RALEIGH, N.C. -- The yard lines are painted, the goal posts are up, and a video scoreboard stands ready to flash the first Falcons touchdown. But one thing is missing from the new sports complex at Saint Augustine's College, and it's not referees, offensive linemen or a drum line. The stadium has no bleachers.
Saint Augustine's finished work this spring on a turf field and nine-lane track, marking progress on the long-awaited George Williams Athletic Complex. But the school put off installing bleachers while it worked to resolve conflicts with neighbors aghast at the prospect of noisy crowds and game-day traffic.
At issue is the seating capacity for the stadium, nestled in a quiet residential area off Oakwood Avenue. In 2004, after several rounds of talks between neighbors and school leaders, the City Council approved a 2,500-seat stadium under a compromise brokered by Mayor Charles Meeker. But the school never acted on the plan. Now, college officials are convinced they need more seats to attract recruits and compete for upper-tier NCAA track competitions.
"At 5,000 seats, we will be one of the smallest stadiums of any institution we play," President Dianne Boardley Suber told a group of concerned neighbors last week. "I don't expect this to be an easy decision for you. ... There is nothing in our history to suggest we're going to be anything other than good neighbors."
The George Williams Athletic Complex is a special tribute to the contributions of distinguished alumnus and Athletic Director George "Pup" Williams. Coach Williams has earned thirty-one (31) NCAA Division II Track Championships, produced nine Olympians including 2008 Bronze medalist Bershawn Jackson, and served as head coach of the 2004 gold medal-winning United States Olympic Men's Track and Field Team.
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Monday, July 11, 2011
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Wright to join Grambling State University 'Legends'
Monroe, LA - Larry Wright, the product of a single-parent home in the poorest part of southside Monroe, never let his humble beginnings slow him down. He'd help teams win basketball championships in high school and college — then titles in the NBA and overseas.That fiery determination will be recognized with Wright's induction July 16 as part of the third class of the Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Fame.
"The best small guard we've ever had, pound for pound the best guard," Wright's coach, the late Frederick C. Hobdy, once said. "A great jumper, he gets an 'A' in every category."
Wright was a two-time Parade All-American at Richwood, where he won a Louisiana state Class 3A title in 1972 as a junior under...
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Harris: Tough road ahead for the ECSU Vikings
Elizabeth City, N.C. - Less than a month away from the start of football practice and seven weeks until Elizabeth City State kicks off the season and the Vikings’ path to the CIAA championship game and playoffs is finally set. And what a tough road it is.After getting a waiver from the NCAA to open the season a week early, ECSU now opens at Delta State, last year’s NCAA Division II runner-up. To be honest, this has loss written all over it.
Delta State has been one of the most consistent programs in the nation and a routine participant in the postseason. ECSU is traveling a long way to play in hostile territory. Not something the team cannot overcome, but a tremendous challenge — one I am sure the team and coaching staff are ready for.
The key to this game is....
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New A.D. at Paine College hits the ground running
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| Paine College Athletic Director Tim Duncan |
Duncan has been on the job for a couple of months and is getting caught up to speed on everything Paine College athletics. The HEAL center is a big part of it seeing there will be a 2500 seat arena incorporated in it. Duncan also knows there's a few fences to be mended along the way.
"I think my job is to get out in the community and to show we are still a part of the community that Paine College is here, that we're looking to build relationships, if there's relationships to be repaired, we will definitely do that very aggressively and we're excited about the opportunity." said new athletic director Tim Duncan.
Duncan says they hope to break ground in the next 30 days and it'll take 11 months to finish for the center. In the mean time, the basketball team will need a place to play. They finished out this past year at Josey and are working on one location for the entire season.
"Basketball is our revenue generating sport for Paine College so we want...
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Saturday, July 9, 2011
Alabama State Hornets Football Coaches Caravan to Tour Alabama and Georgia Next Week
Montgomery, AL - Officials from Alabama State University announced today the schedule for the 2011 Football Coaches Caravan that runs from July 11 through July 15.The inaugural caravan, aimed at promoting ASU Athletics and boosting football season ticket sales, will roll through five cities in Alabama and Georgia. ASU athletic director Stacy Danley and head football coach Reggie Barlow will lead the Tour Team during stops in Mobile, Birmingham, Phenix City/Columbus, Ga., Atlanta, and Montgomery. Also traveling on the tour are ASU's associate vice president for Development, Zillah Fluker, and director of Alumni Relations, Cromwell Handy.
“'It's a GREAT time to be a Hornet' is more than just a catch phrase,” Danley said. “The transformation that is taking place on campus directly affects where we are looking to go with ASU Athletics. I am excited to get out and meet with alumni, fans and friends of Alabama State on the caravan.”
The Tour Team will meet alumni, fans and other ASU supporters at various venues during the five-city tour. Danley will provide an overview of the entire Hornet athletics program. The Tour will also showcase the University's Vision 2020 Transformation Plan, construction progress of the new Hornets Football Stadium, the outlook for the upcoming football season, season tickets packages, the Hornet Club and the many new and exciting developments taking place on campus.
Fans will get an insight on the crown jewel of the athletics construction project, the new Alabama State University Football Stadium. Located on campus just off of I-85, the 30,000-seat stadium will feature 20 suites, club and loge seating and will be one of the premier facilities of its size in the nation. Construction is set to be completed in time to host the 2012 Turkey Day Classic.
The Caravan will also allow Hornet fans a chance to get to hear from Coach Barlow and members of his coaching staff as they prepare for the 2011 season. Entering his fifth season as head football coach, Barlow is thrilled to meet with supporters as well.
“I am looking forward to meeting with everyone that stands with ASU,” Barlow said. “I love Alabama State and feel blessed to be at my alma mater during this amazing time of transformation.”
The 2010-2011 ASU Athletic season was arguably the best in school history. A total of five Hornet teams won SWAC divisional, league or tournament titles, helping Alabama State finish second in the Commissioners Cup standings for Best Overall Program in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The ASU football team had a big season in 2010. The Hornets had a pair of three-game winning streaks, posting its highest win total since 2003. They won the Eastern Division Championship for the first time since 2004 and won the State Farm Magic City Classic defeating archrival Alabama A&M.
Birmingham's Darieal Wimbley earns lacrosse scholarship to Howard University
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| Darieal Shana Wimbley Howard LAX |
It’s a historic event for the recent Ramsay High School graduate. Wimbley is the first girls athlete from a Birmingham city school to sign an NCAA Division I lacrosse scholarship.
Wimbley has Ramsay assistant principal and lacrosse coach Yancey Williams to thank for her improbable college sports choice. Wimbley had been a member of the Rams’ highly successful basketball program throughout high school. She also played soccer until Williams introduced lacrosse to the students one day during Wimbley’s sophomore year.
"He came to our P.E. class and had a trash can full of (lacrosse) sticks and some balls," Wimbley recalled. "I looked at him and said to myself, ‘What in the world does this man have with him?’ He started talking about lacrosse and we played it in the gym."
It still took some convincing from Williams for the 5-foot-7 Wimbley to join Ramsay’s lacrosse club team that spring.
"I was playing soccer and I didn’t want to play lacrosse," Wimbley said. "He kept asking me, so finally I went out there and fell in love with it.
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Ellis joins Mississippi Valley State coaching staff
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| Coach Brian Ellis |
The Delta Devils are best known for football, or at least one football player, Jerry Rice, the National Football League’s all-time leading receiver. That doesn’t mean MVSU doesn’t take basketball seriously.
The Delta Devils are coached by former Kentucky star Sean Woods. And it was one of Woods’ college games that helped fan the fire Ellis has for basketball.
“I’ve always loved basketball,” he said. "And I can remember sitting down and watching the game between Duke and Kentucky (the NCAA tournament East Region finals) when my boss was playing at Kentucky. He hit the floater to put Kentucky up over Duke and then of course Christian Laettner hit the shot in the last second (to give Duke the win).
“It was one of the craziest shots I’ve ever seen in basketball. To think that I would be his assistant, his right-hand man is unbelievable.”
In his own way Ellis has taken a less traveled path from Baker to Mississippi Valley State.
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