco, #29 (5-11/195) eluding Millbrook's Butch Kaczmarzewski (44), rushed for 186 yards and three touchdowns in helping the Warriors clinch their second straight district title. Brisco has signed a NLI to play football for Norfolk State University Spartans.

STEPHENS CITY, VA — When Sherando High School track and field coach Tom Grim was asked last week about who the Warriors’ top newcomers were this season, he didn’t want Markeith Brisco’s name to be mentioned publicly because of his concern over a hamstring injury that Brisco suffered in practice.

The Sherando senior, competing in the same stadium in which he thrilled fans on a routine basis on Friday nights for the football team, recorded a time of 10.9 seconds to win the 100 meters, faster than any area athlete ran during the entire 2007 season. Though his time might have been aided by a breeze, even a strong wind in the face of the muscular Brisco likely would have been just a mere annoyance, much like his opponents were during football season.

#29 ALL-STATE RB Markeith Brisco, Sherando High School Warriors; 2007 Virginia State Championship Runner Up (13-1 season).


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Markeith Briscoe (5-11/195) was ranked #7 statistically by the Washington Post of the Top 20 Rushers in the Metro Washington, D.C. Region with 221 rushes, 1726 yards, 26 TDs (averaging 123 yards per game/7.8 yards per carry) in 2007/08 season.

His team finished 13-1, as Virginia Class AA State runner-up. Virginia's top division is AAA.

Sherando lineman Joey Christine (6-2/300) also signed with Norfolk State.

NSU coach Pete Adrian was quoted on NV daily.com of saying, "Markeith, I think, is going to be an outstanding college running back,"Adrian said. "He just finishes a run with such, what I call, a nasty attitude, a 'You're not going to tackle me."

"We saw the stadium, and I didn't know what to say," Briscoe said. "I tried to imagine what it would be like with all the fans in there. We're very excited, and we're ready to go down there and play some ball. "I'm just happy to see Juicy's (Christine) ugly mug for four more years," he was quoted as saying--laughing.

Christine was a steamroller for the Sherando offense, helping Markeith Briscoe rush for over 1,700 yards and QB Ross Metheny (signed with University of Virginia) pass for over 2,200 yards.

As a DT, Christine played dominant football with 70 tackles and 4.5 sack his senior season.

Coach Pete Adrian said both Briscoe and Christine will compete for playing time as freshmen. The Spartans also have freshman standout Takeem Hedgeman, who rushed for nearly 2,900 yards as a senior at Monticello (VA) High School coming with this star quality 2008/09 class.

With the incoming players to build upon their 8-3 record of 2007, Norfolk State appears to be major competitive trouble for the rest of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in the fight for the 2008/09 championship and FCS playoff bid.

Just maybe, 2007 was not a fluke season after all for Pete Adrian's team.

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Quaker Valley's Rogers chooses Morgan State Bears

Photo: Christa Rogers is an Pennsylvania All-State volleyball player, an all-section basketball player, and track star. Rogers plans to major in electrical or mechanical engineering at MSU and selected the Bears over scholarships offers from Delaware State and UMES.

LEETSDALE, PA – As she looked toward college, Christa Rogers chose to create rather than wait. An NCAA Division I prospect in three sports, she could have waited for the telephone to bring college opportunities. She could have waited for the postman to deliver possibility, or for talent-starved recruiters to contact her high school coaches.

Instead, she sat down with her mother and, like a true setter, assisted possibility.

“I sat down with my mother and made a list of colleges that had what I’m looking for, and we sent them tapes.” Morgan State University quickly responded with a scholarship offer to play NCAA Division I volleyball, and Rogers, this week, accepted.

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OTHER ARTICLES ON CHRISTA ROGERS:

(1) http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08094/870145-116.stm
(2)http://www.timesonline.com/articles/2008/03/30/sports/high_school/doc47ef1b1e542dd351296100.txt

Alabama State's Hayles, Morgan State's Smith honorable mention AP All-Americans

Photo: AP honorable mention All-American Andrew Hayles, ASU Hornets.

by Alabama State Sports Information

Montgomery, Ala. - The honors continue to roll in for Alabama State guard Andrew Hayles. On Monday, Hayles was named Associated Press honorable mention All-American.

"It's a real honor, but it says more about what our team accomplished that what I did individually," Hayles said. "This is really motivation to work even harder to in the offseason."

Earlier this month, Hayles, a junior from Mobile, Ala., was tabbed as the SWAC player of the year after leading the Hornets to a 20-11 season and the SWAC regular season championship.

He averaged 14.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game. He ranked in the conference's top 10 in six categories: scoring, shooting percentage, free throw percentage, 3-point field goal percentage, 3-pointers made, and minutes played.

After his first season at ASU, Hayles was named the SWAC freshman of the year in 2005-2006. As a sophomore, he led the Hornets in scoring with 14.5 points per game.

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Jamar Smith, Morgan State University, the MEAC Player of the Year was also named an AP honorable mention All-American. Smith, a 6-2/210 senior guard played at Patrick Henry HS/San Bernadino Valley College prior to attending MSU. Smith is from Brooklyn Park, MN.

ASU Hornets team back at work

Photo: Hornets RS junior QB Alex Engram (#3) may be ASU's #1 quarterback. Here, he passes over junior defensive back Roderick West #28, in spring practice.

After a 13-day layoff, the Alabama State football team got back to spring practice Wednesday night, as the Hornets hit the field for an unscheduled practice. The two-hour session went about like head coach Reggie Barlow figured it might -- lots of energy, but several signs of rust.

"Lots of dropped passes, the quarterbacks are a little off," Barlow said. "You can tell that we've had a long layoff. But I do like the energy. That's really encouraging to see the guys fly around and get after it."

Wednesday's practice was a last-minute addition, added because of inclement weather on Tuesday that rained out a scheduled practice.

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SU, McNeese football to meet in 2010

Southern’s return date to play a football game at McNeese State is finally in sight, though still a few years away. The Jaguars and the Cowboys are now scheduled to play Sept. 18, 2010, in Lake Charles.

Southern and McNeese State were to have played Sept. 3, 2005, in Lake Charles, but that game was called off in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, which hit south Louisiana and the Gulf Coast earlier that week.

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Southern, Alabama State to sign contract for Gulf Coast Classic

Southern University and Alabama State appear to be getting close to signing a four-year deal to play in the Gulf Coast Classic in Mobile, Alabama. That contract would begin this season, with a Nov. 15 game.

Southern has yet to sign the contract to play the Gulf Coast Classic, LaFleur said. “It looks like it’s 99 percent sure that it’s going to happen,” LaFleur said. LaFleur said the City of Mobile is organizing the game.

In order to accommodate the start of the contract, Southern is giving up its home date this season and in 2010. However, according to LaFleur, the payoff will come in a generous pay date as well as getting paid to play when the game is Alabama State’s home game.

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SCSU names Glad Bugariu new soccer coach

Photo: South Carolina State University Bulldogs soccer coach Glad Bugariu.

By SCSU Sports Information

Glad Bugariu has been named women's soccer coach at South Carolina State University, athletics director Charlene Johnson announced Wednesday. Glad, who succeeds Amy Olson, takes over the S.C. State program after three seasons (2005-2007) as head coach at Belmont Abbey College in Charlotte, North Carolina.

In three seasons at Belmont Abbey, Bugariu compiled a record of 52-12-2. His teams dominated the Div. II Conference Carolinas, capturing two regular season championships (2007, 2005), two tournament titles (2006, 2005) and one runner-up tournament finish (2007).

Belmont Abbey was 18-4-1 this past season and earned the school's first NSCAA national ranking (#22) since 1999. His 2006 team compiled a 16-4-1 mark and garnered him Area Coach of the Year honorable mention from the Charlotte Observer. The 2005 squad was 18-4, a record which earned the college the nation's second-most improved team distinction in the NCAA following a 10-9-1 mark the year before.

"We are obviously very pleased that Coach Bugariu will be directing the soccer program here at SC State," said Bulldog athletics director Charlene Johnson. "He brings to our program extensive experience and a very successful coaching career."

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SCSU just hired a gem of a soccer coach in Glad Bugariu. This is the way it should be done--hire a proven, exceptional Division II coach with a successful history, seeking the opportunity to coach at the Division I level. Our programs should not be training grounds for rookie coaches--get your experience at Division III and Division II programs. Then move up after proving you have what it takes to be successful at the Division I level.

Great move athletic director, Johnson. We need to see more of this type of hiring across the board in the MEAC and SWAC conferences. The goal should be winning NCAA Championships, not just getting a .500 season record. Howard University did it in soccer (won NCAA national championship); so can South Carolina State University. Go Bulldogs!

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The Best Thing Going: S.C. State's Pough likes quarterback situation

Photo: South Carolina State Bulldogs head coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough.

As the rain slowly started to drizzle down to the artificial surface on the field at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium Wednesday evening, South Carolina State head coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough exploded.

Practice was just minutes away from wrapping up, but Pough didn't like what he saw when backup quarterback DeWain Clark took a snap in a drill in the Red Zone and was harassed by a defender that should have been picked up by a blocker out of the backfield.

"Blown assignment after blown assignment!" Pough scolded while mixing in a few colorful words to ensure his backs that he meant business.

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Hillary! Stop the attacks!

Super OBAMA GIRL: The Lost Episode


Sexy! Flashy! Wonky! Super Obama Girl!


Hillary! Stop the attacks! Love, Obama Girl

B-CU women's basketball coach Francis Simmons resigns

Photo: Former BCU women's basketball head coach Francis Simmons

By: Bethune Cookman University Sports Information

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - After four season at the helm of the Bethune-Cookman University Women's Basketball program, head coach Francis Simmons has decided to resign effective immediately according to B-CU Director of Athletic Lynn W. Thompson. Simmons met with Thompson early Tuesday afternoon to discuss his plans for resignation.

"We are grateful for the work that Coach Simmons has done, and after meeting we both came to the conclusion that new leadership and direction would best serve the program at this time," commented B-CU Director of Athletics, Lynn W. Thompson.

Simmons, a native of Columbia, S.C., took over the program prior to the beginning of the 2004-05 season for now Assistant Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator at B-CU, Sandra Booker. In his four years guiding the Wildcats, Simmons amassed a record of 22-92 overall, including a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference record of 12-58.

The search for a new head coach will begin immediately.

BCU Pep Band -Let's Go Wildcats


Please, don't feel bad for Simmons. After four seasons and a career record of 22-92, this firing was long overdue. The BCU student-athletes deserve better coaching and mentoring. The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference deserves better performance from its member institutions sports programs.

Coach Simmons receives a retirement pension from the state of South Carolina where he worked for 32 years as a teacher and coach. He also served 17 seasons as an assistant men's basketball coach at South Carolina State University.

Simmons indicated that he has several offers on the table.

One offer is from BCU men's basketball coach Clifford Reed, who has invited coach Simmons to join his staff, as an assistant men's basketball coach. The Wildcat men's team finished 2007 with a 11-21 record. Clifford Reed needs to resign/or be fired, also.

Does Bethune Cookman know how to fire and retire non-performing coaches that continue to perform each year at extremely unacceptable levels?

Obviously not! Dang!

Did you notice how all the poor performing coaches and AAMU president were fired on April 1--(April Fool's Day). This is no joke.

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Competitive Sailing: Hampton University remains sharp

One historically black institution can boast of a sports achievement that no other black university can. Indeed, as colleges have transitioned into spring sports, Hampton University has fielded yet another scrappy team that is raising eyebrows in the rarefied, and mostly white, world of competitive collegiate sailing.

Hampton is the only historically black college to have a sailing team, and two Hampton students from Maryland, Jason Major-Henson and Nicole Clark, have been part of the team’s success.

Halfway into the season the Hampton University Pirates have already qualified for the conference championship regatta, the America Trophy, on April 12-13 at Hobart William Smith College in Geneva, N.Y.

Photo: Seniors Ray Potter and Yasmina Beckles helped lead the Pirates to a second place finish in both the A-Division and B-Division at the annual MAISA/SAISA Intersectional (Mid-Atlantic Division vs. Southeast Division) on March 24-25 at the Strawberry Banks.

They qualified by finishing seventh out of 16 teams in the Old Dominion University Open/South No. 1 regatta in March. Besides the Pirates the field at Old Dominion included Georgetown University, Navy, Washington College and St. Mary’s College of Maryland, which finished first and always has a tough squad. Hampton managed to top the University of Maryland, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, William & Mary College and others.

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MORE INFO ON HAMPTON UNIVERSITY CO-ED SAILING PROGRAM: http://www.hamptonpirates.com/index.asp?path=sailing

Coming Friday/April 4th on PBS: Morgan (State) Lacrosse Story

Photo: Morgan State University's 1975 Lacrosse Team -'Ten Bears'

INDEPENDENT DOCUMENTARY FOR PBS: 'THE MORGAN LACROSSE STORY'

View Movie Trailer for The Morgan Lacrosse Story: Click on Blog Title Above.

The Morgan Lacrosse Story, is slated to air nationally on PBS April 4th at 10 pm. The film chronicles the rise of the country’s first and only college lacrosse team at a historically black university--Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland. .....Produced by Luke David.

The Morgan Lacrosse Story will begin airing on public television (PBS) on April 4th at 10:00 PM. Contact your local PBS station to find out when it will be aired locally.

This Documentary Brings Alive the Legacy of the First and Only College Lacrosse Team at a Historically Black Institution in the 1970's.

WASHINGTON, DC - College lacrosse was at the center of a significant storm in the early 1970's, a riveting story that is coming into full view for the first time on television with The Morgan Lacrosse Story, a new documentary film for PBS. An accounting of the first and only college lacrosse team at a prestigious and historically black institution, Baltimore's Morgan State University.

When a young white administrator reluctantly accepted the position of head lacrosse coach at Baltimore’s Morgan State University, a six-year journey culminating in a shocking upset began. The Bears’ solidarity and determination to succeed changed the sport of lacrosse forever, even as they played in a racially charged period in our nation’s history — the early 1970s.

An emotionally-charged film that deals with issues of race and class during the Civil Rights Era, The Morgan Lacrosse Story uses the official team sport of Maryland as a vehicle to tackle complicated issues, and to honor the legacy of a groundbreaking team who would eventually pull off one of the greatest upsets in intercollegiate sports history.

By introducing viewers to the courageous individuals who made this important part of history and allowing them to tell their stories directly, this highly dynamic one hour documentary film connects the audience to the real emotions of their experience.

The Morgan Lacrosse Story was deeply inspired by the book Ten Bears, co-written by Chip Silverman, the team's coach, and Miles Harrison Jr.

"It's rare to get the chance to work on something that you want to be a part of, a legacy worth preserving," David says. "Once I became aware of this story, there was no way I was going to let it go, or leave it in someone else's hands.

"With the archival resources that Chip had available, we knew we had to get things moving right away while everything was still intact. The real hook came once I started meeting the players and I realized how compelling they were as individual characters, let alone the civil rights backdrop of what they accomplished."

The Morgan Lacrosse Story is set in Baltimore, but the themes contained within quickly reveal themselves to be universal. The events of the team's formation and rise to prominence are re-told by the players themselves, and examined in historical context by thoughtful and informed narration by Wendell Pierce from HBO's "The Wire".

In addition, hundreds of photographs from the collections of Silverman and his players have been gathered for the film, as well as newspaper clippings from almost every game they played.

Through the prism of a sport infused with the spirituality of its Native American roots, the Morgan Lacrosse Story shows how this determined group harnessed the power of the game to change the college landscape forever.

"This is a positive story," Luke David concludes. "So many stories about race relations have a sour ending or feel hopeless, but here there's a resolution and a spiritual element. I hope people take the time to watch it, absorb the material and realize that things aren't always as inclusive as we think they are, but with courage things can be different and better."

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I expect this documentary to be as good as "Black Magic" was last month and it's definitely worth your time to watch and learn about the rich sports history of HBCUs during this era.

-beepbeep McDonald

MEAC's Suber, Oakley and Butler invited to WNBA Pre-Draft Camp

Photo: CSU's Rashida Suber, 5-8 shooting guard, Reading H.S./Reading, PA.

BALTIMORE, MD -- Coppin State seniors Rashida Suber and Shalamar Oakley have each been invited to the Women's National Basketball Association pre-draft camp held at the University of Tampa April 4-5.

The pre-draft camp will be held at the Bob Martinez Center located on the campus of the University of Tampa and will give WNBA coaches and general managers an opportunity to evaluate the skills of the approximately 40 prospects that will be attending the camp.

The camp will consist of on-court sessions, games and team interviews conducted by the head coach and general manager.

Suber led the Eagles averaging 17.9 points per game, while Oakley was second on the team averaging 17.5 per contest.

Photo: CSU's Shalamar Oakley, 5-6 point guard, Woodrow Wilson H.S./Camden, N.J.

Oakley was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2007-08 as well as earning Most Outstanding Player honors at the conference tournament.

Suber earned the conference's player of the year honor in 2006-07 and was a three-time first team All-MEAC selection.

Oakley, Suber and Hampton University's Rachel Butler are both profiled in the wnba.com draft section of the website.

Photo: Hampton University's senior guard Rachael Butler, Lincoln High School, Dallas, Texas.

Hampton University's Lady Pirate 5-8 shooting guard Rachael Butler is the only other MEAC player profiled on the WNBA pre-draft website. Butler was: Second Team All-MEAC selection for the third consecutive year (2007, 2006, 2005)...Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Rookie of the Year (2005). Butler also averaged 13.3 ppg., 4.8 rpg., and 1.5 apg., and played in 115 games in her stellar four year career for the Lady Pirates.

The WNBA draft will be held on April 9 at the Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, Fla., and will be televised live beginning at 1 p.m. on ESPN2.

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AAMU Jennings alternately praised, criticized during tenure

Change welcome in beginning, but soon led to friction.

Dr. Robert Jennings was never trustees' first pick to become the 10th permanent president of Alabama A&M University.

They voted 5-4 to offer him the job on Dec. 16, 2005, after their unanimous first choice, Dr. Julian Earls, then director of NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, had turned them down in October.

Jennings, now 57, was the executive vice president and chief operating officer of Future Focus 2020, an academic think tank and research training center in the Babcock Graduate School of Management at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C.

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AAMU Jennings fired for financial improperiety

Grambling State fires both head basketball coaches

By GSU Sports Information

GRAMBLING, La. – The Grambling State University Department of Athletics has announced that head men’s basketball coach Larry Wright and head women’s coach David “Rusty” Ponton will not be retained for the 2008-09 season.

"I applaud the dedication both head coaches have put into their programs during their tenure at Grambling," stated Grambling State Director of Athletics Troy Mathieu. "However, as we look to take our basketball programs to a higher level of competitiveness, a change in leadership was necessary.” ,

The university will begin the process of conducting a comprehensive search to fill both positions. While the search is taking place, Senior Woman Administrator and Lady Tiger assistant coach Sharon Perkins and men’s assistant coach Kenny Sykes will serve as interim coaches for their respective programs.

B-CU speedsters on Thunderbirds

DAYTONA BEACH -- Lamont Finnie and Louis Brown first met on the streets -- the streets of Bethune-Cookman University.

The two Daytona Beach Thunderbirds speedsters shared a common bond there.

"Me and Louis met back at Bethune, we were racing on the street with each other. We'd race and everything on the strip on foot," said Finnie, whose Thunderbirds play their Arena Football League2 home opener Sunday vs. Wilkes-Barre. "It was 60 yards. Everybody comes out. They say, 'You're fast,' well, then they text you and tell you to come out to race. If somebody calls you out, you go race."

Apparently, foot-racing is an age-old tradition among the football players and students at B-CU.

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This must be a southern thing--running in the streets for no other purpose than someone called you out...

Relief pitcher Ross stymies Southern in LSU Tigers’ 8-3 win

Photo: (L) LSU Tigers Coach Paul Mainieri; and (R) SU Jaguars Coach Roger Candor.

What was shaping up as a thriller between crosstown rivals — with Southern’s Human Jukebox grooving a cozy full house and seven runs already on the scoreboard — got quelled quickly when LSU coach Paul Mainieri made the unusual move of going to the bullpen in the second inning.

Freshman Austin Ross answered the extremely early call.

Ross struck out eight and walked one, scattering four hits, in getting his first collegiate win and making his longest appearance as LSU won 8-3 Tuesday night, in front of 660 fans, the band and onlookers from the Harding Blvd. overpass, at Lee-Hines Field.

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Southern University baseball is 2-43 all-time against LSU.

Alcorn State basketball coach West fired

Photo: Alcorn State's head men's basketball coach Samuel West (gray suit) ends 12 year coaching career with the Braves. West is a native of Natchez, MS and a 1977 graduate of Texas Southern University.


Alcorn State men’s basketball coach Samuel West was fired Tuesday after five seasons on the job, a school official confirmed.

West’s removal coincides with the arrival of new athletic director Darren Hamilton, who started Tuesday, replacing interim AD Wiley Jones. Alcorn State officials would not comment further but said a news release with more details would be issued on Wednesday.

West, 52, won 44 games and lost 103 in his five seasons as the Braves coach. The former Northwest Rankin High School boys coach was an assistant at Alcorn for seven years under legendary coach Davey Whitney before being named head coach in April of 2003.

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Florida A&M Rattlers' defense works hard, hits hard

Photo: FAMU Coach Orlando Mitjans, defensive coordinator/secondary coach; first year, a 1982 graduate of Northeastern (Mass.) University.

The drill looked pretty routine. FAMU’s defensive front rushed up to a mock offense, then backed off upon contact.

Defensive coordinator Orlando Mitjans wanted the play repeated — again and again. Defensive end Kendrick Washington clearly understood what Mitjans wanted.

“We just put it in our hearts and our heads to make most of the plays,” Washington said after the Rattlers went through the sixth day of spring workouts on Tuesday.
The defense has been showing a tenacious attitude even before the team put on pads on the third day. The front seven has been especially aggressive, showing unusual speed this early.

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If you are attempting to keep up with the players on the FAMU roster, here is what we have been able to confirm from this article:

#71 Cameron Houston, Nose Tackle/DT, 6-0/285 soph., Rockledge H.S., Rockledge, FL.
#97 Kendrick Washington, DE, 6-5/245, soph., Sebastian River H.S., Sebastian, FL.
#91 Marquiste Ramos, DE, 6-5/245, junior, Bayside H.S., Bayside, FL.
#99 Joseph Weems, DE, 6-5/245, RS junior, Carol City H.S., Miami, FL.

The class standings indicated are the anticipated school level for Fall 2008.

-beepbeep

South Carolina State football holds fifth practice

South Carolina State continued spring football drills Monday as the Bulldogs conducted the fifth of 15 scheduled workouts.

A good bit of Monday's workout was devoted to correcting mistakes from the team's first scrimmage this past Saturday, according to head coach Buddy Pough. The Bulldogs also devoted some time to fundamentals, sharpening execution of assignments, red zone offense and defense, and third down-and-medium execution.

Pough said overall execution was fair but that his team appeared sluggish in the beginning before coming alive near the end of the workout.

VIDEO: S.C. State quarterback Malcolm Long in 5th Bulldog spring practice session (3/31/08).



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UAPB using spring practice for evaluation

As spring practice begins today for the Arkansas-Pine Bluff football team, the Golden Lions are under evaluation by first-year head coach Monte Coleman.

Coleman, who has served as the Golden Lions’ defensive coordinator the last two seasons and will continue that role this season, said Monday that the next three weeks will be an evaluation period for his football team.

“I addressed the team and told them that the spring is an evaluation period,” Coleman said. “Every position is open.”

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Tennessee State University alum coaches Michigan State Spartans golf team

Photo: Michigan State University Spartans head golf coach Sam Puryear

Life coach: The Sam Puryear impact

Photo Gallery: Sam and the Spartans, http://www.golfweektv.com/gallery/SamPuryear

It’s been another frigid winter in central Michigan. Snowfall in East Lansing has been about 14 inches above average, which isn’t good news for Michigan State senior Nate Gunthorpe. The Spartans have putting practice at 6 a.m. three days per week, and it’s a few miles from his off-campus house to the school’s indoor Rearick Golf Complex.

“Waking up, getting snow off your car, warming it up and being there by 6 ready to putt,” Gunthorpe said. “We definitely know why we’re doing it.”

Waiting for Gunthorpe and his teammates is first-year head coach Sam Puryear. Standing 6 feet tall and dressed impeccably in Spartan green, Puryear is a man with a plan. His energy is palpable, and his preparation is relentless. Always approachable and never short on one-liners, Puryear is just nine months removed from his first college coaching job, a 1 1/2-year stint as Stanford’s assistant coach, in which he helped head coach Conrad Ray guide the Cardinal to the 2007 NCAA championship.

Now, as the first black head golf coach in a major NCAA Division I conference, Puryear has the reins of the Spartans, a team that rose into the top 20 earlier this season.

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Mini Bio:
Sam is a 1992 graduate of Tennessee State University. He served three years as the assistant golf coach at Stanford University, winning the NCAA Division I national golf championship last season (2007). Prior to joining Stanford, he served as Executive Director of East Lake Junior Golf Academy in Atlanta, GA., where he managed the development of golf instruction and curriculum for an academy serving more than 1,000 youth. Puryear has a proven track record for fundraising, campaigning, and program support.

Samuel G. Puryear Jr. was born and raised in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Great article!!

-beepbeep

3-way battle for quarterback at WSSU

Photo: Winston Salem State University head football coach Kermit Blount.

If Winston-Salem State had to play a football game today, Coach Kermit Blount said it would be tough to choose a starting quarterback.

One of the priorities during spring practices, which ended yesterday, was to find a starter from the three candidates. But with the final spring scrimmage being rained out yesterday, Blount couldn’t say who won the battle.

The three candidates - junior Jarrett Dunston, sophomore Brian Wynn and freshman Tienne Jefferson - all had their good and bad moments during the 14 practices that were spread out during the past three weeks.

Another candidate who will arrive in the fall is Branden Williams, a talented player from Seale, Ala. Williams, 6-1 and 190 pounds, came to watch practice on Friday, making the long drive with his father, Arthur. Williams, who is playing high-school baseball this spring, passed for more than 3,000 yards and rushed for more than 2,000 while scoring a combined 45 touchdowns in his career.

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LSU opens key week at Southern Jaguars

Paul Mainieri gathered the LSU baseball team near first base Sunday at McKethan Stadium in Gainesville, Fla., fresh off its only victory of a three-game series at Florida.

LSU (16-10) will play Southern (10-10) at 6 p.m. today at Lee-Hines Field. "Playing Southern at Southern will be tough,” Mainieri said. “Centenary’s been playing good ball. They beat Arkansas the other day. That’s not going to be an easy game."

“All the pressure is on LSU to win,” Cador said. “There’s no pressure on us. LSU better come in, and they’d better be able to beat us by a whole bunch of runs, or people are going to think there’s something wrong.”

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Wells is Savannah State University football's last hope

Photo: SSU Tigers head coach Robby Wells is on the hot seat before the season starts for the 2008 Tigers.


Robby Wells saw Savannah State's football program as "a little gold mine" six years ago. Now the Tigers' head miner, Wells must find that hidden mineral vein. Or SSU should close its mine for good.

This is a program in peril. Nine coaches in 13 years, four since Wells became taken with the school as a South Carolina State assistant in 2002. Ten wins since moving to Division I-AA in 2000, only three against I-AA competition. A fan base dwindling with each coaching change, blowout loss and stranger-than-fiction episode, like student coaches selling steroids to players.

Wells is the Tigers' last hope. The administration made a long-term commitment when they hired him four months ago, with athletics' headmaster Claud Flythe promising Wells will be at SSU as long as he himself is.

Wells will either make the Tigers respectable or drive them to extinction. Such is the risk taken by a historically black college that hires a young white man with no head coaching experience to lead its marquee athletic program.

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Former Florida A&M head coach Rubin Carter was a finalist for this position. Kent Schoolfield, a former Fort Vally State head coach, and FAMU and Florida State assistant coach was also a finalist. Georgia Southern's legendary QB/current Bethune Cookman assistant coach Raymond Gross was a finalist.

But, the SSU president selects Robby Wells, with no head coaching experience--period, over coaches that have had some success at the Division I level or higher.

Carter was a Miami All-American and NFL All Pro; Schoolfield was an NFL player and FAMU All American; Gross won national championships with GSU and was an All-American player. Wells credentials just doesn't measure up to the other coaches that were available to SSU.

In all fairness to Wells and his staff, they have no chance of winning, even with a 12 game schedule stacked with NAIA and Division II programs.

Inadequate scholarships--no incoming talent equals no winning program. You can't attract Division I level talent based on a pipe dream and an unproven coaching staff. Who would put their football future into the hands of an unproven commodity like Coach Wells.

It can get worst than the Tigers ever imagined with a possible record of 1-11 or 0-12 in 2008, and a Tigers fan base quickly disappearing. SSU in its current condition with NCAA probation and reduced scholarships, would be hard pressed to be a competitive Division II program, today.

Nine coaches in 13 years speaks volumes about the ineptitude of the SSU administration when it comes to the major economic engine of the school.

Moreover, why schedule 12 football games in 2008, and only play four games on the Tigers home field? You don't make money playing road games at Division II and NAIA stadiums, so what's the logic behind that move?

The Tigers are not a Division I FCS football program in any stretch of the imagination, and until a full commitment is made financially to SSU football, attempting to compete at the FCS (formerly 1-AA) level is a major disservice to the Tigers student-athletes and fan base.

It will take more than hope (with no head coaching experience) to win at SSU. The first order of business should have been to hire a competent athletic director.

-beepbeep

The future of Alabama A&M University

Only a strong leader can save the university from itself

Whether you supported Dr. Robert Jennings in his almost two-year tenure at Alabama A&M University or whether you thought he had proved himself unequal to the task of leading the historically black school effectively, the decision by the board of trustees on Monday to fire Jennings must lead to this conclusion: This is a regrettable time for the university.

But we'll go further: A&M's leadership is, in fact, in chaos and there's little hope it can reach a state of equilibrium unless things change dramatically and soon.

Exactly why Jennings was fired remains unclear. Reports of Jennings' alleged questionable payments to staff members haven't been effectively addressed publicly.

The board has continued to meet behind closed doors to discuss his job performance, saying it was dealing with "good name and character" and getting legal advice.

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Jennings plans court action against firing by A&M

Photo: Fired Alabama A&M University president Dr. Robert R. Jennings.

Alabama A&M University President Dr. Robert Jennings was fired by the board of trustees in a 7-1 vote March 31, 2008, but will not leave without a fight.

"He feels like this was an absolute travesty of justice," said his attorney, John Saxon of Birmingham. "It was a kangaroo court. "I'm not even sure, first of all, that this was a lawful meeting."

Saxon said Jennings was not given a hearing or chance to respond publicly to the charges against him, and the termination was based on the report of an ad hoc committee never approved by the board.

"He has not been afforded due process, and we plan to fully challenge the decision and all of these points in Madison County Circuit Court," Saxon said. "I think he didn't play ball the way some people wanted him to play ball and to go along the way things had been in the past. And that bothered some people, some people in high places."

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Dr. Jennings is a Morehouse College grad earning a B.A. in sociology in 1972; earned a M.A. in educational psychology in 1974 and a Ed.S. degrees in interrelated learning, 1979 from Clark Atlanta University. He also earned a Doctor of Education degree in educational administration and policy studies from Clark Atlanta University in 1982.

FAMU's Coach Taylor happy with RBs, defense

Photo: Quarterback Eddie Battle #8, comes out of the first week of spring practice holding on to the starting position. The 6-2/215 redshirt junior is from Titusville, FL/Astronaunt H.S.

After reviewing the film from Saturday's scrimmage, Florida A&M football coach Joe Taylor was pleased with his team's ability to run the ball and pointed to the receiving corps as an area in need of improvement.

"The running game I was very satisfied with," Taylor said. "We just need to find the top three or four receivers and give them some more reps. I was also impressed with the special teams. We need to work on our punt team, but our kickoff return was good."

Taylor was also pleased by the play of his defense, which has so far had the better end of the stick in 11-on-11 drills.

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Delaware State's Moore hitting stride

Photo: Laronne Moore is a former QB at Prince George's County (MD) Northwestern H.S., that has 4.29 speed in the 40 yard dash. As a Hornet WR, the 6-0/180 junior will be a dangerous weapon in the DSU offense.

Wide receiver learning fast after just one season at new position

DOVER -- Nothing Laronne Moore does suggests rookie. At 6-foot tall, Moore has that sinewy, streamlined leanness of a veteran wide receiver. He can reach out to pull in a pass even the best sometimes miss.

But the Delaware State junior is quick to remind people that last season was his first year playing wide receiver. Now, Moore is the Hornets' heir apparent.

"This is actually my first spring football," Moore said Saturday at Alumni Stadium. "I'm ready to take over. I hope I can do all they expect me to be."

DSU, which finished 10-2 last season and won its first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title since 1991, will need Moore to reinvigorate its passing game. DSU ranked seventh out of the nine MEAC teams with just 134 receiving yards per game.

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Taylor boosts Prairie View in win over Southern Jaguars

Photo: PVAMU senior pitcher Wrandal Taylor #3, discuss game strategy with teammates. The 5-10/190 Two-Time ALL-SWAC First Teamer is from Beaumont, Texas/Ozen H.S.

Prairie View senior pitcher Wrandal Taylor, the face of the program’s rise from obscurity, did Sunday what he’s done for so long: produce a gem when his team needed him most.

Taylor (3-2) struck out six in a complete-game 6-2 win over Southern at Lee-Hines Field. Entering Sunday, the Panthers had gone 3-15, including two losses to SU on Saturday, since March 5 and Taylor had lost twice since winning last on March 1.
“This team needed it. Golly,” PV coach Michael Robertson said.

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Florida A&M Rattlers Rally to beat A&T Aggies

Photo: FAMU Rattlers head baseball coach Robert Lucus.

GREENSBORO, N.C. (March 30, 2008)– On a day tailor-made for sloppy play because of cold, rainy weather, the North Carolina A&T baseball team went eight innings without letting the elements have an affect.

But in the ninth, Sunday’s conditions finally caught up with the Aggies. Florida A&M scored six runs in its half of the ninth on three Aggie errors to rally and beat N.C. A&T 8-6 in MEAC action at War Memorial Stadium.

The loss dropped the Aggies to 4-2 in the MEAC and 11-15 overall as the Rattlers (6-13, 2-4 MEAC) took two out of three from the Aggies during the weekend series. The Aggies appeared to be in great shape heading into the ninth. Although he gave up a run in the eighth, the Aggies had closer Marquis Frink on the mound.

They also had a 4-2 lead. Therefore, Frink appeared to be headed for his fourth save of the season. Frink struck out Chris Justice to open the ninth. It fell apart from there, however.

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The FAMU Rattlers knocked off Albany State on Friday 5-2, and get two wins of three games with the Aggies for a great winning weekend. Rattlers on a run...

Tim Jones led the Rattlers with three hits – two of them doubles – and he scored twice in the 3rd game with A&T. Cunningham had two hits and scored twice. Go Rattlers!

Cosby to be N.C. A&T's commencement speaker

Photo: Bill Cosby, Ed.D.

GREENSBORO — Bill Cosby will be the speaker at N.C. A&T's spring commencement on May 10. An estimated 1,100 students will receive degrees that day at the Greensboro Coliseum starting at 8:30 a.m.

Cosby is an actor, comedian, author and philanthropist who has both a master's degree and a doctorate in education from the University of Massachusetts. His latest work is the book "Come on People: On the Path from Victims to Victors" with co-author Alvin F. Poussaint, a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

Cosby recently lent his name to a collaborative educational program, the Cosby Kids Initiative, at A&T and GTCC that aims to enhance the academic performance of targeted students in fourth, sixth and eighth grades.

A&T also will host a special performance, "An Evening with Bill Cosby" at 7 p.m. May 9 at the Sheraton Four Seasons. For tickets and more information, call 433-5570.

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