Michigan State will play Tuskegee to commemorate historic game

EAST LANSING, Michigan — The last time Michigan State played a basketball game at Jenison Field House, it was as part of the 1989 National Invitation Tournament.

More than 20 years later, the Spartan men's basketball team will make a return to the venerable, historic, 72-year old Jenison Field House, now with the Spartans as a hot-ticket, elite national power, and capable of creating national news when Michigan State plays host to Tuskegee University at Jenison on Dec. 15 in commemoration of an important event in American sports history.

The game will honor the 50th anniversary of the 1963 NCAA Tournament game played at Jenison Field House between Mississippi State and Loyola of Chicago.

Mississippi State's team, in the face of racism, against the orders of the governor of the state of Mississippi and Mississippi's state police, snuck out of Starkville, Miss., with an all-white squad in order to play Loyola, which started four African-Americans.

That game, now remembered as the "Game of Change," is regarded as a landmark in race relations.


Loyola wins 1963 NCAA basketball title...it is historically significant in that, 3 years before Texas Western, Loyola started 4 black players and Cincinnati 3 (the 1st championship in which the majority of the starters were black). Loyola's starting 5 played the entire game.

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Mike German gives Tennessee State University rare QB stability

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- The start of Tennessee State football practice had a different feel in the offensive backfield Monday than the previous three seasons.

The Tigers had an established quarterback running the show for the first time since 2008 with Mike German at the helm.



The sophomore from Pompano Beach, Fla., replaced Jeremy Perry for the last eight games last year and completed 140 of 250 passes for 1,899 yards with 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The Tigers won four games German started.

“It’s a big difference being the established starter on the first day of camp because I can work more on my chemistry with the other players on offense and on my techniques without fighting every day for the job,” German said. “I can get better as a quarterback and a leader instead of worrying about who’s breathing down my neck or who I’m trying to beat out.”

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No redshirt planned for FAMU's Lee Williams

TALLAHASSEE, Florida - Coming from a small Tallahassee school that doesn’t have a reputation for being a football power, Lee Williams’ signing with FAMU wasn’t viewed as much more than the historic moment that it was in the spring.

With a 5-foot-10, 180-pound frame and with Williams known more for his accolades in track and field, it seemed certain that the first Marauder to sign a college football scholarship would be asked to redshirt. But FAMU coach Joe Taylor has decided not to wait, instead having offensive coordinator Lawrence Kershaw draw up some packages just for Williams.

“I know it’s a big jump just coming from high school,” Williams said Tuesday. “It’s a tough process but ...



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UAPB Golden Lions wrap up day 3 on positive note

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas -- Two of the key factors the Golden Lion coaching staff wants to focus on are retention and application of the playbook.

With veterans stepping up and showing leadership to the incoming freshmen, the learning curve that is usually an issue with the start of fall camp has been reduced to the liking of head coach Monte Coleman.

 Even with the normal conditions that could plague preseason camp (heat, injuries), for the first day in shoulder pads, the coaching staff is pleased with the conditioning of the overall team.

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Shaw To Hold Pigskin Preview Thursday, August 9

RALEIGH, North Carolina - The Shaw University Athletic Department will hold its first Shaw Pigskin Preview on August 9 at the Courtyard Marriott - Crabtree Valley. The event will begin at noon with a question and answer session beginning at 12:15 p.m.

First-year head coach Robert Massey, selected assistant coaches and players will be on hand to greet fans as well as field questions.

The event is free and open to the public. The Courtyard Marriott - Crabtree Valley is located at 3908 Arrow Drive near the Crabtree Valley Mall.

NOTE: This is a location and time change from an event announced in late June.

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Southern University looks at backup running backs

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana - The emergence of a reliable third running back behind Sylvester Nzekwe and Jerry Joseph is a priority for the Southern offense this fall.  Should Nzekwe or Joseph (or both) go down with an injury, the Jaguars want to know the ball will be in good hands. On Tuesday, they got to see that exact situation unfold.

Nzekwe (ankle) and Joseph (knee) were held out of practice with minor injuries and instead did conditioning work. They’re expected back on Wednesday, the team’s first day in full pads, but their time on the sideline meant a valuable chance for someone to grab hold of the No. 3 spot.

The reps were split up between redshirt junior Darrius Coleman, freshman Lenard Tillery and former sprinter Terrance Clayton. Coleman, a 5-foot-9, 207-pound former defensive back, has 30 pounds on Tillery and more than 50 on Clayton, making him the best fit physically.



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UAPB: Another 100 on Horizon?

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas -- Arkansas-Pine Bluff linebacker Jer-ryan Harris was limited to seven games last season dealing with a hamstring injury. His sophomore season wouldn’t be anything like the year before, when he led the SWAC with 129 tackles.

While it took him a few months to recover from the injury, it look him longer to recover mentally.

“It was really weighing on me at first,” Harris said. “But after having support from my teammates, I was really able to come back mentally.”

After practice Monday, Harris flashed a wide smile on his face when he was asked how healthy he is. “I’m 100 percent,” he said with glee.



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