VUL to field first football team since 1954 this fall

A.D./Coach Willard Bailey
VUL Dragons

Lynchburg, VA - Virginia University of Lynchburg plans to launch a football program this fall, more than a half-century after disbanding the team in 1954. The team will begin practice on Aug. 1 and play its first game against North Carolina A&T State University on Sept. 3.

The revival of the football program is part of a large-scale effort to bring back sports to Lynchburg’s only historically black college. This year, VUL will launch a total of 13 men’s and women’s sports teams.

“The time is ripe to bring it back,” said Willard Bailey, head football coach and director of athletics at VUL. “Not just football but the entire arena of intercollegiate athletics … Our students are calling for more than a library, a good meal and a classroom.”

VUL president Ralph Reavis spearheaded the effort to revive the sports program in response to demand from students, alumni and community members, Bailey said. The move coincides with an enrollment surge and the addition of a new dormitory on campus. The college expects an enrollment of more than 800 students this fall, up from about 550 last year.

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EBONY Magazine Announce Selected HBCU Campus Queens

All Hail the Queens! After over two million votes were cast during the period of May 23 -29, 2011, the people's choice for the September 2011 Ebony Magazine Campus Queens feature will include:

All queens chosen in voting order:

1. Desiree Williams, Hampton University
2. Ashley N. Graham, South Carolina State University
3. Tiffany Sorrells, Benedict College
4. De'Jonique Garrison, Clark Atlanta University
5. Jasmine Gurley, North Carolina A&T State University
6. Ashlee Thomas, Howard University
7. Charnee' Pearson-Starling, Bennett College
8. Charlena Kennedy, Bethune-Cookman University
9. Neshaszda Brown, Albany State University
10.Breana Watkins, Tuskegee University

It's alright that the list may not contain your favorite(s) as ALL the campus queens are WINNERS! Congratulations to the selected queens and for each of you that participated and supported this endeavor. Again, here are the video presentations of the 2011 EBONY Magazine's HBCU Campus Queens Top 10.

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Shaw's Evans Picked as Preseason Football All-America

Darnell Evans
Shaw University Bears

Raleigh, N.C. - Madison High School graduate Darnell Evans continues to shine on the football field. The cornerback for Shaw University in Raleigh, N.C. has been named to the Consensus Draft Service Preseason All-American First Team. Evans is one of only four sophomores on the first team.

The 5-8, 181-pound Evans in 2010 led the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association with six interceptions and was the only freshman named to the all-conference First Team as he helped the Bears to their third CIAA football title in four years. He was also tabbed as the 2010 Defensive Rookie of the Year by the CIAA, an NCAA Division II conference of historically African-American schools.

Evans made 34 tackles in 2010, 22 of them solo. He led the CIAA in passes defended (17) and pass break-ups (10). He was also named the CIAA Defensive Back of the Week once during the season.

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AD's departure welcomed by Grambling State University family

Grambling, LA - There wasn't much of an attempt to hide the consensus opinion regarding Lin Dawson's resignation from his duties as Grambling State's athletics director. GSU alumni and fans are glad he's gone, and they've made the message loud and clear.

Usually when a coach or administrator leaves an athletic department, his departure is met with some boring comments about the hard work he put in for the betterment of the university.

Dawson's departure was met with brutal honesty. Head football coach Doug Williams — arguably the most important living figure in the Grambling family — said Dawson's departure was "in the best interest of the university." It seemed that Williams wanted to say more, but he chose to hold his tongue.

Jackie Hamilton, a GSU alum and the head football coach at Carroll, said, "I know ain't nobody gonna cry about it."

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Aaron James Named Grambling State's Interim Athletic Director

GRAMBLING, LA— Following the resignation of J. Lin Dawson, Grambling State University President Frank G. Pogue has asked Aaron James Assistant Professor of Kinesiology, Sport and Leisure Studies, to serve as Interim Athletic Director, effective immediately.

James, a 1974 graduate of Grambling and first round draft pick up of the Utah Jazz, has also served Grambling as assistant Women's Basketball Coach, Head Men's Basketball Coach, Assistant Director of Athletics and Athletic Liaison for the Office of Development.

“I would like to thank Dr. Pogue for his confidence in me and I feel that as a Gramblinite and a former athlete it's a great opportunity to head the department,” said James.

Dr. Pogue announced that a search committee will be named very soon to conduct a national search, assisted by an executive search firm for Dawson's replacement. This search committee will be chaired by Dr. Steve Favors, Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Promotions, Marketing and Advancement.

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Dawson resigns from GSU
Dawson resigns as athletic director at GSU

Former UMES Hawk Shines in Pro Bowling Debut

 Kristina Frahm
Professional Bowler
UMES Class 2011

EULESS, Texas - In the largest field ever to bowl the United States Women's Open, former University of Maryland Eastern Shore standout Kristina Frahm (Oswego, Ill.) kept pace, finishing 37th overall in the 286 woman field, collecting her first professional payout of just over $1,000.

"It is a different experience than NCAA's, that's for sure," said Frahm. "You're on your
own now, making moves by yourself, there is no team support or team to help you. It
was exciting."

All bowlers bowled 24 games, three each, Saturday through this past Monday. The top 32 bowlers advanced to a semi-final round Tuesday of eight qualifying games to determine the top 16 for round robin play. The final five bowlers will bowl in Cowboys Stadium Thursday night. First place pays out $50,000 dollars but if a perfect 300 game is thrown in the finals the event pays out one million dollars. There have been several 300 games to date among the field, but none by the three former or one current Lady Hawks in the field.

Missing the cut by just five bowlers, Frahm was disappointed but humbled by her showing.

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South Carolina State's Pough finds success recruiting area stars

Augusta, GA - It makes sense for Oliver "Buddy" Pough to keep coming back to Augusta.

The South Carolina State football coach continues to see the benefits of trips to the area, and Thursday night was a chance for Augusta-area students and families to see what the Bulldogs have to offer. About 150 people interacted with South Carolina State alumni, representatives and officials as the Greater Augusta Alumni Chapter of South Carolina State University held its 15th annual Bulldogs Nite Out in the CSRA at Julian Smith Casino.

"We've got some good players from here. Any time you seem to have success somewhere, you tend to come back, so here we are," Pough said. "It's almost like an in-state area for us. These guys are only about 90 minutes away so there's a good recognition of South Carolina State here. We got a lot of alumni in the area. It's just a great place to come."



Local students -- most coming from Aiken, Columbia and Richmond counties -- had the chance to meet members of the South Carolina State family, even getting time to walk around to different tables in a 30-minute information sessions period.

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Spotted: Bulldogs Nite Out in the CSRA