Howard University Announces 2011 Football Signees

Howard University announces the signing of the following players to grant in aids for the 2011 season:

John Smith TE 6-7 265 Atlanta, GA/North Cobb HS

Greg McGhee QB 6-3 200 Pittsburgh, PA/Perry HS

Kyrian Batiste OL 6-3 270 Grand Prairie, TX/James Bowie HS

Rodney Tyson RB 5-9 175 Evans, GA/Greenbrier HS

Stewart Hartman WR 6-3 170 Gretna, LA/West Jefferson

Aquanius Freeman RB 5-10 185 New Orleans, LA/Edna Karr

Hayward Robinson DT 6-2 275 Elloree, SC/Lake Marion

David Izebere DT 6-5 270 Mitchellville, MD

Jermaine Fox DB 6-1 200 Sacramento, CA




By Tiffany White, Sports Information Assistant
Howard University
Visit: Howard-Bison Athletics

Prairie View A&M unveils new up-tempo spread offense

Prairie View A&M will feature a new look this season under first year head coach Heishma Northern and new offensive coordinator Mark Orlando, the Panthers will feature an up-tempo fast paced spread offense.

Orlando a Florida State graduate, has worked his way up the coaching ranks. Orlando started out in the high school ranks as he began his career coaching for Lincoln High School in Tallahassee, Florida.

He then coached at Florida A&M for six years helping the team to a Division 1-AA National Championship, Orlando was then offered a position at Tennessee State where coached for another six years including a year at offensive coordinator in his final season with the Tigers.\

Alcorn State opts for next best thing to the Wiz

Provine's Riley makes the leap

Lorman, MS - When Alcorn State University decided recently to make a basketball coaching change, one columnist - blush - suggested only partly in jest the school should re-hire 81-year-old Alcorn legend Davey Whitney, the Wiz.

The theory: It worked twice before, why shouldn't it work again?

Turns out, Alcorn has done the next best thing. In Luther Riley, the 38-year-old Provine High School coach, the Lorman university has hired a Whitney clone, a guy who admittedly patterns himself after the elfish, but demanding man who made Alcorn basketball famous.



Riley takes over ASU basketball

LORMAN — Luther Riley saw first hand that Alcorn State men’s basketball could be successful while he was a graduate assistant coach under Davey Whitney.

Now, Riley said he’s looking to take the Braves’ hoops program back to that successful level of play. Riley, who has coached at John W. Provine High School in Jackson for the past 11 seasons, was introduced as the Braves’ new basketball coach Monday at the Jackson Convention Complex.

“We are extremely pleased and excited to welcome Coach Luther Riley back home to Alcorn State University,” said Alcorn President Dr. M. Christopher Brown.

Braves raid JPS for proven winner

Luther Riley entered from the right, walking across the platform before a half-full third-floor theater in the Jackson Convention Complex. Provine High's basketball coach for the last dozen years, Riley's face was unmistakable to the mostly Jackson-based Alcorn State fans before him.

Upon seeing Riley wearing a silver and purple-striped tie and a pinstripe suit, the group gave a standing ovation to the man they hope will turn around their basketball program - three years after being passed over for the job.

"This will be a daunting task," Riley said to the crowd moments later after being introduced as the university's new coach Monday in downtown Jackson.

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Jackson State University: "Talent Has No Color"

It was a frustrating afternoon for Jackson State golfer Tim O'Neal. He was having one of his best days striking the ball from tee to green. Just one thing was missing.

"I couldn't putt it in the ocean," the 37-year-old former PGA and Nationwide Tour golfer says of his frustrating performance at a tournament at SMU roughly 15 year walked over to Coach Payton and said, `Coach I cannot make a putt.' He thought a moment the offered: `Hit it closer to the pin.'"

The instance illustrates Eddie Payton's practical blend of coaching skill, task mastering and sense of humor. Since 1986, the former NFL punt and kick returner has been forging men's and women's championship golf teams at Jackson State University, the Historically Black College in Jackson, Miss.



Outside the Lines: Eddie Payton

His younger brother, Walter, was perhaps the greatest running back ever, but Eddie Payton has devoted his life to a sport in which the only thing that gets hit is a dimpled ball.

For the past quarter century, Payton has been the head golf coach at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., where he has led the historically black school to 24 conference titles in 25 years. He's the Eddie Robinson of college golf.

Yet Payton says he feels like a failure. Every time he turns on the television, he sees only one African-American representative on the PGA Tour.

["I've been coaching 25 years," he says, "and I have not turned out one."

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North Carolina A&T Aggies Release 2011 Football Schedule

Aggies Coach Rod Broadway

GREENSBORO, - Rod Broadway's first game as the head football coach at North Carolina A&T will occur on Saturday, September 3, 2011 when the Aggies take on Saint Paul's College at Aggie Stadium. N.C. A&T's 2011 football schedule features five home and six away dates.

N.C. A&T fans will get their first glimpse of the Aggies on Saturday, April 9 as the Aggies play in the annual Spring Game at 1 p.m., from Aggie Stadium.

After the Spring Game and the contest versus the Tigers, the Aggies head to Boone, N.C., on Sept. 10 to face Appalachian State. The Mountaineers won three straight Division I-FCS National Championships from 2005-07. They have also won the Southern Conference six straight seasons.

Coastal Carolina highlights an exciting home schedule as the Chanticleers return to Aggie Stadium on Sept. 24. The two teams faced each other in 2008 and 2009 with Coastal Carolina winning both times. Bethune-Cookman comes to Greensboro on Oct. 8 before the Greatest Homecoming on Earth comes back to Aggieland on Oct. 15. The historic rivalry between N.C. A&T and N.C. Central moves to the final game of the season with the two teams clashing at Aggie Stadium on Nov. 19.

The Aggies remaining five road games include a stretch of four straight conference games. N.C. A&T plays Howard, Norfolk State, Florida A&M and S.C. State away from home Oct. 22-Nov. 12. The Aggies other road game is against Morgan State on Oct. 1. Game times and dates are subject to change.

2011 N.C. A&T State Aggies Football Schedule

9/03, Saint Paul's College, Greensboro, N.C., 4 p.m.
9/10, Appalachian State, Boone, N.C., TBA
9/24, Coastal Carolina, Greensboro, N.C., , 4 p.m.
10/01, Morgan State*, Baltimore, 4 p.m.
10/08, Bethune-Cookman*, Greensboro, N.C.,  1:30 p.m.
10/15, Delaware State* (Homecoming), Greensboro, N.C., 1:30 p.m.
10/22, Howard*, Washington, D.C., Greene Stadium, TBA
10/29, Norfolk State*, Norfolk, Va., Dick Price Stadium, 2 p.m.
11/05, Florida A&M*, Tallahassee, Fla., Bragg Memorial Stadium, TBA
11/12, S.C. State*, Orangeburg, S.C., Dawson-Bulldogs Stadium, TBA
11/19, N.C. Central*, Greensboro, N.C., 1:30 p.m.
*-MEAC game

By North Carolina A&T State University Sports Information
Visit: NCAT Aggies
Visit: Blue&Gold Marching Machine







Videographer: SpeechlessQue; N.C.A.&T. State University Blue & Gold Marching Machine Band

Howard Women's Soccer Welcomes Eight For 2011-12 Season

Howard Coach Brent Leiba 

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Howard women’s soccer head coach Brent Leiba welcomes eight newcomers to the Bison soccer program for the 2011 season. The 2011 recruiting class includes seven high school standouts that signed National Letters of Intent and one transfer.

Coming to Howard to don the blue and white will be midfielder/forward Marisa Ammaturo (Avon, Colo.), forward Ayanna Carter (Fulton, Md.), goalkeeper Kyra Dickinson (Brampton, Ontario), defender Treschelle Gibson-Serrette (Scarborough, Ontario), forward Jeseca Hinds (Jacksonville, N.C.), defender Selena Mason (Frederick, Md.), goalkeeper Natasha Moore (Bristow, Va.), and midfielder/forward Nia Walcott (Beltsville, Md.).

Marisa Ammaturo (Midfielder/Forward) – Avon, Colo. – played her first two years with the varsity soccer team at Battle Mountain High School. Ammaturo was the leading goal scorer her final year with 25 goals and 17 assists. From there she attended IMG Soccer Academy which was ranked No. 3 in the state of Florida.

Ayanna Carter (Forward) – Fulton, Md. – started and played her high school soccer at Atholton High School. Carter played her club ball with Laurel Premier, which participates in Division I of the Washington Area Girls Soccer League (WAGS). She was an integral part in helping her club team win two Maryland State Cup Championships and one Region I championship.

Kyra Dickinson (Goalkeeper) – Brampton, Ontario (Canada) – was a four year varsity soccer player at Heart Lake Secondary School. Dickinson played her club ball with Brams United, and Master’s Futbol Academy. She was selected to a team that played against the Canadian Women’s National Team.

Treschelle Gibson-Serrette (Defender) – Scarborough, Ontario (Canada) – member of the U-17 Trinidad & Tobago National Team. Gibson-Serrette attended and played high school soccer at Sir John A. Macdonald, where she was named MVP and Girls Athlete of the Year. She played her club ball for Scarborough United (Provincial team), which were League and Cup champions, and Master’s Futbol Academy. She was selected by the Provincial Identification Camp to play for the Regional soccer team.

Jeseca Hinds (Forward) – Jacksonville, N.C. – a four year varsity soccer player for Southwest High School. She was the leading goal scorer three out of her four years. Hinds served as an integral part in helping her team win the Conference Championship and States in 2010. She was named to the 1st Team All-Conference and All-Area Team in 2008, 2009, and 2010. Hinds played club ball for the Onslow County Soccer Association and most recently with the Carolina Select.

Selena Mason (Defender) – Frederick, Md. – transferred from Florida Southern. Mason played varsity soccer and attended Tuscarora High School, in which she was named All-Area honorable mention and was integral in helping her team become Maryland State Champions. She played club ball for the Bethesda Blast and Bethesda Sharks. Mason was a valuable part in helping her team reach two regional finals, becoming U.S. Club Soccer Regional Champions, and winning five Maryland State Cup Championships.

Natasha Moore (Goalkeeper) – Bristow, Va. – a four year varsity starter at Stonewall Jackson High School. She was selected as the team captain and awarded the Defensive Player of the Year. She was named to the All-District Team and was a member of the Virginia ODP system and played club ball for the Sterling Avalanche and NOVA FC.

Nia Walcott (Midfielder/Forward) – Beltsville, Md. – member of the U-17 Trinidad & Tobago National Team. Walcott was a four year varsity starter at Elizabeth Seton High School where she was named to the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) 1st Team in her junior and senior years. She was also named to the Prince George’s All-County 1st Team her junior and senior years. Walcott additionally won the Coaches Award her senior year. The senior standout was also named to the All-Metropolitan 2nd Team her final year and was a member of the Maryland State Youth Soccer Association Olympic Developmental Program (ODP) as a Regional Pool candidate. She played club ball with Freestate United Elite Club National League (ECNL) team which were Maryland State Cup semi-finalist and Region I League Champions.


By Tiffany White, Sports Information Assistant
Howard University
Visit: Howard-Bison Athletics
Visit: Great West Conference Women's Soccer (Associate Member)

PV baseball looking better in '11

Prairie View, TX - Prairie View A&M baseball coach Waskyla Cullivan was accustomed to success while serving as an assistant under Michael Robertson from 2003-08, helping the Panthers make back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2006-07.

But when Robertson departed for Texas Southern after the 2008 season, Cullivan was promoted to head coach and proceeded to preside over two of the program’s worst seasons in recent memory.
The Panthers went 21-25 in Cullivan’s first season and followed that up with a dismal 12-35 campaign in 2010. They failed to qualify for the SWAC tournament in both seasons.

Thus, pressure was building on Cullivan to right the ship in 2011.

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