From QB to coach, Malcolm Long still guiding SCSU Bulldogs

Orangeburg, S.C. - Malcolm Long wants South Carolina State fans to view his football legacy in a positive way. "I'd like to be remembered as a successful quarterback," he said.

The school record books can more than affirm the Gaffney native's accomplishments. During Long's four seasons under center, he essentially rewrote the S.C. State all-time record book by surpassing 15 single-game, single-season and career marks.

There's also the 27-8 overall and 21-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference record as a three-year starter to go with three conference titles, three Football Championship Subdivision playoff appearances, a 2009 Black College Football National Championship, not to mention five Class 4-A titles in football (3) and basketball (2) at Gaffney High School.

Yet rather than continue...

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MEAC preseason honor gets DSU receiver Wilson revved up for Hornets' season

Justin Wilson
(Courtesy DSU Athletics)

DOVER, DE -- Justin Wilson has weathered the storm of three consecutive losing seasons at Delaware State University. But the junior wide receiver says the difficult times have spurred him to work harder, because he knows football isn't a sport about individual glory but about reaching team goals.

So while getting the nod as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's preseason offensive player of the year was nice, Wilson said he's more concerned about the prediction that DSU will finish eighth in the MEAC under first-year coach Kermit Blount.

"It means a lot," Wilson said, of his preseason recognition. "It just shows that all of the hard work we did [last] season paid off. I know our record didn't show it as much, but it just motivates me to work even harder and get more accolades as the season goes on."

Wilson opened some eyes around the MEAC last season as a player that defenses had to key on.

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FAMU names Willie Brown new baseball head coach

Tallahassee, FL - Former minor league outfielder Willie Brown will become the next head baseball coach at Florida A&M, the Tallahassee Democrat learned late Tuesday night.

Efforts to reach FAMU athletic director Derek Horne were unsuccessful and calls to Brown's cell phone went directly to a voicemail. However, multiple sources said they've had knowledge of Brown's hiring as early as Monday.

He is expected to bring on Tonayne Brown, a former Godby (High School, Tallahassee) standout who also played professional ball, as his assistant.

Brown, who resigned as Maclay High School's (Tallahassee) baseball coach at the end of this past season, becomes the second consecutive FAMU alum hired as a head coach. Former Rattler Clemon Johnson was recently hired as men's basketball coach.

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NOTE:  The list of candidates included: former Florida A&M and minor league outfielder Willie Brown (who recently resigned as head coach at Maclay High School), Santa Fe Community College assistant Bruce Larkins, former Bethune-Cookman University assistant Joel Sanchez, Keith Shumate (who recently resigned as head coach at North Carolina A&T) and Brett Richardson, current FAMU interim baseball head coach.

Progress Name of the Game for Shaw Bear's Darnell Evans

Darnell Evans

From academic casualty to walk-on to pre-season All-America, former Dodger now fulfilling potential.

Raleigh, N.C. - Darnell Evans began practicing this week for his Shaw University encore. The former Madison High School standout is coming off a 2010 football season in which he led the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association with six interceptions and was the only freshman named to the all-conference First Team.

The cornerback helped the Bears to their third CIAA title in four years and earned the 2010 Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Already named as a Consensus Draft Service Preseason All-American First Team selection—one of only four sophomores on the first team—it's easy to see that Evans was destined for an impressive collegiate career.

Except he almost never gave himself the chance for such accomplishments.

Had he not refocused his academic energies at County College of Morris, then spent a second year in the Shaw classroom, Evans would've been left imagining success instead of realizing it.

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Battle For Atlanta: Clark Atlanta Panthers vs. Georgia State Panthers

BATTLE DATE: FRIDAY, SEPT. 2, 2011 GEORGIA DOME, ATLANTA, GA 7:30 p.m. ET

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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