SSU's T.A. Wright stadium renovations nearing completion

Savannah, GA -- Nearly a year to the date, Savannah State University broke ground on renovations for T.A. Wright stadium. Now, it's almost done.

SSU Vice President of Student affairs Irvin Clark confirmed a grand opening September 29th. The renovated stadium will include a turf playing field, specialized seating, along with an updated concession stand and press box.

"Everyone is absolutely excited about it," said Clark. "Not only for the faculty, staff, and students that are currently here, but for our incoming class of freshman, they're excited, our parents are excited, and we have a community that is very excited about this project."



For first-year head football coach Steve Davenport, the new stadium brings with it raised expectations.

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Lonza Hardy, Jr. named athletics director at UAPB

Lonza Hardy, Jr.
Athletic Director, UAPB

Pine Bluff, AK - You knew this was coming...

The University of Arkansas Pine Bluff has issued a press release announcing the selection of current Hampton University athletic director Lonza Hardy, Jr., as the new leader of the Golden Lions athletics department. Mr. Hardy has resigned from the same position at Hampton University, effective September 6. Read it for yourself...

Press Release: UAPB, July 7, 2011

Lonza Hardy, Jr. will resign from his position as athletics director at Hampton University effective September 6, 2011. Hardy, who has held the post since 2007, will become Athletics Director at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

During Hardy's stint at Hampton, the HU athletics program has captured 11 championships, including titles in women's basketball, men's basketball, women's cross country, women's indoor track and field and women's outdoor track and field. The banner year for the program was in 2010-11, when four HU teams captured league titles and both the men's and women's basketball teams earned bids to the NCAA tournament after winning their respective Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournaments.

"We are very privileged to have been able to recruit someone with his qualifications and accomplishments," said Dr. Lawrence A. Davis, Jr., UAPB's chancellor.

In each of Hardy's years at HU, the athletics program captured the Mary McLeod Bethune Trophy, symbolic of having the best overall women's sports program in the MEAC. Last summer, the university's athletics program was ranked as the No.1 athletics program among the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) by the Learfield Sports Group, which also ranked the program among the nation's top 150 programs overall. The HU Athletics Hall of Fame was also initiated under Hardy's guidance two years ago.

Hampton University is expected to release a companion announcement today of Hardy's resignation

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Dillard AD enjoying recent athletic success, looking to build on it

Athletic Director Kiki Baker Barnes

New Orleans -- Last year at Dillard's athletic leadership training, student-athletes received pictures of what Gulf Coast Athletic Conference championship rings would look like. At this year's training, members of the GCAC championship track and field team will receive the real thing.

The track and field team joins the volleyball team, which already received its rings, as Dillard's first conference championship programs since Hurricane Katrina. Athletic Director Kiki Barnes said they serve as examples the other athletes can aspire to match.

"Sometimes people need to see tangible things, like they need to see an actual ring," Barnes said. "Well, when our volleyball team won, that particular vision became a reality. So they're going to be walking around campus with rings. It's really going to provide a real-life visual for the other student-athletes who are still hoping and wanting to generate that. It's more of a motivation because it's real now, not paper."

Those teams' success shows the growth the Bleu Devils have experienced since Barnes, also the women's basketball coach, became the interim athletic director in 2006. Barnes had the interim tag removed in 2009 and set out to implement a plan that included hiring staff, increasing scholarships and improving facilities, steps that created a foundation for the program on which to build.



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Prairie View A&M athletic tickets on sale

Prairie View, TX -  The Prairie View A&M Department of Athletics has announced season ticket information for the 2011-12 athletic campaign. Once again, fans will have a variety of season ticket options to choose from ranging from all-sports to football-only packages.

The Panther Pack ($325) includes admission to all home athletic contests for the year, one ticket each to the Southwest State Fair (Dallas) and Shreveport Football Classics, reserved floor seating for men's and women's basketball games, a complimentary Prairie View A&M athletics gift, tailgate access for home football games (excluding homecoming) and a four-month subscription to Panthervision, Prairie View A&M's new live video stream which will debut in September.

Individuals who select the Purple Pack ($250) will receive admission to all home athletic events, one ticket apiece to the Southwest State Fair and Shreveport Football Classics, assigned basketball seating and tailgate access for home football games (excluding homecoming).




For $200, the Gold Pack allows admission to all home sporting events, one ticket each to the Southwest State Fair and Shreveport Football Classics and tailgate access for home football games (excluding homecoming).

Football fans that purchase the $140 Football package will receive admission to all home football games at Blackshear Field, one ticket each to the Southwest State Fair and Shreveport Football Classics and tailgate access for home football games (excluding homecoming).

The 2011-12 athletic season will be a memorable one as the Panther football team debuts a new head coach in Heish Northern coupled with the women's basketball team coming off an NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Appearance under head coach Toyelle Wilson. The Lady Panther volleyball ranks as one of the elite teams in the SWAC as they're coming off a SWAC West Championship under the guidance of head coach Alicia Pete. The men's basketball team, led by Byron Rimm II, had an impressive recruiting season followed by strong performances from the baseball, bowling, golf, soccer, tennis, track and volleyball teams.

For the second straight year, fans will have the option of purchasing season tickets online at the newly created Panthers Market Place. The link, which is accessible via the Prairie View A&M University website or below, is a one-stop shop that offers everything from the ability to purchase tailgate options and tickets for selected athletic events.

For more information or to place your order for season tickets call (936) 261-9100. A PDF copy of the season ticket brochure is attached and also available for download on the season tickets link via the Prairie View A&M athletic website.

PV Marketplace (purchase tickets online)
Download the Official 2011-12 Season Ticket Brochure

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Savannah State University fires AD, adds title to Broadnax's duties

SSU Interim President Cheryl Dozier

Savannah, GA -- Marilynn Suggs, Savannah State University’s first female athletics director, was fired Wednesday after less than seven months on the job. SSU interim president Cheryl Dozier announced her decision to make a “change in leadership in the athletics department” during an 11:20 a.m. news conference at Tiger Arena. Suggs did not attend.

Dozier appointed SSU men’s basketball head coach Horace Broadnax as interim athletics director.

“As the interim president, I wanted some changes in leadership and this is one of the areas that I wanted to see a change as we move forward in (NCAA) Division I and in the MEAC conference,” Dozier said.

Two people knowledgeable about the situation, who requested anonymity, confirmed that Savannah State has hired former University of Georgia athletics director Damon Evans as a consultant to assess Savannah State’s athletics department.

The UGA Athletic Association committee accepted Evans’ resignation July 5, 2010, four days after the Georgia State Patrol arrested him on a DUI charge in Atlanta. Evans pleaded guilty to...

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NCCU Volleyball prepares for success as on team on one mission

DURHAM, N.C. – In their first season as a full Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) program, North Carolina Central University will tackle a challenging 31-match slate against nine NCAA tournament teams (three Atlantic Sun, one Atlantic 10, four Big South, one Colonial Athletic Association, one PAC 10, three SoCon and one SWAC opponent), including 12 league matches.

In her fifth season as the NCCU head women’s volleyball coach, Georgette Crawford-Crooks releases the 2011 volleyball schedule on Friday, June 29.

“As we continue to strive for Division I excellence, our schedule has to remain competitive and challenging,” said Crawford-Crooks.

2011 NCCU Women's Volleyball Schedule

NCCU begins the season with three consecutive tournaments, beginning with the fifth annual NCCU Hilton/RTP Invitational on Aug. 26-27 in the McDougald-McLendon Gym. The mighty maroon and gray will host volleyball programs from Campbell, Elon and Florida Gulf Coast.

The Eagles will travel to the nation’s capital for their first appearance at the Georgetown Tournament on Sept. 2-3 in Washington, D.C. NCCU will face Central Connecticut on Sept. 2, and George Washington and UNC Wilmington on Sept. 3.

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Bethune-Cookman University lets C.J. Reed out of scholarship

Daytona Beach, FL - C.J. Reed has played his last basketball game for Bethune-Cookman. The reigning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Player of the Year has received his official release from the university, his father and former Wildcats coach Clifford Reed said Wednesday.

Other schools can now contact C.J., and his release essentially opens up a recruiting battle for the former Atlantic High standout.

The rising senior guard -- who averaged 18.8 points and 4.9 assists per game as a junior and led the Wildcats to their best season in 30 years -- received the release letter late Tuesday afternoon, according to Clifford Reed.

"Since the official release Tuesday, we have been in contact with schools in the ACC, Conference USA, Southern Conference, A-Sun and Horizon Conference," Clifford Reed said in a phone interview. "Some teams have shown interest. Some teams have already offered (an athletic scholarship)."

Clifford Reed said C.J. is definitely transferring.

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