Fans Invited to Tailgate and After-Party at Norfolk State Spartans Final Spring Football Scrimmage on April 26

COURTESY NSU ATHLETICS

NORFOLK, Virginia  --  The Norfolk State athletics department is inviting fans to attend the Spartans' final football scrimmage of the spring on Saturday, April 26 and enjoy a festive day free of charge.

NSU's final scrimmage will run from 10 a.m. to noon on April 26 at William "Dick" Price Stadium. Admission is free. Fans will be allowed to tailgate in the Community Hospital lot on campus, also free of charge. Fans are also invited to meet and greet the players and enjoy live music and games on the field after the scrimmage. The Spartan Legion Marching Band will be in attendance, and fans can also register or renew memberships in the NSU Athletics Foundation.

The tailgating area must be cleaned up and cleared by 3:30 p.m.

After the football scrimmage, fans are also encouraged to attend the Spartan softball team's doubleheader against North Carolina Central at the NSU Softball Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. and admission to the softball games is also free.

By Matt Michalec, Asst. AD/Communications
NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
 

NSU Men Advance to MEAC Tennis Championship with 4-0 Semifinal Win over B-CU

CAYCE, South Carolina  – Norfolk State, the MEAC south No. 2 seed, has advanced to the finals of the 2014 MEAC Men's Tennis Championship after posting a 4-0 win in the semifinals over the southern division's No. 4 seed, Bethune-Cookman, on Friday morning at the Cayce Tennis and Fitness Center. The win marks the first time that NSU's men's tennis program has advanced to the MEAC finals.

The Spartans (14-6) will play the MEAC south No. 1 seed and reigning MEAC champion, South Carolina State, in the finals on Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs have won the last seven MEAC championships. S.C. State defeated the southern division's No. 3 seed, Florida A&M, 4-1, on Friday morning to advance to the title match.

NSU took the doubles point in the first and second positions. Sophomore Dzmitry Zyhmantovich and senior Peter Ramstromer-Pello upended Gilbert Rotich and Greg Almeida, 8-3. Also picking up a win were sophomore Robin Riethmueller and junior Igor Braga. They defeated Walid Gtari and Alvaro Barrero, 8-3. The No. 3 match featuring juniors Pascal Domnik and Daniel Grauel against Santiago Lobelo and Diego Garavito was abandoned after the Spartans clinched the point.

The Spartans picked up wins in singles play at the No. 1, No. 3 and No. 4 spots. Zyhmantovich improved to 14-4 on the season with his 6-3, 6-2 victory against Gtari. Riethmueller (11-5) claimed a 6-1, 6-3 win over Rotich. Braga closed things out for NSU with a 6-3, 6-4 victory against Garavito. The other singles matches were abandoned because the Spartans won the match.

The men's championship title match begins at 12 p.m. on Saturday.

Complete Match Results

By Chaundrea Lee, Media Relations Assistant
NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Coaching Carousel: Clemon Johnson Fired at Florida A&M

Courtesy FAMU Athletics

Former NFL star Kellen Winslow has made his first big move as the athletic director at Florida A&M as he'll replace basketball coach Clemon Johnson.

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- When you visit our mid-major transfer list one of the things that will standout to you are the amount of transfers for the Florida A&M Rattlers. FAMU currently has six players on our list and that number was expected to grow. FAMU's new athletic director, former NFL star Kellen Winslow, has made his first big move and is expected to replace Clemon Johnson as the Rattler's head coach.

Johnson will leave FAMU with a 32-64 mark after three seasons at the Tallahassee based school. Johnson is a former ten year NBA veteran.

 

Florida A&M has not had a winning season since 2006-07 when the Rattlers went to the NCAA Tournament. The Rattlers are the fourth MEAC school to make a coaching change this year joining Coppin State, Delaware State, and Maryland Eastern Shore.

 

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FAMU Men's Basketball Coach Clemon Johnson Fired

FAMU president Dr. Elmira Mangum and
athletics director Kellen Winslow.
Photo Courtesy FAMU Athletics

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- Florida A&M Director of Athletics, Kellen Winslow, today announced the release of men's basketball coach Clemon Johnson and his staff.

"We thank Coach Johnson and his staff for their efforts over the past three years to improve our men's basketball program. However, we have decided to seek new leadership of this program in order to achieve our academic and athletic goals," Winslow said.

Johnson was hired in 2011 and in three seasons at FAMU, compiled a ...

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Alabama A&M football putting product on display in first spring under James Spady

NORMAL, Alabama  --  New Alabama A&M football coach James Spady isn't hiding anything.

In fact, during his spring training, the former Nevada assistant is inviting any and everyone out to see what the Bulldogs have going on. 

 

Wednesday, Spady invited local high school coaches along with their players to checkout his team's 10th practice of the spring, a controlled scrimmage during which the Bulldogs simulated real-game situations such as third-down conversion plays and long-yardage packages. 

 

"Yeah, I'm so looking forward to cultivating those relationships," Spady said. "Just a chance to meet those guys and be in a social setting with them is really cool, especially since I'm new here. We want to try and recruit all the best athletes we can get from our local area. Having those conversations with those guys is really enlightening, telling us who they think are the players and we want to continue that and do as much as we can to outreach the area coaches." 

 

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FAMU Rattlers Set For Orange & Green Game Saturday

COURTESY FAMU ATHLETICS

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  Florida A&M head football coach Earl Holmes will preview the 2014 edition of the Rattler football team tomorrow at Bragg Memorial Stadium at 2 p.m.  The reloaded Rattlers will showcase several new players that were added to the roster through aggressive recruiting.

The action begins at 12 noon with a Venom Kids Easter Egg Hunt in the North End Zone.  This event is free to kids who want to participate.  There will be music, a bounce house and of course Easter Eggs.

At 2 p.m., the 2014 Rattler Football team takes the field.  The team is looking to focus on improving from last year's 3-9 record.  The game will have a scoring system, consisting of points for defensive stops, interceptions, fumble recoveries and more.

Admission to the game as well as parking is free.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

TSU Women’s Basketball Signs Markayla Parker

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  --  Tennessee State University head women’s basketball coach Larry Inman has announced the signing of Markayla Parker to a National Letter of Intent.

Parker, a native of Madison, Alabama played one season at Madison Academy after transferring from James Clemens High School.
 
“Markayla Parker is a great addition to the Lady Tiger program,” said head coach Larry Inman. "She’s a first class citizen,  good student and  great basketball player.”

 

During her lone season with the Mustangs she shot 46 percent from the field while helping lead the team to the Class 3A Northwest Regional championship game. The 6-1 Guard/Forward scored a team-high 15 points in a, 61-58, regional final loss to eventual state champ Lauderdale County.

 

During her stint at James Clemens HS, Parker averaged 10.2 points and eight rebounds while shooting 51 percent from the field. She was named the team’s Most Valuable Player and garnered an All-Area Team selection.

 

In addition to her athletic accomplishments, Parker excelled academically. The National Honor Society member served as President of the Peer Helping Organization, Vice President of the Senior Class, Homecoming Queen and a member of the Anchor Club.

 

“She’s a very talented young lady with a promising future,” Inman continued. “She is 6-1 and can play the three or the four position, which makes her versatile. Her work ethic is off the charts and we are expecting her to come in and help us early.”

 

Parker also spent two seasons at Bob Jones High School where her team finished as the runner-up in the 2012 State Tournament.

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COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION