Dual-threat quarterback leads Alcorn State

This is the fifth piece of a 12-part series previewing Arkansas' 2016 football opponents.

LORMAN, Mississippi -- Alcorn State is coming off a 9-4 year capped by a 41-34 loss to North Carolina A&T in the Celebration Bowl, which is also known as the HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) National Championship.

The Braves went 7-2 in the FCS Southwestern Athletic Conference, winning the east division of the league. They defeated Grambling State, which was undefeated in SWAC play, 49-21 in the conference championship game to win their second consecutive SWAC championship.

2016 outlook

Alcorn State plays SWAC powerhouse Grambling State on the road the week prior to traveling to Little Rock to play Arkansas at War Memorial Stadium on Oct. 1. The following week, the Braves travel to Alabama A&M, a fellow SWAC East division member.

Because Alcorn State is an FCS school, it is not included in ESPN’s Football Power Index. The Braves were also not included in Athlon Sports’ preseason FCS top 25.

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Savannah State AD says school seeing results of APR scores

SAVANNAH, Georgia -- The Savannah State football team will be able to hold 10 spring practices and a spring game next season for the first time in three years, but the men’s basketball team will be ineligible for the 2016-17 postseason as a result of NCAA sanctions handed down to the university last week.

The sanctions stem from the latest Academic Progress Rate scores for the 2014-15 academic year, which were released Wednesday by the NCAA. The APR is based on data collected annually from each institution and accounts for the eligibility and retention of every student-athlete for each academic term.

The football team posted a 2014-15 APR of 918, which is 51 points higher than the previous year and raises SSU’s multi-year APR from 854 to 866. The multi-year APR is the average APR a school posts over a four-year period. Each team at a university must earn a multi-year APR of 930 to avoid penalties.

The APR report released by the NCAA states that the Tigers would face being banned from a third straight spring season, but a Savannah State spokesman said Monday that penalty was waived as a reward for the progress the school has made.

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Clemson 2016 opponent preview: S.C. State solid among its peers, but Tigers unbeaten by FCS foes

COURTESY SCSU ATHLETICS

CLEMSON, South Carolina — Last year, Clemson hit the Big 3-0. (Did you get them a Hallmark card?)

The way Dabo Swinney wants to construct his non-conference schedule works like this: one game vs. South Carolina, one game vs. another high-profile opponent usually from the SEC or Notre Dame, one game vs. a mid-major FBS opponent, and one FCS game in which the Tigers pay off a lower-division squad to lose by many, many touchdowns.

With this plan, Clemson has beaten at least one FCS team each of the last nine years, and holds a 30-0 record against the Football Championship Subdivision members. In all of Division I football, Clemson has the most wins against FCS opponents without a loss.

It’s a slightly impressive distinction; on the one hand, the number is inflated by Clemson’s annual commitment to devote one home game per year to the in-state FCS programs on a rotating basis, and frankly, the deck is stacked for good FBS teams not to lose to even the most competitive of FCS visitors. (Other power programs like Oklahoma State, Auburn, Baylor, Florida State, Texas A&M and Georgia have at least 15 FCS victories without a defeat.) On the other hand, the Tigers have never slipped up where several colleagues have, so credit is due for that.

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NSU Releases NCAA Infractions Report

NCAA Release  |  NCAA Infractions Report  |  NCAA PSA Letter

NORFOLK, Virginia -- Norfolk State University (NSU) received notice from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Committee on Infractions of its final decision that the institution did not correctly apply/administer the progress-toward-degree process in certifying a number of student-athletes for competition. The NCAA determined that the infraction was the result of an administrative mistake and not any form of unethical behavior.

NSU discovered the violations after the presentation of its official findings at the conclusion of the 2012-13 Academic Performance Program (APP) data review. Thereafter, the institution self-reported the violations to the NCAA, implemented corrective actions and self-imposed penalties. The NCAA accepted the institution's self-imposed penalties, but also, proposed a two-year period of probation and the vacation of contests in which the ineligible student-athletes competed. The NCAA did not impose any postseason bans on any sports programs.

The case involved inadvertent violations of the NCAA's progress-toward-degree certification legislation that resulted in 48 ineligible student-athletes being allowed to compete in athletic contests from 2008-09 through 2010-11 academic years. Although the academic transcripts were used by the Registrar's Office to certify the student-athletes, the NCAA determined that the academic departments are responsible for determining the courses approved for degree applicable credits, and for completing all academic documents in a timely manner for the Registrar's Office to certify eligibility of student-athletes.

The violations occurred in 13 sports – baseball, women's bowling, men's cross country, women's cross country, football, softball, men's tennis, women's tennis, men's indoor track, women's indoor track, men's outdoor track, women's outdoor track and women's volleyball.

In 2013, the institution implemented administrative procedures to correct the progress-toward-degree process. As a result of the corrections, a record number of student-athletes have earned 3.0 or higher grade point averages, the Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores have increased significantly, and the graduation success rate continues to improve.

"The decision by the NCAA will serve as a catalyst to strengthen the institution's administrative procedures in certifying student-athletes for competition. The administrative and academic departments recognize the importance of their roles in adhering to NCAA regulations and performing their duties in a timely manner. Because of the new and improved processes and the academic success of the student-athletes, the institution has identified a model to improve the retention and graduation rates of all students," said President Eddie N. Moore, Jr.

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

Norfolk State failed to monitor its eligibility certification process

Download the Norfolk State Public Infractions Decision

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana -- Norfolk State University failed to monitor its eligibility certification process, which resulted in improper certifications for student-athletes, according to a decision issued by a Division I Committee on Infractions panel. The university incorrectly applied NCAA progress-toward-degree requirements over the course of four years, resulting in 48 student-athletes competing and receiving travel expenses while ineligible.

This case was resolved through the summary disposition process, a cooperative effort where the involved parties collectively submit the case to the Committee on Infractions in written form. The NCAA enforcement staff and the university must agree to the facts and overall level of the case in order to use this process instead of a formal hearing.

The panel found the university did not monitor its eligibility certification process when it did not establish the proper systems and safeguards to ensure that student-athlete certification met NCAA eligibility standards.

The violations involved student-athletes in the following programs: football, men’s basketball, women’s volleyball, women’s tennis, women’s basketball, men’s track, women’s track, softball, bowling, men’s tennis and baseball.

Penalties and corrective measures include the following:

Public reprimand and censure for the university.

Two years of probation for the university from June 16, 2016, to June, 15, 2018.

A vacation of records in which student-athletes participated while ineligible. After the release of the public report, the university will identify the games affected.

Scholarship reductions during the 2014-15 academic year, self-imposed by the university:
Three scholarships for the football program.

One scholarship for each of the men’s basketball, women’s volleyball, women’s tennis and women’s basketball programs.

Half a scholarship for each of the men’s track, women’s track, softball, bowling, men’s tennis and baseball programs.

A $5,000 fine (self-imposed by the university).

Members of the Committee on Infractions are drawn from NCAA membership and members of the public. The members of the panel who reviewed this case are Michael F. Adams, chancellor, Pepperdine University; Carol Cartwright, president emeritus at Kent State University; Gregory Christopher, athletics director at Xavier University; Jack Ford, legal analyst for CBS News; Joseph Novak, former head football coach at Northern Illinois University; Larry Parkinson, director of enforcement for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; and Gregory Sankey, chief hearing officer, chair of the Committee on Infractions and commissioner of the Southeastern Conference.

NCAA PUBLIC AND MEDIA RELATIONS

BCU's Clay Middleton Drafted by Texas Rangers

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- For the second time in as many days, Bethune-Cookman Baseball saw a catcher selected in the 2016 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft, as redshirt junior Clay Middleton was taken in the 22nd round on Saturday afternoon by the Texas Rangers. Middleton follows classmate Michael Cruz as the second B-CU draft choice, as Cruz was taken by the Chicago Cubs in the seventh round on Friday.

Clay Middleton, a 6-foot, 205-pound catcher from Oviedo, Florida, finished the 2016 season second on the Bethune-Cookman roster in batting average, hitting at a .335 clip on the campaign. The Hagerty High alum earned a spot on the 2016 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) First Team, in addition to helping the Wildcats to their league-leading 18th conference title and a berth in the NCAA Gainesville [Fla.] Regional.

Middleton was the 669th overall selection in this year’s MLB Draft.

Cruz and Middleton join the 2014 MLB Draft class of former Wildcats Keith Zuniga, Montana Durapau and John Sever as players that have served head coach Jason Beverlin, recently completing his fifth year at the helm in Daytona Beach.

In 2016, Middleton played and started in 47 games, most of them coming behind the dish for the Maroon and Gold. He collected 56 hits, adding 31 RBI’s, three home runs and scoring 25 runs. He fielded at a .983 clip, recording 204 putouts and 30 assists.

Across his three-year career, Middleton batted .261 in 138 career games. He added 114 hits and three home runs, all of the latter coming in 2016.

In 2014, Middleton made eight appearances starting behind the dish for the Wildcats before an injury sidelined him for the season, using a medical hardship waiver and a season to rehabilitate. He would go on to earn a medical hardship waiver from the NCAA.

Follow Bethune-Cookman Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/BCUathletics), Twitter (www.twitter.com/BCUDiamondCats) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/BCUBaseball) for all of the latest news and updates. Fans also receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year, via the social media outlets or www.BCUathletics.com.

COURTESY BETHUNE COOKMAN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Riders release ASU's Cyrus after hamstring injury

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- No wonder Malcolm Cyrus' name didn't show up in Saturday's box score.

The former Alabama State star said he injured his hamstring during training camp for Saskatchewan in the Canadian Football League as the Roughriders released him last month.

Saskatchewan opened preseason action Saturday with a 28-16 loss to B.C. Lions.

"It's disappointing because I didn't get to practice but half a day and knowing it came from a hamstring pull," Cyrus said. "But I'm confident that I'll be back next year. It's just the wait that's going to hurt me."

With his speed, moves and shiftiness, Cyrus seemed ideal for the CFL as he has the skill set to take advantage of the wide CFL playing field. The CFL field is 10 yards longer and nearly 13 yards wider than a NFL field.

Cyrus was hoping to get healthy and re-sign with the CFL team, but said he's being sent home. Cyrus pulled his hamstring the first day of camp last month.

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