FAMU's Gibson gets a contract extension

Tallahassee, FL - LeDawn Gibson will have two more years to complete her turnaround of the Florida A&M women's basketball team.

A day after the school's Board of Trustees approved a two-year contract extension for Gibson, FAMU president James Ammons said Friday it was a "huge vote of confidence." He also said he is optimistic that Gibson could take the team farther than it has gone in the past three seasons when it reached the semifinals of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament.

"As we take a look at where the program was before she came and the progress over these last three years," he said, "we think we are a short time away from hitting pay dirt."

Gibson was unavailable Friday for comment...

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NOTE:  We now love this hire!

Coach LeDawn Gibson has successfully made the transition from Winter Haven High School to become a successful Division I level coach.  Just ask East Carolina University that was defeated by the Lady Rattlers 89-85 at the Iowa State Cyclone Challenge last December. Gibson knocked off both South Florida and Florida in an 18-11 season in 2009.  She has made some superb moves in the hiring of assistant coaches Stephen Joyner, who was promoted to the head women's basketball coaching position at Winston Salem State and veteran assistant Freddie Murray from North Carolina A&T.  Coach Murray was a top assistant under legendary coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs and is noted for being a great recruiter and position coach.

It appears the combine skills of Gibson and Murray have already paid the gas bill--with the signing of four junior college transfers and seven high school recruits with most in the Rivals 3-4 star category.  This is going to be a very exciting team to watch over the next several years, as we expect Coach Gibson to earn her first MEAC championship and NCAA Championship berth.

We now love this hire!

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Coaching is in former UAPB's Jackie Skipper's genes.

Bastrop, LA — Considering his family history, it’s hardly a surprise to find Jackie Skipper coaching football.

His grandfather, the late Johnnie Pegues, was the final head coach at Morehouse High School prior to integration and went on to become defensive coordinator and head track coach at Bastrop High. In addition to coaching, Pegues was a longtime official in the SWAC.

“I guess you could say my grandfather had something to do with where I am today,” Skipper smiled. “A lot of people knew him or knew of him. He coached everything. I didn’t find out until recently that he won a state championship in girls basketball.”

Skipper’s grandmother, Princess Pegues, is a retired Bastrop High teacher and was recently named as national president of the Women’s Missionary Council.

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Grambling's Exama leads Tigers' defense

Grambling, LA - The Grambling State offense will spend the remaining three-plus weeks of fall camp sorting out who will be the starting quarterback when the Tigers open the season Sept. 3 against Alcorn State in Shreveport.

Defensive coordinator Clifford Yoshida, however, already knows who will handle the leadership role on his defense — senior middle linebacker Cliff Exama. Once a man without a real home on defense, Exama has evolved into a tackling machine and a trusted Yoshida aide.

"I recruited Cliff out of (North Miami Beach) Florida and we always thought he'd be a good football player," Yoshida said. "It's come to fruition."

After bouncing from a standup defensive end to weak side linebacker, Exama, who was lightly recruited out of high school, settled in at middle linebacker and the numbers quickly added up.

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Analysis: Five keys to NSU football's preseason

(Photo Courtesy Mark W. Sutton)

1. Develop the offensive line With only one returning starter and one other proven option, the Spartans offensive front could be anywhere from average to atrocious. Tackle Kendall Noble is excellent, and center Michael Kay did well as NSU's utility lineman last year, but one starter is inexperienced, another moved from defense this week and the final spot is up for grabs.

2. Find big-play corners Despite seemingly solid players all over the
defensive side, NSU finished last in the MEAC in interceptions in 2010. Coach Pete Adrian's teams traditionally have won the turnover battle and the defensive backs have been the stars, but last year was an exception. They'll have to find a way to do better while breaking in two new cornerbacks, though the inexperience isn't as glaring as it is on the offensive line.

3. Determine the RB rotation No individual is going to eat up DeAngelo Branche's 25 carries per game. The Spartans must figure out ...

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Nathan ready to lead young SCSU Bulldogs’ line

Juavahr Nathan

Orangeburg, S.C. - Buddy Pough put it out there during the summer of 2009.

Juavahr Nathan, the S.C. State head coach insisted, could be the next great Bulldogs' offensive lineman. Standing on Willie E. Jeffries Field early Saturday morning surveying the scene at the Bulldogs' media day, Nathan responded quickly when reminded of what his coach said of him two summers ago.

"I'm nowhere near close (to being the next great lineman)," he said. "I still have a long way to go. I still have more steps to take. I still have some goals I have to reach personally and for the entire offensive line."

That may be so, but the redshirt senior from Stratford High School, a preseason first-team All-MEAC selection and FCS first-team All-America selection by The Sporting News, appears poised to put together one final, stellar campaign for the three-time defending MEAC Champs. At one time weighing as much as 330 pounds, and despite dealing with a knee injury in the offseason, Nathan is down to...

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Tallahassee's boxing champ gives FAMU Rattlers a pep talk

Tallahassee, FL - Tavoris Cloud walked to the podium inside the Gallimore Field House and announced to the Florida A&M football team that he'd left his notes home, then proceeded to freestyle his way through a speech that was humorous as much as it was motivational.

Coach Joe Taylor said he invited the undefeated Tallahassee boxer to give the Rattlers some insight Monday night on what it takes to be a champion, as a prelude to the start of practice Wednesday. Cloud holds the IBF version of the world light heavyweight title and FAMU is co-defending MEAC champion.

Cloud talked about his commitment to training, his struggle to become a world champion and how to cope with distractions. He didn't come off as...

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Albany State Rams: Climb to the top

Albany, GA - Mike White knows how to build championships, step by sandy step. White, who has coached the Albany State football team to five SIAC titles in the last decade, sat in the bed of his truck as the sun rose early Monday morning, encouraging his players as they ran up and down the famed sand dunes near the ASU football field.

“These dunes have been around for a long time, and we have been running them for a long time,” White reflected. “(The players) are always excited about getting started and excited about coming over, because this is the way we start off each year. Hit the dunes and see what kind of shape we are in.”

It’s a tradition that has cemented itself in the Rams’ program — one that is built on determination and teamwork, which were both on display Monday morning.

“It’s all about coming together as a team, and seeing who is ready to have your back,” junior Justin Blash said as he was catching his breath and brushing sand off his hands.

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