Alabama State Hornets go through first two-a-day practice

MONTOGMERY, Alabama -- Alabama State University hit the practice field twice today for their first two-a-day practice of the preseason. The team's first practice was at 9 a.m., followed by an evening session that started at 7 p.m.  The last few practice sessions have not gone exactly the way the ASU coaching staff had envisioned, but head coach Reggie Barlow has seen some things that the team has done well.

"I will say as a whole, this team's mindset has been positive," Barlow said. "They have embraced the work, even after three or four days where we were not good, I think the mindset has been pleasant for the majority of the guys."

"I am real pleased with the way Greg Jenkins is directing the offense. He has been real positive, real upbeat, and he has been doing a lot of positive things on the field and I am real happy about that," he said.



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WSSU's Maynor says he's forgotten last season

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -  Coach Connell Maynor says he hasn't dwelled much on how last season ended for Winston-Salem State. The Rams were in position to clinch a berth in the Division II football championship game but lost 21-14 to Wayne State in the semifinals at Bowman Gray Stadium.

It was a tough end to a dream season.

"We can't worry about what happened last year," said Maynor, whose team will open practice for the new season Thursday. "I didn't think too much about what happened, because in this business, you have to keep looking ahead, and that's what we've done."

Maynor said when he did look at the film of the loss to Wayne State, he saw that the Rams didn't make big plays when they needed them.

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ASU signs former D-I QB from FAU, officially opens practice with sand dune run

ALBANY, Georgia - Welcome to Albany State football, David Kooi. The senior transfer from Florida Atlantic, who got his first dose of Rams football Monday morning with a 6 a.m. climb up the sand dunes near campus, will be the third quarterback fighting for the starting spot this season.

Kooi officially joins transfers Keenan Grissett (Gardner-Webb) and Rodney Castlin (Arizona Western College). Now, the trio has less than a month to win the spot before the Sept. 1 season opener against North Greenville.  ASU coach Mike White hopes it doesn’t take that long.

“I hope that in a couple of weeks we will be able to name (the starter),” White said. “Before we get to our first game, I’m hoping we will be able to say who is our man. It won’t go as I would like if we don’t name somebody by game week.”

White and his fellow coaches were ...



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Olympics 2012: JSU's Michael Tinsley takes silver in men's 400m hurdles

LONDON  -  One of the toughest races on Monday at the Olympics Stadium in London has a surprise outcome in favor of the United States. USA was well represented when Michael Tinsley crossed the finish line second in the Men’s 400 meter hurdles surprising everyone. In what was a tough race, Felix Sanchez brought home the Dominican Republic gold, but that was almost expected when he crossed the finish line at 47.63.

It was Michael Tinsley’s strongest moment on the field and gave the audience a shocker as most didn’t think the United States athlete had a chance. However as Tinsley proved, never underestimate the underdog.

View slideshow:Men's 400m hurdles final at London Olympics

HU's Kellie Wells wins bronze in 100-meter hurdles

LONDON - Kellie Wells gained the redemption she's been seeking for four years. It took her only 12.48 seconds to get it.

After having to be carried off the track in 2008 after suffering a hamstring injury at the trials, Wells rebounded in 2012 to earn Olympic bronze, claiming third in the 100-meter hurdles Tuesday in 12.48 seconds.

Australia's Sally Pearson, who was the favorite entering Tuesday's final, claiming the gold medal with a wire-to-wire win in 12.35 seconds, an Olympic record.  American Dawn Harper, who won gold in the event in 2008, earned silver in 12.37 seconds. U.S. teammate Lolo Jones placed fourth in 12.58.

"I had a long wait for this but it was definitely worth every day of it," Wells said. "I've had my great moments; I've had some tough times, too. It's made me a better athlete and a better person. An Olympic medal caps it all."



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Chavous Joins Football Staff at Saint Augustine's University

COACH TIM CHAVOUS

RALEIGH, North Carolina  -  The Saint Augustine's University department of athletics has announced the hiring of Tim Chavous as assistant football coach on Tuesday, August 7, 2012.

Chavous replaces long-time assistant Matthew Montgomery, who left the program to become a teacher and counselor in his home state of South Carolina. Chavous will coach the running backs, and offensive coordinator Jermaine Gales will handle the quarterbacks in place of Montgomery.

Head Coach Michael Costa is confident he has the right man to revive the running game. In 2011, the Falcons led the CIAA and ranked 33rd in NCAA Division II in passing offense (264.2 ypg), but finished 10th in the CIAA in rushing offense (61.4 ypg). Two years ago, the Falcons were fifth in rushing (152.64) in the CIAA and tailback Walter Sanders was named CIAA offensive player of the year.

“We are very fortunate to get Tim on short notice,” Costa said. “He has vast knowledge and experience working with running backs. He will also assist us with academic advising.”

Chavous was an assistant offensive coordinator and running backs coach at Saint Paul's College from 2005 to 2011. While at Saint Paul's, Chavous was head baseball coach, admissions recruiter and director of student activities. During his tenure at Saint Paul's, Chavous coached one All-CIAA rookie football player and one 1,000-yard rusher.

Chavous was running backs coach at Virginia State University from 2003 to 2004. He was a coach and camp coordinator at the University of Virginia during the summers of 2002, 2003 and 2004.

Chavous was a standout college running back at Bethune-Cookman University where he was a member of the 2001 MEAC championship team. He played two years at Pasadena (Calif.) City College for two years before transferring to Bethune-Cookman. Chavous graduated from Bethune-Cookman with a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education and recreation in 2002. He earned a master's degree in education and physical education in 2012 at his alma mater.


While Costa is glad to have Chavous on board, he will miss Montgomery, who was the longest tenured football assistant at Saint Augustine's University. Montgomery coached 10 seasons as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He was the only full-time assistant coach left from the original staff when the Falcons re-instituted football in 2002.

“Matt has been with me from the beginning,” Costa said. “He played an integral role in the growth of our football program.”

COURTESY SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

B-CU makes note of anti-hazing policy to first-year band members

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida - Moving her hips from side to side with nine other first-year band trumpet students, Erica Jones yelled out "Let's Go, Wildcats" and then raised her horn to her mouth and began playing.

The 18-year-old freshman from Miami was in her first day of practice Monday for the Bethune-Cookman University marching band with about 100 other freshmen or first-year band students, up about 5 percent from last year.



National attention to hazing and the death last year of a Florida A&M University drum major has put a "negative image" on bands, especially at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), according to B-CU director of bands Donovan Wells. But it didn't deter new students from applying.

"Image wise (hazing and the death at FAMU) has had a huge impact on us and every HBCU band because of the old adage we all have been painted with the same brush," Wells said. "But when you get down to the day-to-day operations and the product on the field -- all of that will be status quo."



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