ASU Hogan almost back to his old self

Even at a little under 6 feet, Alabama State senior linebacker John Hogan is hard to overlook. He's one of those guys you just don't miss. Whether it be on the playing field with 80 other guys dressed exactly the same or strolling around campus with hundreds of other students, when Hogan is around, people know it -- for a variety of reasons.

First of all, his voice is unmistakable. It's loud, it's attention-getting and it's constant. Then, there's his hair, which is often flying in a dozen different directions. There's also the friendly smile that's always in place and the confident demeanor that tends to draw people to him. Add it all up and John Hogan might just be the hardest guy to overlook on the ASU campus.

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Southern Jaguars hurting with Nicholls up next

Southern’s baseball team is on a roll, but limping badly as the Jaguars head into a midweek road game at Nicholls State. SU and the Colonels take the diamond at Ray Didier Field in Thibodaux at 6:30 p.m. today.

“We’re limping pretty darn bad right now,” Jaguars coach Roger Cador said. “But we’ve played relatively well despite our physical condition.” That condition hit the SU pitching corps hard over the weekend when starters Chase Richard and Jarrett Maloy went down with injuries. Richard suffered an arm injury that a team doctor said could cause him to miss a couple of weeks.

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FAMU Walk-ons working to impress

Photo: #3 Former FAMU Rattler WR Willie Hayward, Miami Jackson Senior High School, Miami, FL. , vs. WSSU Rams in last season's Circle City Classic.

Aja Hayward heard the voices. They were telling him to play receiver like his older brother, Willie. He refused, deciding to play safety instead.

Willie is no longer a Rattler, leaving at the end of last season with legacy as one of the best receivers to play at FAMU in the last two seasons. Now it's Aja's turn to try to make become a Rattler as a walk-on, the same route that his brother took to join the team.

It has not been an easy quest through the first two and a half weeks of spring practice, though. FAMU has plenty of experience in the secondary, but Aja isn't backing down as one of a handful of players who are trying to earn their keep without scholarships.

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Former FAMU's Hicks moves to Eugene, Oregon with hopes of regaining spot among 800’s elite

Photo: Miami, Florida native Kevin Hicks; Career Highlights: 2005 USA Indoor champion; 3rd at 2005 USA Outdoors; 2nd at NCAA Outdoors.

Three years ago, Kevin Hicks was one of the rising stars in U.S. track and field.

The Florida A&M sophomore won the NCAA indoor title in the 800 meters, took second at the NCAA outdoor meet with a time of 1 minute, 44.94 seconds, and placed third at the U.S. outdoor championships to earn a trip to Helsinki for the 2005 World Championships. The future looked bright for Hicks.

He was ranked third in the U.S. in the 800 by Track & Field News, and his exploits were being compared to the school’s two former Olympians — the late Bob Hayes (1964) and Rey Robinson (1972), the present FAMU coach.

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Collegiate, professional athletics akin to slavery

Blacks sold like cattle to white schools looking for brawn, not brains

The situation of black male athletes in America is an interesting one. In one sense, they are heroes - to their communities and the nation - but in another sense, they are comparable to slaves. No, I did not just call black male athletes, slaves. I said the situation is comparable.

Imagine it this way: The predominantly white institution is the plantation, the white head coach is the slave master and the black athlete is the slave. The crops being reaped: Money, prestige and reputation.

It is generally known that there are more black athletes competing on national collegiate and professional teams than there are owners and coaches of these teams.

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Will it be 1st and 10 or 9 to 5?

Photo: With a 2007 FAMU degree earned in public management, former Rattlers defensive back Carlos Rolle pursues NFL dream.

Athletes weigh in on the probability of going pro after collegiate careers

When it comes to college football, each player's goal varies. While some see themselves going pro, others are content with their athletic careers ending upon graduation.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association estimates that out of the 56,500 students playing football in America, only 2 percent will play professionally. "You have a better chance at becoming a rocket scientist than going to the NFL," said Joe Taylor. "So you better go to class."

Taylor, the new head coach of Florida A&M University's football team, said he doesn't want anyone on his team...

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Ashley Hampton completes stellar prep career with mom along for the ride

Florida A&M University's incoming recruit Ashley Hampton named Ocala Star-Banner 2008 Girls Basketball Player of the Year, same award her Mom won in 1987.

OCALA, FL — It was one of those seasons you dream about as a little kid. Leading your tiny school to the big time with your mother and coach along for the ride. St. John Lutheran forward Ashley Hampton made it all a reality in 2008, willing her Saints to the private school's first-ever final four and filling her scrapbook along the way.

She did it with sheer talent - Hampton's 25.3 points, 12.8 rebounds, 4.1 steals and 3.7 assists per game compare favorably to any player in the state. She did it with leadership - setting a standard for her teammates while never developing the ego that can easily haunt a star.

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More importantly, Ashley carries a 4.4 grade point average and plans to major in Pharmacy at FAMU. She will soon join a family legacy that have had seven other family members attend and graduate from Florida A&M.