FAMU's Ammons stands firm on his stance for MEAC-SWAC game

Ammons refuses to sell the Rattlers brand for cheap

Tallahassee, FL - For the right price, Florida A&M would consider accepting an invitation to play in the nationally televised MEAC-SWAC Challenge football game — even if it remains in Orlando.

"What FAMU could do for that MEAC-SWAC game is something that no other team in the MEAC or the SWAC can do," FAMU president James Ammons told the Democrat in an exclusive interview recently. "We feel that we should have a fair market value for us to be in that game."




He didn't say what the payout is, but said it's more than $100,000 and not close to the gate receipts of a home football game. Other sources have said the Challenge payout is less than $175,000.

That is small compared to what the football team brings in when it plays in guaranteed games and its annual classics in Orlando and Atlanta. Each of those showcase games is worth more than $600,000.

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Former Fayetteville State running back Richard Medlin scores twice in NFL debut

Foxboro, MA - Well, color us impressed.

Richard Medlin, who spent his last four seasons as a running back at Fayetteville State, experienced the rush of a lifetime last Thursday night. Playing for Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots, Medlin scored two touchdowns in his NFL debut, contributing nicely to a 47-12 Patriots win over Jacksonville at Gillette Stadium.

Sure, both of Medlin's scores were from 2 yards out. And sure both came late in the fourth quarter of an exhbition opener. But that does little to diminish Medlin's eye-opening achievement. Don't forget, back in 2007, Medlin arrived at Fayetteville State out of Garner High School as a walk-on. He eventually used his athleticism, toughness and persistence to become a standout for the Broncos. Medlin was the 2008 Special Teams Player of the Year in the CIAA and played a key role the next season in sparking FSU's run to the conference title. Then, he followed by leading the Broncos in rushing during his senior season.



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ECSU Names Brenda Brown Head Volleyball Coach

LADY VIKINGS HEAD COACH BRENDA BROWN

ELIZABETH CITY, NC- Elizabeth City State University officially announces the hiring of Brenda Brown as the head coach of the Lady Viking volleyball team.

Brown replaces Linda Bell who moves into the role of Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance for the department.

This will be the first head coaching job for Brown who comes to ECSU after a much heralded career as a volleyball student-athlete at North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC. During her career as a Lady Eagle (2002-2005), Brown was a two-time All-CIAA First Team selection (2004, 2005). She garnered Second Team honors as a sophomore in 2003 and was a member of the All-Rookie team in 2002. In 2004 Brown was a member of the team that captured the school's second CIAA Volleyball Championship in 2004 and was named Most Valuable Player of the CIAA Tournament her senior season when the team repeated as conference champions. Her final season NCCU posted an impressive 29-14 overall mark and went a perfect 16-0 in conference play.

Her junior year Brown was voted to the 2004 Daktronics Division II Women's Volleyball All-Atlantic Region Second Team.

During her stint as a player, the Lady Eagles were 59-5 versus conference opponents, played in four straight CIAA title games and advanced to the NCAA playoffs twice. She finished her career as NCCU's all-time leader in digs with 1,465 and ranks 4th all-time in kills with 1,168 and 7th in service aces at 125.

Brown holds a B.A in Sports Management (2006) and earned a Masters in Athletic Administration in 2010 from North Carolina Central University.

For more information on ECSU Athletics, visit ECSUVIKINGS

READ RELATED ARTICLE: NCCU grad Brown is new volleyball coach at ECSU

14th Annual DownEast Viking Football Classic

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Patience Pays Off for DSU's Elko

Dover, DE -- Despite a record-setting high school career, Delaware State University quarterback Nick Elko has waited more than three years for the opportunity to start at the college level.

Although Delaware State first-year head coach Kermit Blount has not announced his starters for the 2011 opener at VMI on Sep. 3, Elko has taken the majority of snaps with the No. 1 offense during the Hornets' preseason camp. In addition, the Odenton, Md., native has the most experience among the four QBs on the roster.

After sitting out the 2008 season as a freshman redshirt, Elko has appeared in 15 games with the Hornets, including a memorable start before more than 106,000 fans at Michigan in 2009.

Last season, he competed in 10 games off the bench, completing 39-of-68 passes (57.4%) for 540 yards and seven touchdowns. Elko ranked second in the MEAC in passing efficiency (149.2) and was seventh in passing average (54.0 ypg) during the 2010 season. He threw at least one touchdown pass in six games.

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Marino Casem’s name approved, Alcorn announces historic weekend

Lorman, MS -- The Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning today approved the request submitted by President M. Christopher Brown II to add Marino “The Godfather” Casem’s name to Alcorn’s football stadium.

Spinks Stadium, originally named for NFL player, former assistant Alcorn football coach, and alumnus Jack Spinks, will become Casem-Spinks Stadium. The unanimous vote honors Casem and Spinks who coached together at Alcorn. The names will appear in alphabetical order and the field remains named after Dwight Fisher.

“Coach Casem helped Alcorn athletics increase both in stature and in reputation, to become a nationally recognized university,” President Brown said. “Every Alcornite celebrates the Board’s decision. Coach Casem built a quality football and athletic program during his tenure at Alcorn. What’s more, he prepared athletes for life beyond the game. He believed in the concept of ‘student-athlete’ and stressed high academic performance in the classroom first.”

Never at a loss for words, a grateful Coach Marino Casem shared his joy, “This honor is only possible because of the hundreds of Alcorn student-athletes, coaches, staff, administrators and fans, and I humbly thank each of you, especially President Brown. I am truly overwhelmed by this honor from my Alcorn family.”

Alcorn State University National Alumni Association President Percy O. Norwood Jr. ’68 said, “Alcornites everywhere are rejoicing. It is about time. We will pack the stadium when Coach Casem is publicly recognized.”

During Casem’s over 20 years at Alcorn, he saw several of his players go on to successful careers and play sports on the professional level. Today, his former player Leslie Frazier is the only head NFL football coach from the SWAC.

Alcorn will celebrate the renaming of the stadium with a historic weekend of activities September 16-17, 2011. On Friday, September 16th, the weekend kicks off with the unveiling of the Dr. Walter Washington Parkway highway signs at 10 a.m. in the Ecology Resource Center. The Mississippi Legislature approved and Governor Haley Barbour signed into law, legislation designating segments of Mississippi Highway 552 beginning at Alcorn within Claiborne County and extending to its intersection with U.S. Highway 61 in Jefferson County be named in honor of Dr. Washington.

Miss Alcorn 2011-2012 will for the first time in the university’s history receive her crown before the first home game. “I am so excited,” says senior biochemistry/pre-medicine student Arkayla Ellis ’12. “I am grateful for the chance to showcase my crown throughout the football season and welcome the new tradition.” The lavish coronation is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the Davey L. Whitney Complex.

On Saturday, September 17th, to help high school and community college students learn more about opportunities available at Alcorn, the institution is hosting its fall High School and Community College Day, a chance for students and parents to experience Alcorn firsthand. The event starts at 11:00 a.m. and concludes with the 4:00 p.m. Alcorn vs. Mississippi Valley State football game.

At halftime, President Brown will unveil the new stadium signage honoring Coaches Casem and Spinks. The festivities will conclude with the Welcome to the Reservation Concert. The public is invited to attend all events. For more information, contact Elena Kostyleva at 601.443.3658 or elenad@alcorn.edu .

XU runners to begin 2011 season Sept. 1 in Mississippi

Matt Pieri, shown competing in 2010 at Lafreniere
 Park in Metairie, La., is one of seven returning
All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference runners for
 Xavier's men and women.  Pieri is the defending
 GCAC men's individual champion.

NEW ORLEANS — The Xavier University of Louisiana men's and women's cross country teams will run on familiar territory throughout the 2011 season.

Joseph Moses, back for his seventh season as coach of the Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets, announced the schedule Wednesday.

Xavier will begin the season Sept. 1 in the Mississippi College Opener at Clinton, Miss., and return there Oct. 22 for the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Championships. Those will be XU's ninth and 10th appearances in seven seasons at Choctaw Trails Cross Country Course.

Both Xavier teams are five-time defending GCAC champions. The Rush and Nuggets won GCAC team titles at Choctaw Trails in 2006, 2008 and 2009.

Xavier's second, third and fourth events will have the same Louisiana destinations as last year. The Rush and Nuggets will compete Sept. 10 in the Four Points by Sheraton Loyola Wolfpack Invitational at Lafreniere Park in suburban Metairie for the third consecutive year, followed by the Ragin' Cajuns Invitational in Lafayette on Sept. 16 and the LSU Invitational in Baton Rouge on Sept. 24.

It will be the third straight year and the fourth time in six seasons that XU competes in the Ragin' Cajuns meet. The Rush and Nuggets will appear at LSU for the third straight year and the seventh time in nine seasons. The fifth meet, Oct. 1 at the Gulf Coast Stampede in Pensacola, Fla., will be XU's third time there in four years.

The final regular-season meet will be Oct. 8 in the University of Dallas Invitational, where XU also competed in 2008.

The GCAC has reclaimed its automatic bid to the NAIA National Championships after a one-year hiatus, so several from the conference — the top men's and women's team, plus the fastest five males and females not on those winning teams — will qualify for the NAIA meet Nov. 19 at Vancouver, Wash. Xavier's men and women qualified for nationals in 2008 and 2009.

Xavier has seven returning All-GCAC runners: Matt Pieri, Ray Walston, Javon Mead and Charles Shaw on the men's team and Anna D'Souza, Ashley Taylor and Donyé Coleman on the women's. Pieri was the 2010 GCAC men's champion. Both teams conducted their first preseason workouts Friday.

2011 Xavier University of Louisiana Cross Country Schedule

all times Central unless noted

Sept. 1 (Thu.): Mississippi College Opener, Clinton, Miss. — women 5 p.m., men 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 10 (Sat.): Four Points by Sheraton Loyola Wolfpack Invitational, Metairie, La. — women 8 a.m., men 8:35 a.m.
Sept. 16 (Fri.): Ragin' Cajuns Invitational, Lafayette, La. — women 6 p.m., men 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 24 (Sat.): LSU Invitational, Baton Rouge, La. — women 8:05 a.m., men 9:15 a.m.
Oct. 1 (Sat): Gulf Coast Stampede, Pensacola, Fla. — women 7:30 a.m., men 8 a.m.
Oct. 8 (Sat.): University of Dallas Invitational, Irving, Texas — women 9 a.m., men 10 a.m.
Oct. 22 (Sat.): Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Championships, Clinton, Miss. — women 8 a.m., men 8:45 a.m.
Nov. 19 (Sat): NAIA National Championships, Vancouver, Wash. — men 10:30 a.m. PST, women 11:45 a.m. PST

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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The Xavier Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets compete in Division I of the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) as a member of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC). Xavier fields men's teams in basketball, cross country and tennis and women's teams in basketball, cross country, tennis and volleyball.