Clark Atlanta University Suspends Men's Track and Field

ATLANTA, Georgia -- After reviewing the impact on the institution and the department of athletics, Clark Atlanta University has opted to suspend Men's Track and Field. The resulting reduction will bring the number of sponsored sports at CAU to 10 - four men's and six women's sports.

"For the next few years, Clark Atlanta University has suspended the Men's Track program after evaluating the entire athletic program" stated CAU Athletics Director J. Lin Dawson. "Suspending or reducing a varsity sport is not an easy decision. The decision to right size the department was based on resources, competitiveness, gender equity, and facilities."

The men's cross country team and women's running sports will not be affected and will continue to compete.

"Several young men will be impacted. These young men give their hearts and souls in representing Clark Atlanta University. The Men's Cross Country program is still a varsity supported sport at CAU."

"We will continue fundraising efforts to install a new track and to create a sustainable competitive program. While the Men's Track program is suspended, although a small consolation, the University will work to provide opportunities for young men to run unattached at several meets where CAU competes."

Clark Atlanta University had 3,500 students for the 2015-16 school year with roughly 74% of the enrollment base as female students.

COURTESY CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Former Jackson State tennis coach acted unethically, failed to monitor program

JACKSON, Mississippi -- A former Jackson State University men’s tennis head coach violated NCAA ethical conduct rules when he allowed an ineligible student-athlete to compete under an eligible student-athlete’s name, according to a decision issued by a Division I Committee on Infractions panel.

Download the Jackson State Public Infractions Decision

The former coach also failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance within the tennis program. He provided impermissible benefits to a prospect during recruitment and later permitted the same student-athlete, who was a nonqualifer upon enrollment, to practice and compete.

The director of compliance notified the former coach that the student-athlete was a nonqualifer when the recruit enrolled and therefore was ineligible for practice and competition. Despite knowing that, the former coach allowed the student-athlete to practice with the team. The former coach also allowed the student-athlete to receive travel-related expenses on two occasions, contrary to NCAA rules.

The former coach provided the student-athlete with impermissible recruiting benefits when he was a prospect. The panel determined those actions were a Level III violation, or isolated in nature.

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, the involved individual 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.

Penalties and corrective measures include the following:

Public reprimand and censure for the university.

One year of probation for the university from July 1, 2016, to June, 30, 2017.

A two-year show-cause order for the former coach from July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2018. During that period, if he is hired at an NCAA member school, he is prohibited from all coaching and recruiting duties.

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

A $5,000 fine.

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, 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.

COURTESY NCAA PUBLIC AND MEDIA RELATIONS

Wagner College hoop transfers find home in MEAC

STATEN ISLAND, New York -- Following Wagner College's 23-11 season, guard Aaren Edmead and forward Japhet Kadji announced their intentions to transfer.

They did, and now the two sophomores have reportedly landed in the same place.

The two will have to sit out next season for the Aggies, who were 10-22 overall and 7-9 in the MEAC last year.

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W-S Prep athlete heads to Fayetteville State with scholarship

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Former Winston-Salem Prep Academy player Kala Robinson grew up being a cheerleader. As she watched her older sister play basketball her focus changed.

Robinson has signed her letter of intent to play basketball for the Lady Broncos of Fayetteville State University.

The 5’9” Robinson said her favorite aspect of playing basketball is playing as a team and sharing the ball. Her favorite player is Camille Little of the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA. Little is from Winston-Salem and played at Carver High School before becoming a star player for the UNC Tar Heels.

“I was really overwhelmed and I was really happy because it was proof all of my hard work paid off,” said Robinson of her scholarship.

With her height, Robinson says at the high school level she was able to overpower smaller guards and her shooting touch and speed enabled her to out maneuver forwards. “In high school when girls guarded me, it would be a mismatch because I was usually stronger than them,” Robinson said. “I need to get stronger for the next level because when I went to an open gym at Fayetteville State, those girls were really strong.”

Kala Robinson’s father, Alvin Robinson, was very happy for his daughter and the success she had on the court.

“I’m proud of her. She always wanted to go to a CIAA school because of the hype of the conference,” said Alvin Robinson. “I am more proud of the fact she is able to live her dream and not the dream of my wife and I.”

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Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Names Inaugural Class: Dr. Dick Barnett, Travis Grant, Bob Hopkins, Earl Monroe, Willis Reed, Clarence Gaines and John McLendon Makes Slate

EVANSVILLE, Indiana -- It is with great enthusiasm and excitement that Small College Basketball announces the inaugural Hall of Fame Class of inductees into the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame.

The 2016 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held on Thursday, Nov. 17 at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana. Fans may purchase tickets/tables to the Hall of Fame Induction through the following link, www.HoFClassic.com, or by calling 812-421-2212.
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Players

Dr. Dick Barnett (Tennessee A&I)
Bevo Francis (Rio Grande)
John Ebeling (Florida Southern)
Travis Grant (Kentucky State)
Bob Hopkins (Grambling)
Lucious Jackson (Pan American College)
Phil Jackson (North Dakota)
Earl Monroe (Winston-Salem State)
Willis Reed (Grambling)
John Rinka (Kenyon)
Jerry Sloan (Evansville)

Coaches

Clarence Gaines (Winston-Salem State)
Arad McCutchan (Evansville)
John McLendon (North Carolina College, Hampton, Tennessee State, Kentucky State, Cleveland State)

READ BIO AND MORE HERE

Ram Ramblings: Monroe, Gaines heading to Small College Hall of Fame

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -- If you are going to have college basketball hall of fame dedicated to the small colleges and universities, Big House Gaines and Earl “The Pearl” Monroe are two of the initial inductees that make sense.

The Small College Basketball Hall of Fame, a new hall of fame that will be in Evansville, Indiana has been started.

The induction ceremony will be held Nov. 17 at the Ford Center.

Gaines, who died in April of 2005, guided WSSU to 828 wins in a 47-year career that included a national championship.

Monroe, 71, played at WSSU in the late 1960s and went on to become one of the all-time greats in the NBA.

“I’m just reading the e-mail as you called,” Monroe said by telephone today from New York. “I had no idea or any inkling that this was going to happen but it’s exciting for all of us who went to small colleges.”

Monroe was especially happy that Gaines, one of his mentors, is recognized for his contributions to basketball.

“It’s absolutely terrific that coach Gaines is going in as well and you can’t forget John McLendon also going in,” Monroe said about McLendon, the former N.C. Central coach.

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Wood excited for upcoming season, Rattlers in summer phase of program

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Just like last year, Florida A&M head coach Alex Wood has a strong focus on academics in the summer phase of his program.

Veteran Rattlers have been in summer school since May 9 while also participating in summer workouts. Wood said freshmen reported on June 21 and started class on Monday after going through a team orientation.

Wood, in his second year as head coach, said his players are understanding the expectations he placed on them – they aren’t going anywhere any time soon.

“It’s a new year,” Wood said. “We’re undefeated. That’s what I’m excited about. It’s a new team and I like these guys’ attitudes. They’re working at it. I like the way they’re coming together as a team and working well together. I’m excited about that aspect.

“It’s always a work in progress as we go. This is our second year. I think kids understand last year wasn’t just something we did because it was our first year, that’s the program. It was that way last year and it’ll be that way this year – doesn’t matter if we won no games or one game or ten games. That’s the program and that’s how we’ll go.”

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