Norfolk State alum commentary: Behold, the green and gold!

By G.E. Branch III, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON, D.C. --  Behold, the green and gold!

If folk in Omaha didn't know the significance of that rallying cry before Saturday – and, let's face it, why would they? – they certainly had a better understanding after Norfolk State's ginormous upset of Missouri.

To NSU alums, the chant always has meant that the Spartans were about to strut their stuff. Over the years, the most consistent performer has been the award-winning marching band. To be sure, the athletic teams have had their share of success but consider the context.

Norfolk State used to be (self-proclaimed) king of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, an NCAA Division II conference back in the day. The track program was top notch by any measure and the basketball team would make a quick visit to the national tournament every now and then. The football team? Well, the halftime show was sure to be great.

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Omaha fans embrace Spartans

OMAHA, Nebraska -- The whirlwind, rock star existence that members of the Norfolk State team are sure to experience over the next couple days in Omaha didn't take long to start.

Not long after finishing their interview priorities and meeting back in the locker room, a handful of the Spartans made their way back to the arena floor — some still in uniform — to catch a little bit of the next game.

An ordinary media timeout of the St.Mary's-Purdue game quickly turned into a moment that the broadcast would later show.

The Spartan players received a standing ovation from a half-full CenturyLink Center, and they returned the favor by standing and applauding as well. It wasn't much later that the autograph seekers showed up, looking for a little ink from anyone in green and gold.Even their exit got cheers.

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15-seeds - MEAC's Norfolk State, Lehigh steal show at NCAAs

OMAHA, Nebraska -- The NCAA Tournament belongs to Lehigh and Norfolk State, at least for a day, after they made Ohio's upset of No. 4-seed Michigan ho-hum news and pushed Virginia Commonwealth's postseason show to the back burner.

Only four times had a No. 15 seed beaten a No. 2 seed in the tournament, and not at all since 2001. Then it happened twice within three hours Friday.

It is noteworthy that the three biggest upset losers - Michigan, Duke and Missouri - are perimeter teams that lack size and rely on guards making outside shots. They can look great some days, and then other days, this happens.

Norfolk State introduced us to the personality of the event - lovable, quotable Kyle O'Quinn - while eliminating Missouri 86-84, and Lehigh used the "organic" approach to stun Duke 75-70.

Lehigh forward Jordan Hamilton had told reporters on Thursday, "I think we're able to approach this from a more organic perspective."

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Norfolk State's historic win resonates

OMAHA, Nebraska -- Moments after the most stunning NCAA tournament upset of the past decade, the Norfolk State Spartans reacted like typical college students. They hurried into the locker room -- and pulled out their cellphones.

"We're trending on Twitter right now -- nationally," one player said. A teammate spoke up from across the room. "I just got a text. People are jumping into the fountain back on campus."  Soon it was revealed that the website for Norfolk State's student newspaper had crashed because of an overload of traffic.

Then came the announcement that only two of the 6.45 million participants in ESPN.com's bracket challenge still had perfect records -- mainly because of No. 15 seed Norfolk State's 86-84 victory over Missouri on Friday at the CenturyLink Center. Even U.S. President Barack Obama had No. 2 seed Missouri going to the Final Four.



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No. 15 Norfolk State shoots lights out, stuns 2-seed Missouri

OMAHA, Nebraska -- Welcome to the NCAA tournament, Norfolk State.

Might as well stick around a while.

Kyle O'Quinn had 26 points and 14 rebounds, making several key plays in the closing minutes, and the gritty No. 15 seed Spartans held on through a tense final minute to topple second-seeded Missouri 86-84 on Friday in the West Regional.

Pendarvis Williams and Chris McEachin each added 20 points for the MEAC champion Spartans (26-9), who made their first trip to the NCAA tournament a memorable one. They became the fifth No. 15 seed to beat a No. 2 and the first since fellow conference member Hampton in 2001.

BOX SCORE

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Florida A&M players impress on Pro Day

TALLAHASSEE, Florida - Based on the reactions of Florida A&M football fans who packed into the Hansel Tookes Recreation Center, the 18 former Rattlers who went through a battery of strength tests were impressive.

But ultimately the biggest impression they want to make is on the throng of professional football scouts who showed up with stopwatches and legal pads. For about two and a half hours they clicked times and made notes as the players leaped, lifted and sprint outdoors on an artificial turf field adjacent to the recreation center.

They got plenty of advice from former FAMU cornerback Curtis Holcomb, who was impressive enough during last season to be drafted by the San Francisco 49ers. "I've been telling these guys to just calm down," Holcomb said. "This is your day. This is for you; calm down and be yourself."

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Jerry Eaves Out As NC A&T Men's Basketball Coach

GREENSBORO, North Carolina (4/13/12) -- Jerry Eaves has been relieved of his duties as the head men's basketball coach at North Carolina A&T, Director of Athletics Earl M. Hilton III announced today. Scott Bollwage will serve as interim head coach until a permanent replacement is hired.

Eaves' contract with the school expires May 30, 2013. Eaves finishes his tenure at A&T with a 99-180 record over nine seasons. He is third on the program's all-time wins list. In 2003, Eaves took over a one-win program. During his stint, he led the Aggies to wins over SMU, DePaul, Middle Tennessee State and was 2-0 against cross-town rival UNC Greensboro.



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A&T fires basketball coach

EXCERPT:
GREENSBORO — Jerry Eaves has been fired as the men's basketball coach at N.C. A&T, athletics director Earl M. Hilton III announced in a news release. Scott Bollwage will serve as interim head coach until a permanent replacement is hired.

Eaves finishes his tenure at A&T with a 99-180 record over nine seasons. Eaves' contract runs through May 30, 2013, and the university said he will be paid in full. Eaves' contract is worth $135,000 per year plus benefits.

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2012 Prairie View A&M Panther Football Schedule Unveiled

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- Prairie View A&M University Athletic Director Fred Washington today announced the 2012 Panther football schedule. The Panthers will play an action-packed 11-game slate in 2012 highlighted by a contest at the defending FCS National Champions, nine Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) games, four football classics, two on-campus contests and the return to the Golden Triangle area of Texas for the first time since 1998.

The Panthers kickoff the 2012 season on Saturday, Sept. 1 against state and conference rival Texas Southern in the 28th edition of the State Farm Labor Day Classic as it returns to Reliant Stadium in Houston after a one-year hiatus at 7 p.m. For the second straight season, the rivalry will feature a new but familiar face as second-year head coach Heishma Northern will square off against longtime friend and new TSU head coach Darrell Asberry.

On Sept. 8, the Panthers will make the short trek down the highway to the Golden Triangle as they'll meet Lamar University of the Southland Conference for the first time since 1985 in Beaumont, Texas. In addition to the first meeting between both teams in nearly 27 years, the Panthers will return to the city of Beaumont and Provost Umphrey Stadium for the first time since 1998.

One week later on Sept. 15, Prairie View A&M travels to Huntsville, Ala. for a 6 p.m. match-up at Alabama A&M in the third annual Lewis Crews Classic before closing out non-conference play with a game at defending 2011 FCS National Champion North Dakota State on Sept. 22 in Fargo, N.D. The month of September concludes on Sept. 29 as the Panthers step back into SWAC play with a trip to Jackson, Miss. for a meeting at Jackson State.

The annual State Fair Classic in the Cotton Bowl kicks off the month of October as PV will square off against Grambling State in Dallas on Oct. 6. After a much-deserved weekend off on Oct. 13, the Panthers make their Blackshear Field debut on Oct. 20 as Alcorn State comes to town in a homecoming showdown at 2 p.m. One weekend later on Oct. 27, Prairie View will participate in the third annual Shreveport Classic at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, La. against divisional foe Southern University.

The schedule's homestretch begins on Saturday, Nov. 3 as the Panthers return home to Blackshear Field to face Alabama State. The Panthers will honor their 2012 senior class during the contest in addition to the third annual PV Marching Storm Band Appreciation Day. The season concludes on the road for consecutive weekends as the Panthers will travel to Mississippi Valley State on Saturday, Nov. 10 and Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday, Nov. 17.

“This is one of our most competitive schedules we've had in quite some time,” said Northern. “From the opening week to the final week, we're going to have to bring our 'A' game to the field as we have two solid non-conference teams plus our league foes. I'm looking forward to the challenge ahead.”

Panther fans will have an opportunity to get an early jump on the action for next season as season tickets for the 2012 season will go on sale April 15. For more information and to see finalized game times once they're available, log on to the department's official athletic website at http://www.pvpanthers.com/.

2012 Prairie View A&M Football Schedule (.pdf)

Day Date Opponent Location/Stadium Times

9/1/2012 *Texas Southern Houston,Tx - Reliant Stadium 7:00 p.m. State Farm Labor Day Classic XXVIII 
9/8/2012 Lamar Beaumont, Texas TBA
9/15/2012 *Alabama A&M Huntsville, Ala. 6:00 p.m. Lewis Crews Classic 
.9/22/2012 North Dakota State Fargo, N.D. TBA 
 9/29/2012 *Jackson State Jackson, Miss. TBA
 10/6/2012 *Grambling State Dallas, Texas - Cotton Bowl 6:00 p.m. State Fair Classic
 10/20/2012 *Alcorn State Prairie View 2:00 p.m. Homecoming 2012
 10/27/2012 *Southern Shreveport, La. - Independence 4:00 p.m. Shreveport Classic
 11/3/2012 *Alabama State Prairie View 1:00 p.m.
 11/10/2012 *Mississippi Valley Itta Bena, Miss. 1:00 p.m.
 11/17/2012 *Arkansas-Pine Bluff Pine Bluff, Ark. TBA

COURTESY PVAMU SPORTS INFORMATION

North Dakota State completes 2012 Football Schedule with PVAMU

FARGO, N.D., North Dakota State University issued the following news release on March 13:

North Dakota State University director of athletics Gene Taylor announced the completion of the 2012 schedule with Prairie View A&M University on Sept. 22 at the Fargodome.

Prairie View A&M, located in Prairie, Texas, compiled a 5-6 record in 2011 including a 5-4 record in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). This will be the first meeting with the Panthers, coached by Heishma Northern. The Bison have a 3-0 record against the SWAC, 2-0 vs. Mississippi Valley State and 1-0 vs. Grambling State.

Prairie View A&M is the second-oldest public institution of higher education in Texas, second only to Texas A&M University. The Panthers have won 11 SWAC championships, the last coming in 2009, and have claimed five Black College National Championships in its football history.

North Dakota State opens the season Sept. 1 against Robert Morris, a rematch of the 2010 NCAA FCS first-round playoff game. The Bison then travel to Fort Collins to face Colorado State of the Mountain West Conference on Sept. 8.

NDSU is scheduled to open Missouri Valley Football Conference action Sept. 29 at Northern Iowa. The Bison have home conference games with Youngstown State on Oct. 6, the annual homecoming game vs. Indiana State on Oct. 13, the Harvest Bowl on Oct. 27 with Southern Illinois and the annual Dakota Marker game with South Dakota State on Nov. 10.

Valley Football road games include stops at South Dakota on Oct. 20, Missouri State on Nov. 3 and Illinois State on Nov. 17

The Bison do not play Western Illinois in 2012.

North Dakota State won the program's first NCAA Division I Football Championship with a 17-6 win over Sam Houston State on Jan. 7 and also claimed the program's first Missouri Valley Football Conference title. Head coach Craig Bohl led the Bison to a 14-1 overall record and 7-1 record in MVFC.

NDSU is scheduled to start spring football drills on March 24 and culminate with the annual Green-Gold Spring Game at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 21, in the Fargodome.

Friday's NCAA Tournament Preview: (15) Norfolk State vs.(2) Missouri

• WHEN/WHERE: About 3:40 p.m. Friday at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Neb.

• TV/RADIO: TNT (Ch. 203 and 1203 on Time Warner, Ch. 51 and 204 on Comcast in Missouri, Ch. 69 and 204 on Comcast in Kansas, Ch. 48 and 600 on Surewest, Ch. 108 on AT&T U-Verse, Ch. 245 on DirecTV and Ch. 138 on Dish Network); KMBZ (980 AM and 98.1 FM).

•  WHEN/WHERE: About 3:40 p.m. Friday at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Neb.
•  TV/RADIO: TNT (Ch. 203 and 1203 on Time Warner, Ch. 51 and 204 on Comcast in Missouri, Ch. 69 and 204 on Comcast in Kansas, Ch. 48 and 600 on Surewest, Ch. 108 on AT&T U-Verse, Ch. 245 on DirecTV and Ch. 138 on Dish Network); KMBZ (980 AM and 98.1 FM)

P	No.	Norfolk State	Ht.	Yr.	PPG
F	32	Marcos Tamares	6-7	Sr.	6.8
C	10	Kyle O’Quinn	6-10	Sr.	15.9
G	15	Rodney McCauley	6-5	Sr.	3.4
G	35	Chris McEachin	6-6	Sr.	12.8
G	11	Pendarvis Williams	6-6	So.	11.8

•  ABOUT NORFOLK STATE (25-9): The Spartans finished 13-3 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, good for second place. They qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history by winning the league tournament. … Norfolk State is a relative newcomer to this level of basketball, as it made the leap to Division I in 1997. … Senior center Kyle O’Quinn said several teams in the MEAC play similar styles as Missouri, which spreads the floor with four shooters and a single post player. “This is not the type of game that we haven’t seen a game plan (for),” he said. “Yes, we are going against better players from a different conference, but the style of play is what we see a lot (of) in the conference.”

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