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HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - One of the biggest reasons for Alabama A&M's success over the years has been the work of James Hester, the Bulldogs' strength and conditioning coach.
Hester, who has served in that role since Anthony Jones became head coach in 2002, helped A&M rattle off six straight winning seasons, win three Southwestern Athletic Conference East Division titles and the 2006 SWAC championship.
The Bulldogs haven't been nearly as successful the last three years, having had two losing seasons during that span, but A&M did reach the SWAC championship game in 2009.
Even so, following last year's 3-8 season, A&M's worst during Jones' tenure, Hester made some changes and he says after the first week of practice... READ MORE
Tallahassee, FL - Point guard Milan Clayton's decision about her college basketball career was pretty straightforward – go where she wanted and not where her talent was wanted. With that, she verbally committed to Florida A&M as the school where she will takes the next step in her basketball career.
"I always liked FAMU," Clayton said. "I mean, it's in the family and I like the coach (LeDawn Gibson). I like the way she runs things and I think I will be a good addition to her program. I like the whole system and the style of play."
Clayton's father, Mickey, said she's also decided to transfer from North Florida Christian to FAMU High for her senior year. The move will put her closer to advanced classes that she plans to take at the university, he said.
"I really didn't really want to go through my whole (senior) year wonder where I'm going to go," she said. "I knew I wanted to go to FAMU and since I knew that, I felt I should make that decision now and just enjoy my senior year and not have that on my mind."
CANTON, Ohio — During his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction speech Saturday, Richard Dent said he “wanted to be someone special my mother and father and brothers could look up to.
” Dent accomplished that and so much more during a 15-year career mostly spent with the Bears where he wowed fans on the lakefront and wreaked havoc in opposing backfields.
Dent finished his career with 137½ sacks, third all-time when he retired behind Reggie White and Bruce Smith, and was the MVP of the 1986 Super Bowl. Those Bears epitomized the Monsters of the Midway.
He had 10 or more sacks in eight seasons, and was also a strong defender of the run, which impressed teammates like offensive guard Tom Thayer, who always appreciated the fact that Dent was a three-down player.
“Buddy Ryan challenged Richard Dent,” Thayer said. “Buddy said, ‘Make sure that you can stop the run, or else you’re not going to play in my defense,’ and then Richard Dent lived up to everything that was required of him on the field.”
CANTON, OH — Dreaming big came naturally to Richard Dent.
“I grew up in a town where a man always said, ‘I have a dream,’ and that man was Martin Luther King,” Dent said. “And as a kid growing up at that time, listening to him, all I could do is dream. I wanted to be someone special that my mother and my father and my family looked up to.”
That kid from Atlanta exceeded his dreams.
Saturday night, he stood as a man inside Fawcett Stadium and was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
“Not in my wildest dream did I think I’d be here,” the 50-year-old Dent said as he looked back on his unlikely path, first to college and then to becoming an NFL superstar with the powerful Chicago Bears of the mid-1980s.
“None of us get anywhere by ourselves,” Dent said, as he thanked dozens of family, friends, teammates and coaches for helping him along his journey. Men such as high school coach, William Lester, and his Tennessee State defensive coordinator, Joe Gilliam, played a huge part in him becoming an NFL player.
Atlanta, GA - The 2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame class includes three players of particular local interest: Atlanta Falcons star Deion Sanders(Florida State University), Atlanta native Richard Dent(Tennessee State University) of the Bears and Shannon Sharpeof the Broncos and Ravens, who grew up in south Georgia's Tattnall County and played at Savannah State University, where he was one of the best players in SIAC history.
Sharpe looked ready to cry before even taking the podium, and had already spoken through a cracking voice while being interviewed before the event even began. He made it through his speech without breaking, and it will likely go down as the highlight of the night.
Thank you everyone. The people from the Hall tell me I only have eight to 10 minutes to do this. No chance. First, I'd like to thank the 44 men and women that deemed my play on the field worthy of this honor. Also the city of Canton and the Hall itself. Your efforts are appreciated.
I keep telling myself I'm not going to get emotional. I know that's going to happen. I'm proud and excited where my NFL journey has taken me and my family. 2121 George Halas Drive, Canton, Ohio.
Baton Rouge, LA - Thursday afternoon, during the first practice of preseason camp, Southern University’s defense forced four turnovers in the first 30 minutes. If the defense is that productive during games, it could be in for a record-breaking year. On the other hand, if the offense is that sloppy, Southern could be in for another disaster.
During last year’s 2-9 season, the Jaguars had a minus-3 turnover margin, ranking eighth in the 10-team Southwestern Athletic Conference. Now, naturally, they’re looking for a better number. A positive number. It is, of course, a two-sided affair: The offense wants fewer mistakes, while the defense wants to force more mistakes.
“We have to get turnovers on this team and give our offense some great field position,” defensive coordinator O’Neill Gilbert said.
Tallahassee, FL - Running back LaVante Page could have been speaking for any of the other Florida A&M football players who endured Thursday's scorching heat to prove their physical condition by running a 300-meter shuttle drill.
"It's burning," said Page, the last player to complete the test that was supervised by strength and conditioning coach Russell Barbarino on the team's practice field. It culminated a series of physical testing for the Rattlers that included power clean, bench press, 225-pound rep test and the vertical and agility jumps.
A handful of players who succumbed to the 90-plus degree heat will have to give the 300-yard run between cones another shot to earn a passing score. The team begins preseason practice on Wednesday, following another round of physical drills, Barbarino said.
"This kind of test not only determines if a person is in shape, but it tests... READ MORE
Baton Rouge, LA - Southern University football players report for preseason camp Wednesday intent on restoring pride to their program. In years to come, they’ll fly across the country for big games against big teams, who will presumably cut some big paychecks.
SU coach Stump Mitchell said his program has agreed in principle to play two future away games against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents - New Mexico in 2012 and Georgia in 2015. Yes, that’s correct: The University of Georgia.
“This class we’re bringing in right now - a lot of them will be (fifth-year) seniors when we play there,” Mitchell said. “These guys understand we have to take care of business now. But for them, that year is when they’ll go from being a young pup to a grown man.”
Mitchell said that without a permanent athletic director, he has taken temporary responsibility of scheduling future games, though he added that Chancellor James Llorens “has to sign off on it.”
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - One of the biggest reasons for Alabama A&M's success over the years has been the work of James Hester, the Bulldogs' strength and conditioning coach.
