FAMU Rattlers edge Mercer, 4-3

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Florida A&M Baseball scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to pull out a 4-3 victory over Mercer University, here Wednesday afternoon at Moore-Kittles Field.

FAMU (8-15) pounded out eight hits, while Rattler pitching held Mercer (14-20) to three hits. The Rattlers were paced by Tim Jones with two hits, while John Dortch, Tyler Brown and Steve Karwatt, all finished with one hit each for the Bears.

Anthony Espin (3-3) got the win for the Rattlers, giving up two hits, one run and striking out two in two innings of relief. Cirilo Manego, the FAMU starter struck out a season high nine batters, allowing one hit in seven innings of work.

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UAPB Jones garnering interest from several NFL teams

Former Arkansas-Pine Bluff wide receiver Jason Jones may be the first Golden Lion to be drafted by the National Football League in five years later this month. The 6-foot-1 Jones is currently being scouted by several NFL teams as the NFL Draft looms on April 26-27. The Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills, New York Giants, St. Louis Rams, Green Bay Packers, and Oakland Raiders have shown interest in the former UAPB receiver.

Jones led UAPB with 47 receptions for 793 yards and three touchdowns in 2007. His best season at UAPB was in 2006, when he had 38 receptions for 933 yards and 13 touchdowns, helping the Golden Lions win the Southwestern Athletic Conference Western Division championship. The 24-year old Jones is a 2003 graduate of Forrest City High School.

During his workout with the Browns, Jones ran a 4.32 40-yard dash time. In the same workout, he ran a 4.35 40-yard dash. Jones plans on visiting Green Bay and St. Louis in the next week...

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Bethune-Cookman football player faces attempted murder, drug charges

DAYTONA BEACH -- A Bethune-Cookman football player, who police said was dealing drugs to make ends meet, now faces a slew of charges, including attempted murder, after he pulled a shotgun on a man who owed him money.

Brandon Wright, a back-up cornerback and running back on the Wildcats, was arrested at his dorm room Monday where police discovered cocaine, marijuana, and the shotgun used in the attempted murder, said Daytona Beach police chief Mike Chitwood.

"He had no record." Chitwood said. "He was very honest and forthright. He came right out and said I did it."

Wright went to DeLand High School where he was quarterback until his graduation in 2004. He signed with the Naval Academy in 2005 and played in 2006 but never made the varsity team. He transferred to B-CU for the 2007 season, where he was the third-string quarterback.

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UMES to announce new men's basketball coach

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore will hold a press conference Thursday afternoon to announce its new head coach for men’s basketball. The press conference is open to the public, as well as media, and will be held in the arena at that William P. Hytche Athletic Center.

Meredith Smith had led the program through a 4-28 campaign during the 2007-08 season, as interim head coach. Smith had been the first assistant under Larry Lessett during his three-year tenure when the program was 13-75.

The new coach announced today will be the fourth coach in a six-year span for UMES.

Delaware State Hornets shock U Delaware Hens in ninth, 10-6 win

Photo: Photo: Delaware State's Troy Drummond reacts after striking out as the Hornet try to rally in the ninth.

DSU posts eight runs in final frame to top in-state rival for Blandin's 200th coaching victory

NEWARK -- A Delaware State-Delaware baseball game that was drifting toward a typical conclusion instead made a sudden about-face late Tuesday afternoon at Bob Hannah Stadium. That was bad for the Blue Hens and great for the Hornets, who found themselves in possession of a satisfying and impromptu victory over their state rivals.

Designated hitter Ryne Mailen's bases-loaded triple concluded an eight-run, ninth-inning rally that gave Delaware State a 10-6 nonconference win, its first at UD since 2002 and just DSU's seventh in 35 all-time games against the Blue Hens. Such an outcome didn't appear likely when Delaware (10-19) cruised into the ninth on top 6-2.

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PVAMU McClelland to Take Over TSU Athletics Program

Photo: TSU new athletic director, Charles McClelland.

HOUSTON -- Texas Southern University will name Prairie View A and M athletics director Charles McClelland as TSU's new athletics director at a news conference Thursday.

"I am excited about accepting the athletics director's job at Texas Southern but I am not going to make any further comment until the news conference tomorrow," McClelland said in an interview with FOX 26 Sports.

Texas Southern had been searching for a new A.D. since firing Alois Blackwell in February. Prairie View A and M President George Wright told FOX 26 McClelland officially resigned from the school Wednesday morning.


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Spotlight: Ex-Raider/Grambling Tiger now playing All-Pro as Texas grape grower

Photo: Former pro football player Alphonse Dotson now grows coveted grapes at his Certenberg Vineyards (Photo by Dutch Rall).

Former Grambling State University All-American defensive tackle Alphonse A. Dotson hopes to open winery

VOCA, Texas — As he strides through his vineyard wearing a wide-brimmed hat and tan coveralls, the years fall away so easily from Alphonse Dotson that, even at age 65, one can picture him lining up at defensive tackle for the Oakland Raiders. While nearly 40 years have passed since Dotson was tossing aside blockers, he remains an imposing figure — the result of 70-hour work weeks tending some of the most prized grapes in Texas.

His broad grin and outstretched hand belie his fearsome football image as he greets visitors to his 83-acre vineyard northwest of Austin. His handshake, which threatens, but doesn't crush, reveals the calluses that come from hard work.

Here, at Certenberg Vineyards, Dotson's grapevines — some 1,800 plants in all — have produced what some say are the best cabernet sauvignon, merlot and chardonnay grapes in the Texas Hill Country. Wine is hot in Texas and the wine coming out of the Hill Country is winning numerous awards. In January, Saveur magazine included Dotson and the vineyard in its 10th annual list of 100 favorites in the world of food.

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Dotson not only grow the best wine grapes in Texas, but has produced a line of great football players in his family. His son is defensive tackle Santana N. Dotson who was NFL Rookie of the Year in 1992 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and played in two Super Bowls with the Green Bay Packers. He was a Super Bowl champion winning Super Bowl (XXXI) with the Packers and ended a 10 year career playing with the Washington Redskins in 2002.

Dotson's grandson is Alonzo Dotson ... nephew of Santana Dotson. Alonzo is an Oklahoma senior DE that is preparing for the NFL draft.

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