Valley already getting ready for football season

You won't find Willie Totten vacationing during the dog days of June. The Mississippi Valley State head football coach and the rest of his staff are hard at it preparing for the 2008 season. Each of the coaches will get a short break in early July, but for now, they are busy checking on players and newcomers making sure they are doing what they need to do to be eligible in the fall.
"It's constant phone calls and paper work," said Totten Thursday during an interview in his office on the Itta Bena campus. "June is a time to get organized for when everyone comes in early August. "We've got four new coaches in the (Southwestern Athletic Conference), so we're looking at film trying to pick up some things they might do against us this season."

The Delta Devils report to campus Aug. 3 and will begin two-a-day practices five days later in preperation for the Aug. 30 season opener at home against Texas College.

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Hampton's Alonzo Coleman hoping to be an eye-opener for Dallas Cowboys

IRVING, TX – This was before Marion Barber signed his seven-year extension and while first-rounder Felix Jones and fourth-rounder Tashard Choice were practicing for the first time with the Dallas Cowboys. Owner and general manager Jerry Jones reminded any and all of No. 30.

"Did you see No. 30 out there with that 4.3 speed?" Jones said. No. 30 is Alonzo Coleman. His name might not ring a bell because he spent last year on the practice squad and got all of eight carries for 27 yards in the preseason because of a sprained left ankle.

Coleman signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent after the 2007 draft. Former vice president of college and pro scouting Jeff Ireland liked his potential. Coleman left Hampton University as the school's all-time leading rusher with 4,707 yards and 62 touchdowns. He was named the MEAC offensive player of the year as a junior when he ran for 1,326 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also had a five-touchdown effort against Gardner-Webb.

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Father, Can You Hear Us?

Father Can You Hear Me - (Tyler Perry)

Alvin Ailey's "Revelations," Fix Me Jesus

Amazing Grace - Wintley Phipps

Obama & Brighter Day by John P Kee

Smokie Norful - I Need You Now

MEAC Football Press Luncheon Scheduled July 25

Courtesy MEACsports.com

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA - The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference will host the annual MEAC Football Press Luncheon, Friday, July 25 at the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel (777 Waterside Drive, Norfolk, Virginia 23510/757-640-2754). MEAC head football coaches and various players from each team will be on hand to offer an inside view of the upcoming 2008 football season.

A limited number of tickets are available to the public for the press luncheon and can be purchased by calling Stacey Kiger at (757) 416-7100. Tickets are $30 per seat or $300 per table (10 persons) and must be purchased before 5:30 p.m. on Friday, July 18.

Media members may obtain a credential for the luncheon and/or one-on-one interview sessions by completing an application found on http://www.meacsports.com/ or by contacting Patricia Porter at porterp@themeac.com or (757) 416-7100. One-on-one interviews with various offensive and defensive players from each team will begin at 9:30 a.m. followed by head coaches beginning at 10:30 a.m.

In addition to the press luncheon, the MEAC will host the 2008 Woman of the Year ceremony on Wednesday, July 23 beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the Sheraton. Sponsored by the conference’s Senior Woman Administrators, the Woman of the Year ceremony honors female student-athletes for their collegiate achievements in academics, athletics, community service and leadership.

The 2008 MEAC football season kicks off on Saturday, August 30 featuring five MEAC football teams in action, including two classics. The Hampton University Pirates highlight the opening day list, as they face Jackson State University in the fourth annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge beginning at 2 p.m. The game will be broadcasted live on ESPNU.

The annual Virginia Lottery Labor Day Classic kicks off at 6 p.m. featuring the Norfolk State University Spartans against NCAA D-II non-conference opponent Virginia State University Trojans.

Florida A&M University hosts Alabama State University and Johnson C. Smith University will travel to North Carolina A&T State University as the Rattlers and Aggies kick off their home openers beginning at 6 p.m. The South Carolina State University Bulldogs will travel to Orlando, Florida to face Conference USA’s University of Central Florida at 6 p.m.

For more information about the MEAC, log on to http://www.meacsports.com/

B-CU baseball loses 4 recruits to pros

Bethune-Cookman's 2008 baseball signing class has become less crowded since last week's major league draft. Of five Wildcat recruits who were drafted, four have signed or have agreed to sign with their teams, B-CU coach Mervyl Melendez said Thursday.

Bethune-Cookman shortstop Jose Lozada, drafted in the 17th round by the Nationals, has signed and will be a teammate of Pruitt's with Vermont. Pitcher Joseph Gautier, taken in the 19th round by Arizona, has not yet signed. The B-CU recruit rated highest going into the draft, right-hander Ryan Gonzalez, who was selected in the 18th round (544 overall) by the Oakland Athletics, will likely be at school this fall, Melendez said.

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Work ethic to remain high for FAMU transfer Bryant

Brandon Bryant had no clue that Florida A&M would be the Division I school where he'd play college basketball. He just knew wherever he ended up that he'd be prepared.

Bryant also knew his 6-foot-3 frame was a little too lean at 160 pounds. So he spent the past two seasons honing his skills, working with what he had. He also gained 20 pounds in the process while playing at Snead State Community College in Alabama.

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For FAMU football's Taylors, no separating father-son

Joe Taylor planted the seeds early. He didn’t get to every one of his sons’ pee-wee games, but they talked a lot of football at home. He was at more of their youth baseball games and occasionally he’d get to a basketball game. Taylor’s wife, Beverly, always made sure the boys got there. As they got older with their own issues, Taylor was never too busy to get involved, Aaron said.

He didn’t coach his sons in football. His job conflicted with their season, but dad was there when Aaron made a play that’s still vivid almost 20 years later.


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JSU Comegy signs contract extension

Jackson State University head football coach Rick Comegy signed a contract extension through 2011 after winning the 2008 SWAC championship. The deal is worth $186,000 annually, including bonuses based on ticket sales, academic achievements, Coach of the Year honors and winning the Black College National Championship.

The third-year coach will receive an extra year and $15,000 for winning additional SWAC championships.

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DSU Football Game Times Announced

Photo: DSU quarterback Vashon Winton, 6-2/195, Senior, Chicago, IL (Simeon HS).

Courtesy: DSU Athletic Media Relations

DOVER (June 12, 2008) – The Delaware State Athletic Department has announced the times for the 2008 football season. Comprised of 11 games, the 2008 schedule has the Hornets hosting six home games in defense of their 2007 MEAC Championship.

The Sept. 6 contest between the Hornets and the Florida A&M Rattlers will be start at 7:30 p.m. to kickoff the 2008 campaign. Two weeks later, DSU will host the Central Connecticut Blue Devils on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 7:00 p.m.

A 1:00 p.m. kickoff is scheduled for the remainder of DSU’s slate – Hampton (Oct. 4), North Carolina A&T - Homecoming (Oct. 18), South Carolina State (Nov. 1) and Winston-Salem State (Nov. 8).

Tickets for the 2008 DSU football season can be purchased by calling (302) 857-7497 or toll free at (866) 378-2845. Season ticket packages are available for purchase with Early Hornet discounts for any packages purchased before July 25. Season tickets include parking, reserved seating for all six home games, a 2008 DSU Football media Guide and first priority for post-season ticket purchases. Single-game tickets go on sale on August 11. Tickets can also be purchased by logging on to the team’s official website http://www.dsuhornets.com/

Carver’s Coleman signs with North Carolina Central

Carver baseball standout Cedric Coleman has played more baseball games than anyone he knows at Carver. As a matter of fact, he finished his prep career second on the all-time list of games played at CHS.

“He’s played in just about every game,” said Carver head baseball coach Melvin Palmer. “He’s been a tremendous impact player for us for four years. Anytime you lose a four-year starter it’s big. He impacted the team in every game. We’re also losing a leader. He’s the type of guy that motivated other players to play hard.”

Coleman played rather well for the Yellowjackets too. He finished with a .410 batting average. Coleman had a .640 slugging percentage, to go along with a .450 on base percentage. He also finished with 37 RBIs, 12 triples, 32 doubles, 54 runs scored, 24 steals and 22 strikeouts in four years. Those numbers, as well as a few other things helped Coleman get a scholarship to play baseball for North Carolina Central University. He signed his letter of intent in front of family and friends last Friday — one day before graduating from Carver.

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UAPB Golden Lions Roaring Abroad for Track Signees

The Arkansas Pine Bluff men’s and women’s cross country track-and-field squads recently signed eight student-athletes, according to Golden Lions’ head coach Curtis Pittman. Kenyan natives Magabo Damasin (Thika, Kenya) and Boniface Yator (Kabarnet, Kenya) will be joining UAPB men’s cross country teams in the fall. Both athletes specialize in the 1,500- and 5000-meter runs and cross country.

Pittman also signed Mathias Haller of Badeu-Wuerttemberg, Germany. Haller is expected to run the 400-meter, 800-meter and cross-country.

For the women’s team, Shelleyka C. Rolle of Freeport, Bahamas signed to run the 400 and 800. Kericho, Kenya native Gladys Cheronah Rob rounds out the Kenyan natives, while Papua, New Guinea’s Betty Burua signed to run the 400 and 800. Rob will run the 1,500-meter, 5,000-meter and cross country.

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Giants' Strahan sacks his 15-year career

Photo: Former Texas Southern University defensive end and NFL future hall of famer, Michael Strahan retired after 15 seasons with the N.Y. Giants.

Any of the people Michael Strahan reached out to yesterday morning - team management, players, owners and coaches - must have known what was up when they saw their caller ID or the sender of the text message.

This is it, they undoubtedly thought.

Strahan had been mulling retirement ever since the Super Bowl - since last summer, really - but the 36-year-old's announcement that he'll hang 'em up still caught many off guard. The news was made public early in the day in a report by Foxsports.com in which the unsubtle Strahan subtly stated: "It's time. I'm done."

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Southern University's House setting bar high at championships

In the two most important meets of the season, Southern high jumper Jason House has added a certain dramatic flair to the end of his performance. But it’s not the kind of dramatics House, a sophomore, wants in the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which begin Wednesday at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

In the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championships in April and the NCAA Mideast Regionals two weeks ago, House had to come up with a clutch jump just to stay alive in the competition. House, a native of Laurel, Miss., was down to his final try at 6 feet 10 inches when he cleared the bar. He went on to win the title at 7-1, which turned out to be the second-best jump in the NCAA Mideast Region this spring.

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WSSU Lady Rams Volleyball sign four to National Letters of Intent

WINSTON-SALEM, NC - The 2008 Winston-Salem State University volleyball team will welcome some new faces this fall as WSSU head coach Douglas Hunter announced the signing of four prospective student-athletes to National Letters of Intent. The four signees will strengthen the Lady Rams in every area on the court.

A pair of talented players will fill the team's needs at the setter position, which was hampered by injury last season. Setter Asia Carr from St. John's College High School in Washington, D.C. will join the Lady Rams at the setter position as well as Alexandria Brown from Harris County High School in Hamilton, Ga.

The Lady Rams will also add to its front line with the addition of middle hitter/blocker Jasmine Frazier from Chancellor High School in Fredericksburg, Va. and outside hitter Kameryn Craig from Apex High School in Apex, N.C.

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The Natural: B-CU star has found competitive spirit

DAYTONA BEACH -- Ronnie Ash can't really explain his reluctance to play organized sports. Like a homecoming queen playing hard-to-get, he rebuffed his high school suitors year after year.

Basketball coaches, football coaches -- you name it -- they all drooled when they saw the lithe 6-foot-3, 190-pounder ambling down the hallways. They all recruited. They were all rejected, until Knightdale, N.C., High School track coach David Castell finally got a bite in Ash's senior year and was able to reel him in.

Now a freshman at Bethune-Cookman, Ash's rapid rise in track and field might even astound all of the spurned coaches who envisioned greatness for this young man. Ash will compete in the 110-meter hurdles at the NCAA Division I track and field championships this week at Des Moines, Iowa.

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Houston Texans cut QB Quinn Gray

Photo: Former Florida A&M University star quarterback Quinn Gray may have to go to the CFL to get a legitimate opportunity to develop his NFL caliber skills. Gray was the Jacksonville Jaguars #2 quarterback last season.

The Texans released free-agent quarterback Quinn Gray, making the decision instead to work to develop Shane Boyd and rookie Alex Brink. "I just think that from a fit standpoint with our football team, it made more sense for us to let (Gray) go now," general manager Rick Smith said. "I still think this guy's a quality NFL quarterback, and I think he's going to have a good career. It's just not a fit here.

"My philosophy is if I've got a veteran player playing in this league and I don't see the opportunity or feel like I can give them a fair opportunity to make a football team, then I want to give them a fair opportunity somewhere else," coach Gary Kubiak said. "I felt that way with both those players and with where they are at those positions. Mainly at the quarterback positions, I made a decision to work with those two young players."

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Big Shoes to Fill, Ti-Cats taking a big step forward

QB Casey Printers (Florida A&M University) rivals some of his offensive linemen. He wears a size 15 shoe, as well.

CFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats starting quarterback Casey Printers


Say this about Hamilton Tiger-Cat offensive line prospects, they certainly have big shoes to fill. Literally. One common trait among six-foot-five-inch pass blockers who tip the scales at 325 pounds is huge feet. We're talking human aircraft carriers here. And a size 15 or 16 football cleat takes an inordinate amount of shoe leather.

Ticat offensive line coach Jeff Bleamer, a former offensive lineman himself and a size 15, said those who ply their trade in the trenches need a set of flatbed trailers to carry the load. "They need big feet for a good base. You don't see too many offensive linemen walking around with a size 10. Most offensive linemen have size 14 and up," Bleamer said, adding the big cleats are a source of power.

Bleamer said the biggest feet he ever saw belonged to one-time Tiger-Cat, Alouette and Philadelphia Eagle offensive lineman Ed George. Size 17. "You could probably fit a small family into size 17," Bleamer quipped.

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QB Casey Printers, 2004 CFL MVP (Age: 27, 5 Year CFL/NFL Veteran)

New men's hoops coach Rick Duckett settles in at GSU

Rick Duckett has found his place in Grambling's Assembly Center. Now he wants to fill the rest of the seats. Named the new Grambling men's basketball coach in May, Duckett arrived on campus last week to revive a program in a slump.

Grambling has not won a Southwestern Athletic Conference championship since the 1988-89 season. After the men's team finished the 2007-08 season with a dispiriting 7-19 record in the SWAC — losing 12 of its first 13 games — Grambling released ninth-year head coach Larry Wright on April 1. Duckett acknowledged he'll have to get players and fans to buy into a new system to turn the program around.

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South Carolina State University Trustees Selects New President

Photo: Tallahassee, Florida native George Everett Cooper, Ph.D., earned his Bachelor’s degree, Florida A&M University; master’s degree, Tuskegee University; doctorate, University of Illinois, Urbana. Dr. Cooper currently serves as the deputy administrator for Science and Education Resources Development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.

South Carolina State University's Board of Trustees voted unanimously Friday to hire George Cooper as the school's next president. Cooper, deputy administrator for Science and Education Resources Development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, was selected from among three finalists for the top post at the state's only public historically black university. Cooper has worked in various positions for the Department of Agriculture since 1991.

The board discussed the finalists for about 90 minutes Friday in a closed-door session at a retreat in Charleston. "There was lots of discussion" among board members about the finalists, "but Cooper was the clear front-runner," Chairman Maurice Washington said.

"I am honored to be selected as the 10th President of S.C. State University," Cooper said in a news release from the school Friday. "I look forward to working with the Board of Trustees, administration, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and stakeholders as we together movetowards academic excellence. It is my intent to establish a creative and participatory campus environment as we embark on defining S.C. State's future."

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THE COOPER PROFILE

At the USDA: Coordinates $140 million in grants in education, research and extension for land-grant universities and other institutions; held several positions at the Department of Agriculture since 1991.

Previous career: Professor of animal science, Alabama A&M University, Normal, Ala., where he taught graduate students and supervised graduate research in animal science; executive assistant to the president of Alabama A&M, 1988-89; vice president for academic affairs, 1985-88; taught and was a dean at Tuskegee University in Alabama, 1978-85.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in animal husbandry, Florida A&M University; master’s degree animal science, Tuskegee University; doctorate, animal nutrition, University of Illinois, Urbana. Dr. Cooper graduated from Tallahassee's Lincoln High School and his parents were educators in Leon County (Florida) schools.

Family: Wife, Diane Delois Shaw; children, Nikki Angela Cooper, Carey Allison Cooper. Dr. Cooper is the oldest of three boys.

Hobbies: Photography, cooking, golf, reading and genealogy.

Community: Vice-chairman of the deacons board and Sunday School teacher, People’s Community Baptist Church, Silver Spring, MD.

Why UNCG doesn’t have a football program – and why it doesn’t need one

by Allen Johnson

Should there be helmets and shoulder pads in UNCG's future? It's a tempting thought. As someone who has taught there off and on, I've heard students grumble that the school lacks a football team -- and that a homecoming soccer game just doesn't cut it.

I've heard them call UNCG a "suitcase school" and suggest that college football could be the remedy. I don't know about that. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy college football on sunny fall afternoons as much as the next guy -- especially at UNCG's crosstown sister campus, North Carolina A&T State University, where the battle of the bands at halftime can be as compelling as the games themselves.

UNCG is almost close enough to A&T that you can hear the drumbeat of the Aggie marching band. And I can understand the sibling envy that probably stirs.

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UCF Football Preview vs South Carolina State Bulldogs

The UCF football team will open its second campaign at Bright House Networks Stadium on Aug. 30, against South Carolina State. The contest will serve as the season opener for both squads.

Here is an early look at UCF's contest with South Carolina State:

Experienced Squad
Forty-four letterwinners from South Carolina's State 2007 squad are back this season. The Bulldogs went 7-4 a year ago. With a 6-2 mark, the team finished tied for second in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Seventh year head coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough has seven starters back on offense and nine starters returning on the defensive end.

Ground Attack
Tailback Will Ford is back to lead the ground attack for South Carolina State. Last year, the Bulldogs ranked ninth nationally, averaging 260.2 rushing yards per game. Ford, an All-MEAC First Team selection, was 11th in the country on the ground (125.18). He found the end zone four times. Against South Carolina, Ford carried the ball 17 times for 112 yards.

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SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS.

Chief Justice of U.S. Supreme Court to visit NCCU

Photo: The United States Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., will be the judge on the bench at NCCU 2009 moot court competition. Last year, preLaw Magazine named North Carolina Central University Law School "the nation's best value among law schools."

DURHAM - The N.C. Central University law students who compete in the finals of next year's moot court competition have a little extra reason to be nervous: The judge on the bench will be John G. Roberts, Jr., chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Roberts will be on campus for a day next April at the behest of Raymond Pierce, dean of NCCU's law school. Pierce met Roberts at a recent judicial conference and gave the hard sell, regurgitating fact after fact about the school, which has been lauded in recent years for affordability and stellar passage rates on the state bar exam.

Pierce asked him to come and speak at the school. "He said he doesn't do speeches but would judge a moot court competition," Pierce said Friday.

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Judge halts pay to ASU's Lee for now

Photo: Former ASU President Joe Lee.

A Montgomery County circuit court judge has issued a restraining order, temporarily halting a severance package that Alabama State University trustees awarded former president Joe Lee.

The restraining order follows an injunction that ASU trustees Joe Reed and Thomas Figures filed last week in which they claimed paying Lee nearly $289,000 in a lump-sum payment was illegal because it violated Section 94 of the Alabama Constitution.

In issuing the order, Judge William Shashy offered no decision on the legality of the severance agreement, but did order all parties into mediation within the next seven days. Local attorney Lee Copeland will serve as mediator.

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MVSU has finalists for basketball coach

ITTA BENA, Miss. (AP) -- Three finalist for head basketball coach at Mississippi Valley State are scheduled for campus visits June 11-12.

School officials said Thursday that the finalists are Texas Southern assistant Lacey Reynolds, a former head coach at Grambling State; Harvey Wardell, an assistant at Tougaloo College and a former MVSU assistant; and Sean Woods, a former assistant at TCU.

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JSU's Comegy cuts aid for 14; 6 won't be back

The numbers game plays out every year within the Jackson State football program. And few like the consequences. Coach Rick Comegy said he revoked the scholarships of six players who will not return to the program this fall. Eight other players saw their scholarship money reduced or taken away, but Comegy expects them to return for the 2008 season.

"I think that's the toughest time of year for any coach, when you have to make some decisions about the direction you're going to go with your athletes," Comegy said. "If any coach takes pleasure in it, I truly would be shocked."

The NCAA allows for 63 football scholarships to be spread amongst 85 players at the Division I-AA level. Jackson State listed 68 players on the spring roster and signed 26 in February. Also, a handful of players have transferred in since the winter signing period, including former Tennessee defensive backs Ricardo Kemp and Antonio Wardlow.

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Official Inauguration of FAMU’s Tenth President Planned for Fall

Photo: Dr. James Ammons delivers the Spring 2008 Commencement Address to spirited audience at Fort Valley State University on May 3, 2008.

When Dr. James H. Ammons stepped into the spotlight on July 2nd of last year as Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) tenth president, he knew there was much work to be done. Instead, on his first day in office, James Ammons graciously asked for 500 days.

He needed five hundred days to resolve nagging fiscal matters, accreditation issues and personnel problems. Five hundred days were needed to strengthen existing relationships and forge new ones to restore his beloved alma mater to the legacy that had made it great.

Today, just a few weeks shy of his 365th day in office, Ammons has accomplished much and has made impressive strides toward reducing the school’s vulnerability and moving it in a positive direction. Admittedly, there are major hurdles that remain, but the FAMU community is convinced that it is safe now to at least begin the planning for the official inauguration of Dr. James H. Ammons as the school’s tenth president. And, believe it or not, it will take place very close to the 500th day.

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Maryland's Lieutenant Governor Visits UMES

Maryland's Lieutenant Governor Anthony G. Brown stopped by the University of Maryland Eastern Shore on Thursday for a visit. UMES recently joined the PGA golf management program and Brown received a lesson on the school's driving range. He says he's very excited to see what UMES is doing as a part of the university system of Maryland.

Lieutenant Governor Brown says, "Under Dr. Thompson's leadership, what you've seen is a campus that is focusing on where the needs are in Maryland." "The school has developed programs that make a contribution to meaningful higher education in the State."

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A&T's Simmons’ shot at big leagues a little late

The honor came 58 years late for Bert Simmons, but then, most everything did.

The former N.C. A&T baseball player who fought his way through lesser leagues of the South before getting his shot in the Negro Leagues, was "drafted" Thursday to play for the Baltimore Orioles.

Baseball's been trying to make up for lost time and accrued embarrassment for more than 60 years, embracing the ballplayers who were never given a chance to play in the majors simply because of the color of their skin. The gestures have been both grand and hollow since Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947.

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McCants establishes DSU scholarship fund

Former Hornets WR puts millions earned in NFL to good use

DOVER -- When Darnerien McCants attended Delaware State University, he was not always enamored with what he perceived as the campus' shortcomings and was not exactly a rah-rah person, even though he played for the football team.

Now that McCants has been separated from campus life since 2001, he said he is able to see exactly what his years at Delaware State meant. So, McCants, who went on to play wide receiver for the Washington Redskins and the Eagles, announced Thursday that he is establishing a $10,000 scholarship fund for students attending DSU.

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Freshman Golden Lion and SU Jaguar Named Louisville Slugger All-American

PINE BLUFF -- University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff freshman third baseman Matt Pace was named Wednesday to the "Louisville Slugger" All-America Baseball Team. He joins Southern University standout freshman Fraizer Hall, who was named to the team.

Pace, a former Warren High School standout, hit .369 with 5 home runs and a team-high 40 runs batted in during his freshman season with the Golden Lions. He was also among the nation's leaders in doubles with 23.

In addition to his recent All-American accolade, Pace was also named "Freshman of the Year" in the Southwestern Athletic Conference last month.

Southern University's Frazier Hall also earned a spot on the Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American team. Hall, used at catcher, first base and as a designated hitter, hit .393 with three homers, nine doubles and 33 RBIs. Hall was one of three catchers on the team.

The SU Jaguars' Hall and UAPB's Pace were the only players named to the team from the Southwestern Athletic Conference. No player was named from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference or the HBCU Independents.

View Complete List: Louisville Slugger's Freshman All-American Baseball Team

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UAPB Players make All-American Football Team

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff linebacker Tim Turner, along with teammates Ledarius Anthony and Stewart Franks, were recently named as members of the Consensus Draft Services Preseason All-American squad.

Turner, a 6-2, 215-pound senior from Little Rock was named to the Division I-AA first-team defense after leading the Golden Lions in tackles last season with 122. The Parkview High product also notched seven tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

Anthony, a 6-6, 270-pound senior defensive end from Pine Bluff was tabbed for a spot on the Division I-AA second-team defense, after registering 66 tackles and 11 tackles for losses. The NFL prospect was among the leaders in sacks last season in the Southwestern Athletic Conference with 8.5.

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NSU basketball player charged in pair of robberies at ODU

Photo: Brandon Monroe

Brandon Monroe, a junior forward on the Norfolk State men's basketball team, is facing four charges in connection with a pair of robberies on Old Dominion's campus.

Monroe and Alfred Noel II were arrested May 7 after they allegedly brandished weapons while stealing items, including a wallet, cell phone, handbag and credit cards, from a woman and man on April 28.

Monroe, 21, was charged with two counts each of robbery and unlawful use of a firearm. Noel faces one charge each of robbery and unlawful use of a firearm. Monroe and Noel each were released on a $10,000 secured bond and are scheduled to appear for a July 9 court date. As a condition of his bond, Monroe, a Raeford, N.C., resident, is not allowed to leave Virginia.

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Obama Clinches Nomination; First Black Candidate to Lead a Major Party Ticket

Senator Barack Obama claimed the Democratic presidential nomination on Tuesday evening, prevailing through an epic battle with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in a primary campaign that inspired millions of voters from every corner of America to demand change in Washington.

A last-minute rush of Democratic superdelegates, as well as the results from the final primaries, in Montana and South Dakota, pushed Mr. Obama over the threshold of winning the 2,118 delegates needed to be nominated at the party’s convention in August. The victory for Mr. Obama, the son of a black Kenyan father and a white Kansan mother, broke racial barriers and represented a remarkable rise for a man who just four years ago served in the Illinois Senate.

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Senator Barack Obama's Victory Speech - June 3, 2008, St. Paul, MN










2,118 needed A.P. Delegate Projections
Delegates: Won to date Super-delegates Total
Barack Obama 1,765 389 2,154
Hillary Rodham Clinton 1,637 282 1,919

Michael Wilbon: Broken Records

Photo: The late Bob Hayes is the only man in history to win both the Olympic gold medal and a NFL Super Bowl ring. Today, Hayes is still denied enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame for his accomplishments.

Used to be the two greatest titles in sports were "Fastest Man in the World" and "Heavyweight Champion of the World." Each meant the holder was invincible the world over. This wasn't small potatoes, like winning a league or a national championship. These were planetary designations. All comers welcome. The titles were unassailable, unimpeachable. There were no questions to be asked. No doubt conveyed.

In the 1930s Ralph Metcalfe was the "Fastest Man in the World." Then it was Jesse Owens, then Willie Williams, then Bob Hayes (Florida A&M University). You could trace the times going back to Don Lippincott in 1912, and the results were gospel.

But not now. A 6-foot-5 Jamaican man named Usain Bolt ran the fastest time ever in the 100 meters the other night, 9.72 seconds....

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Wilbon makes a great point, as I believe the same thoughts crossed many of our minds after watching the video of Usain Bolt record setting runs (watch below, June 1st posts). Bolt is not the Barack Obama of the track world--and what did he accomplish before the past two weeks record setting runs? Sad to say, Bolt needs to prove he is not a druggie.

-beepbeep

SSU baseball coach reinstated

Savannah State baseball head coach Carlton Hardy has been reinstated after being suspended from April 18 until May 23 while he was the focus of an internal investigation, SSU communications director Loretta Heyward said.

"Mr. Carlton Hardy returned to work on May 23," Heyward said of SSU's third-year coach, who was suspended from the Tigers' final 12 games. SSU was 3-9 without Hardy, and finished the season 20-25.

Because the case is a personnel matter, Heyward said she could not provide further information.

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Gruden in Grambling: Super Bowl-winning Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach tours GSU campus

GRAMBLING — It gave Jon Gruden pause. The Super Bowl-winning coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers stood for a long moment, looking around the practice fields adjacent to Robinson Stadium, taking it all in.

"Did (the late GSU) Coach (Eddie) Robinson coach right here?" Gruden said, quietly. "This is sacred ground."

In northern Louisiana for today's third annual Doug Williams-Shack Harris benefit celebrity golf tournament, Gruden had asked the former Grambling State quarterbacking greats to give him a tour of their former school.

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VIDEO: Jamaica's Usain Bolt sets 100m world record of 9.72 seconds in New York

NEW YORK -- Jamaica's Usain Bolt is officially the fastest man on the planet as he set a new 100 meters world record of 9.72 seconds at an international meeting in New York.

Bolt served notice of his immense talent ahead of the Beijing Olympics by breaking the world 100m record. Bolt was trimming two hundredths of a second off the record previously held by fellow-Jamaican Asafa Powell and for good measure relegated world champion Tyson Gay to a distant second.

The 21-year-old had served notice of his excellent form by running a world's second fastest time of 9.76 seconds in Jamaica last month and he quickly took control of Saturday night's Reebok Grand Prix showdown with Gay, who finished in 9.85 seconds, still a personal best.

VIEW USAIN BOLT 9.72 100m WORLD RECORD RACE (5/31/2008) New York.


VIEW BOLT'S PREVIOUS RECORD RACE OF 9.76 100m - BOLT IN LANE #3.


VIEW BOLT'S 19.75 200m RACE.


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A new color barrier?

Photo: Bethune Cookman University 2008 Baseball Team.

Baseball seeing fewer black athletes on deck.

Central High School junior Johnny Gray has never played organized baseball, although his friends have attempted to talk him into giving it a try. "They tell me I'd be good at it," said Gray, who plays basketball and runs track at Central. "But I'm so busy with basketball, I don't really have time."

Besides, Gray said, baseball just doesn't do anything for him. "It's kind of boring to me," he said. Gray's view seems typical of many young black athletes who dream of earning a college athletic scholarship. Baseball probably isn't their ticket. The number of black players in college baseball continues to decline, with black players comprising only 2.6 of the NCAA Division I total in 2006, the latest NCAA report.

That's down from 6 percent in a 2004 report by Richard Lapchick, director of the University of Central Florida's Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports. Lapchick isn't pointing fingers at the college game or its coaches. He said the dwindling number of blacks in baseball is an across-the-board problem.

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Rolle reloads Miami Northwestern for another title run

MIAMI -- Tyresse Jones, the sinewy running back from Miami Northwestern High, was pondering his future Friday. He was concerned for the dearth of college interest when coach Billy Rolle emerged from the office.

"Here you go," said Rolle, tossing a bundle of mail with nearly 50 college pitch letters and offers. "Now you have choices, Tyresse."

With that the torch was passed. Jones felt like a hot prospect, knowing he'll have multiple college choices. "It feels good," said Jones, while smiling. "I didn't know where I stood (with colleges)."

Miami Northwestern High School Bulls (FL) vs. South Lake Carroll High School Dragons (TX) - 2007



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Former Rattler Billy Rolle was inducted into the Florida A&M University Hall of Fame in 2003.

Former Rattler Levy Brown making Splash in AFL

New York Dragons DB Levy Brown, #2.

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Former Florida A&M Rattler All-American defensive back Levy Brown is off to an all-star pace as a rookie in the Arena Football League. The Miami native, who stars for the AFL's New York Dragons, currently ranks first among Arena Football League rookies in tackles (65.5).

Among rookies, Brown ranks second in interceptions (5), ranks third in solo tackles (56) and has the third-most passes defensed (9). Last season, Brown was the 2007 Arena Football League2 Defensive Player of the Year, after a record-breaking season with the Florida Firecats, where he recorded 132.5 total tackles and 14 interceptions. In 2006, Brown recorded 66.5 total tackles and eight interceptions with the Firecats.

Brown spent three years at Florida A&M, playing from 2001 through 2003, finishing his career with 18 interceptions for 162 yards, along with 216.0 total tackles. Brown is 5-11/200 from the nationally renowned #1 ranked Miami Northwestern High School Bulls program.

Levy Brown and the New York Dragons can be viewed on Monday Night (June 2) vs. the Colorado Crush in Denver at the Pepsi Center, 10:30 p.m. LIVE, on ESPN2 and ESPN HD from coast to coast.

VIEW LEVY BROWN PHOTO GALLERY: CLICK BLOG TITLE.

New York Dragons TV 24/7: http://websvr01.neulion.com/dragons/console

New York Dragons Website: http://www.newyorkdragons.com/

New Orleans eliminates TSU in NCAA baseball

BATON ROUGE, La. — Texas Southern entered the NCAA Tournament with the worst record in the 48-team field. Accordingly, the Tigers didn’t last long, dispatched Saturday from the Baton Rouge Regional by the University of New Orleans, 18-5.

SWAC-champion TSU, crushed by host LSU 12-1 on Friday, ended its season 16-34. The Tigers were kept in check by UNO’s Jim McGonigle, a sophomore right-hander from Houston’s Second Baptist High School who improved to 2-2 as he kept the Privateers (43-20) alive for a 1 p.m. Sunday game against the loser of Saturday’s later game between LSU and Southern Miss.

Texas Southern learned a hard lesson that playing in the NCAAs is no SWAC picnic when you are undermanned in pitching talent.

“We didn’t play as well as I expected to play, but we played hard each game,” said TSU coach Candy Robinson, who finished his 19th season at the helm with his ninth losing season in a row.

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What's right with this picture? Ninth losing season in a row and getting stomped 30-6 in two NCAA games for a 0-2 Tournament record. TSU's Candy needs to be canned!

Harris-Williams Foundation gives back; Former GSU stars make donations

(L) James "Shack" Harris, VP of Player Personnel - Jacksonville Jaguars, and (R) Doug Williams, Player Personnel Executive, Tampa Bay Buccaneers are assisting local groups and Grambling State University athletic programs with their foundation charity donations.

Moments before making multiple donations to community organizations on Friday morning, former Grambling State and NFL great Doug Williams recounted how the Shack Harris and Doug Williams Foundation began.

He recalled playing in June Jones' golf tournament for charity in Hawaii. "After we (Williams and Harris) got through playing golf, we were talking and saying, 'Why don't we do this ourselves?" Williams said. They worked with Kevin Kaplan of Coaching Charities to form their foundation. There was one final step — finding a community to serve.

"We were trying to find the best place to hold the golf tournament and raise money to do something for the community," Williams said. "Hands down, the place I thought and James agreed, was Shreveport."

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NCAA Baseball Regionals: Ole Miss 14, Bethune-Cookman 1

CORAL GABLES, FL - Michael Guerrero homered twice in one inning as Mississippi eliminated Bethune Cookman 14-1 in the Coral Gables Regional Saturday afternoon.

Guerrero's home runs highlighted a 10-run sixth inning. The Rebels sent 14 batters to the plate against Wildcats starter Joseph Gautier and two relievers.

Guerrero drove Gautier's 2-2 pitch over the fence in left field for his ninth home run of the year and a 6-1 lead. His second homer of the inning, a two-run shot, put Mississippi ahead 13-1.

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Memorial held for North Carolina A&T Aggies football player

GREENSBORO -- Funeral arrangements have been finalized for North Carolina A&T football player Chad Wiley, who collapsed suddenly after a morning workout Wednesday. Friday, students and staff on campus held a memorial to also remember the senior offensive lineman.

"To me, with death, candles are always something that are calming and soothing," said one organizer at Friday’s memorial. The school closed out a tragic week with a moment of silence on the campus' quad.

The visitation will be this Sunday at 2 p.m. at Mills Chapel Baptist Church in Black Mountain. The funeral will follow at 3 p.m. The church is located at 328 Cragmont Road in Black Mountain , N.C.

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Former DSU McBride grabs attention in Eagles minicamp

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- Wide receivers usually stand near each other on the sideline during practice, so Shaheer McBride quickly noticed that the Eagles have a herd of receivers in camp all closely resembling him -- somewhere in that 6-foot, 200-pound neighborhood.

That's one reason McBride reports to the NovaCare Complex each day feeling like he needs to be better than his counterparts. Them plus one, someone noted. "Plus two," McBride said. "Maybe three, sometimes."

Up and down the roster are receivers just like the 6-foot-2, 205-pound former Delaware State star, guys who ruled the roost at small schools or fell through cracks in bigger college programs: Penn State's Terrell Golden (6-2, 216), Nebraska's Frantz Hardy (6-0, 180) and North Carolina A&T's Jamal Jones (5-11, 205).

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SSU players start pro chase

Flegler, Coleman attend first showcase for North American and European pro leagues

RICHMOND, Va. - Joseph Flegler stood near courtside here Wednesday, with sweat running down his face at Virginia Commonwealth University.

While many college students have started their summer vacation, the former Savannah State University guard took the first step for a possible pro basketball career May 26-28 at the VCU International Basketball Showcase.

The annual event, held at ALLTEL Pavilion at the Siegel Center, attracted about 80 players who have ended their college eligibility.

Most were from Division I schools, including such programs as North Carolina State and Dayton. But Division II and III schools were also represented in the annual event that attracts scouts and coaches from pro leagues in North America and Europe.

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S.C. State football could bring windfall to school this year

A Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship and Football Championship Subdivision playoff berth are not the only “pots o’ gold” South Carolina State hopes to find at the end of this season.

With two more games against Football Bowl Subdivision teams, the SCSU Athletics Department could see as much as $607,500 in its coffers. More important for school officials is the increased visibility obtained from facing larger schools.

The S.C. State Bulldogs have an exciting home schedule for 2008, with Benedict College, Norfolk State, Hampton and Howard. (Photo by Mark's Digital Photography)

“We’re starting to get calls to play them,” said Brantley Evans, Senior Associate Director of Athletics. “I think it helps in recruiting because of the type of athletes that the coaches are able to go after and use these games as selling points. So it helps in those two areas, as well as financially.”

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Top-seeded Miami Defeats Bethune-Cookman, 7-4 in NCAA Regional Opener

Coral Gables, Fla. - Blake Tekotte had a big two-run single in the seventh inning to help top-seeded University of Miami--the nation's top-ranked team, win a 7-4 contest against Bethune-Cookman University in the NCAA Coral Gables Regional opener at Mark Light Stadium.

Leading 5-4 in the seventh inning, the Hurricanes (48-8) Ryan Jackson was hit by a pitch to start off the at-bat. He then advanced to second on a passed ball before Dave DiNatale and Adan Severino took back-to-back walks to load the bases. That's when Blake Tekotte stepped up and delivered a bloop single to centerfield that squeezed between B-CU (36-21) second baseman Mark Brooks and centerfielder José Ortiz.

The single scored two runs to push the Hurricanes lead out to 7-4 ... thus the final score. "I was just trying to put it in play," Tekotte said. "We knew we had our work cut out for us. This was the best fourth-seeded team in the nation."

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Getting feel for CFL, Cleve McCoy eager to learn at Bomber camp

Our balls are indeed bigger, our fields more expansive and there are bigger crowds on our gridiron. So, the biggest adjustments to the CFL game have to be made by quarterbacks who grew up with four-down football. And both highly-touted Blue Bomber pivots Bryan Randall and Cleveland McCoy got their first taste of it at Winnipeg's rookie camp before about 200 interested onlookers at Canad Inns Stadium yesterday afternoon.

"It's a different-size ball," said Randall, who still fired some zingers at practice. "The NFL ball's a little thinner than the CFL ball so that will take a little getting used to. But you keep throwing the ball over and over with more reps, you get a better feel for it.

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Southern Cook-ing

Esparto, California star headed to Division I Southern University on baseball scholarship

Sometimes, finding a Division I baseball scholarship can be a long, arduous process. Other times, it can be as lucky as stumbling upon an ESPN broadcast. Possessing a left arm that throws in the high 80's also helps. In late April, Suavae Cook signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball at Southern University, but months earlier it hardly seemed possible.

On Feb. 29, a Friday night, Esparto High School baseball coach Dennis Huitt was watching ESPN's telecast of the Urban Invitational at Jackie Robinson Stadium in Los Angeles. During the broadcast of UCLA's game against Southern University - a historically black school in Baton Rouge, La. - analyst Tim Kurjian mused about the lack of African American baseball players at the Major League level.

During the next night's telecast, when Southern played USC, the broadcasters were talking up Southern coach Roger Cador, who has won 13 SWAC Coach of the Year awards, and how in his 23 years as the Jaguars coach they had won 13 Southwestern Athletic Conference titles, when it struck a chord with Huitt.

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