SCSU Athletics among 10 MEAC programs to ink apparel deal with Nike

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- South Carolina State sports fans will soon have a new reason to Just Do It, whether It is cheering on their student-athletes who will be wearing Nike jerseys or wearing a new SCSU Nike T-shirt to show their Bulldog pride.

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and Nike just entered into a multiyear agreement to have the Nike brand become the official apparel, accessory and equipment provider of the conference until 2020.

Currently, the MEAC has a conference-wide footwear agreement for all 13 member institutions with Nike that began on Sept. 1, 2005, and will end on Aug. 31, 2020.

The apparel, accessory and equipment agreement will begin Sept. 1, 2016 with 10 institutions associated, including Bethune-Cookman, Coppin State, Delaware State, Florida A&M, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Norfolk State, North Carolina A&T State, North Carolina Central, Savannah State, South Carolina State and the MEAC Office.

"It's exciting because our kids were wanting to be Nike for some time now, and it's probably the foremost manufacturer of all in the business," SCSU head football coach Buddy Pough said on Wednesday. "We'll see how the uniforms look and it'll be fun to have something new to give us some pizzazz in our first few games this season.

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FAMU Reorganizes Track, Elevates Darlene Moore to Director

Director Darlene Moore, Ed.D.

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M Athletics announced today that as part of the reorganization of its department, the men’s and women’s track programs will be combined under a single director, with assistants for each of the teams.

Coach Darlene Moore, Ed.D., will assume the new title of Director of Track & Field. Moore’s experience and success over the last few seasons with the Lady Rattlers, both on and off the field, coupled with the economic impact of combining the programs factored into the decision to unify the teams.

Moore has amassed 18 conference championships in her coaching career, including six championships since taking the position at FAMU. This season she repeated as MEAC women’s cross country champion, making it her teams fourth consecutive title. The Lady Rattlers also won back-to-back MEAC outdoor track and field championships under Moore’s leadership the last two seasons.

In addition to the success of the Lady Rattlers on the track, they have been stellar in the classroom. Over the last two season, her teams have had more than a 3.10 G.P.A., carding several perfect NCAA APR scores and placed many of her team members of the MEAC All-Academic team.

“As we Build Champions (In the Class Room on the Field and in Life) we must apply effective and effect industry standard practices to maximize our resources. Combining the men’s and women’s track programs is a natural step towards this effort. Coach Moore has a proven success formula that works for both men and women track and field student-athletes. The ability for the men and women track and field student-athletes to train together will consolidate training philosophy and streamline travel logistics. We thank Marc Small for his dedication to the program over the last two season and wish him well in his future endeavors. Milton Overton

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What to watch for at 2016 SWAC Media Day

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Mississippi State's Dan Mullen finished his media obligations at SEC Media Day on Tuesday, while Ole Miss' Hugh Freeze completed his on Thursday.

On Friday, Mississippi's three SWAC coaches will take their turns in front of the press at SWAC Media Day, which will begin at 10 a.m. from the Birmingham Marriott.

Here's a couple of things to watch out for at SWAC Media Day.

The new guys

It will be the first conference media day for the SWAC's three new coaches: Jackson State's Tony Hughes, Alcorn State's Fred McNair and Texas Southern's Michael Haywood.

Hughes and Haywood are both taking over struggling programs, which combined to win six games in 2015. It's the exact opposite situation for McNair, who was Chanded the keys to a Braves program which has won back-to-back SWAC titles.

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Ram Ramblings: Seeing Gaddy again lifted my spirits

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- I didn’t know what to expect when I arranged to meet Marquise Gaddy at Bowman Gray Stadium’s fieldhouse earlier this week.

Gaddy, who lives with his family in Charlotte, was severely injured last September in a tackling drill and suffered a broken neck and spinal cord injuries.

By some 10 months later when I saw him bounce out of his car and walk to the fieldhouse I was amazed.
As you could imagine the reason I wanted to talk with Gaddy was to see how excited he was about re-enrolling for the fall and getting back to school. I had no idea that Gaddy has bigger plans and is open to the possibility of playing again.

I’ve written a story that will run in the newspaper in the morning but there is so much going on with how powerful a statement Gaddy is making. He looks good, looks taller and weighing at about 185 pounds he doesn’t look at all like somebody who had to learn to walk again.



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Bowie State University Names Shadae Swan Head Women’s Basketball Coach

ATHLETIC DIRECTOR CLYDE DOUGHTY AND SHADAE SWAN

BOWIE, Maryland -- Bowie State University officially named Shadae Swan as head women's basketball coach on Wednesday (7/13) following a national search.

Swan took over leadership of the Bulldogs midway through the 2014-2015 campaign (January 29, 2015). She coached the women's basketball team the entire 2015-2016 season on an interim basis, compiling an overall mark of 11-17 and 3-13 in league (CIAA) play.

Bowie State Athletic Director Clyde Doughty said, "After a very extensive search, it is with profound excitement that I have selected Coach Shadae Swan as the next head women's basketball coach for Bowie State University. Coach Swan is a dedicated professional who is academic minded and driven to achieving a high level of success athletically. Bulldog Nation is looking forward to the upcoming women's basketball season and many, many more under the direction of Coach Swan".

Swan is a graduate of Goucher College, where she earned a bachelor's degree in Communication and Media Studies in 2008, a Master's of Education with a specialization in Athletic Administration in 2010 and another Master's of Arts in Teaching with a dual certification in Elementary/Middle and Special Education in May 2014. Before coming to Bowie State University, Swan was an assistant women's basketball coach at Baltimore City Community College from 2009 to 2010.

"I am blessed, excited and honored to begin this journey as head coach at Bowie State University. All members of the team (coaches and players) have been working extremely hard to prepare for the upcoming season. We will commit to excel in the classroom and on the basketball court while producing leaders as we represent the University with pride and integrity. I would like to thank Mr. Doughty, President Burnim, the Alumni Association and Bowie State staff members for their continued support along this journey", Swan said.

COURTESY BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

OHS grad Cayla William to Savannah State for track

KISSIMMEE, Florida -- Two-event Orange Belt Conference track champion Cayla William will continue her career at Savannah State University in Georgia.

The Osceola Lady Kowboys sprinter won the 100 and 400 meters championships at the OBC meet and she also competed for the school’s relay teams under Coach Eric Pinellas.

She also went to the state meet as a member of the regional champion 4×100 relay with teammates Sadae Davidson, Nydaiyah Pickett and Talyssa Gatlin, continuing Osceola’s tradition of track excellence.


4 Osceola HS (Kissimmee) 49.64 49.632 1) Davidson, Sadae 10 2) William, Cayla 12 3) Pickett, Nydaiyah 11 4) Gatlin, Talyssa 11

“Probably running the relays with my teammates is what I’ll remember the most,” she said during a signing ceremony at the OHS gym.

At Savannah State, she will be a sprinter in the 200 and 400 events under head coach Ted Whitaker, she said.

William considered other offers, but she liked that Savannah State showed continued interest and pursued her.

“My coach (Pinellas) got in touch with them and they were persistent,” she said.
Pinellas said that William worked hard for her opportunity.

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Vazquez Named Alabama State Head Baseball Coach

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Jose' Vazquez has been named Alabama State head baseball coach, Athletic Director Melvin Hines announced today.
 
Vazquez will be formally introduced at a 1 p.m. press conference Thursday at the ASU Stadium Club Lounge.
 
Vazquez has spent 14 seasons as an assistant baseball coach, the last six as Associate Head Coach. In addition to the day-to-day duties of the Alabama State baseball program, Vazquez has coached Hornet hitters and outfielders and is widely regarded as one of the top recruiters in the nation.
 
Vazquez, named the 2013 Assistant Coach of the Year by the Alabama Baseball Coaches Association, has helped Alabama State post a Top 60 recruiting class each year, as rated by Perfect Game, the largest amateur baseball scouting service in the nation.
 
He has played in an integral role in the rise of Alabama State baseball into a championship program. Vazquez helped the Hornets land C Richard Gonzalez and OF Richard Amion in the 2011 signing class, both of whom would go on to earn Freshman All-America accolades in 2012. Those two players, along with another 2011 signee in SS Emmanuel Marrero, would prove to be cornerstone pieces of the ASU program, leading the team to 89 wins from 2012-14. All three players were selected in the 2014 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft.

In 2015, two other freshmen from the initial signing class, RHPs Armando Ruiz and Michael Estevez, along with 2012 signing class pitcher Jorge Pantoja, were drafted for signed to pro contracts.
 
This past season, RHP Angel Alicea was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays, and three-time SWAC Pitcher of the Year Joseph Camacho signed a free agent contract with the Oakland A's. Alabama State has had nine players earn a chance to play professional baseball, with six players drafted, all in the last three seasons.

In 2016, the Hornets set a school record with 64 home runs as Alabama State baseball won a school record 38 games, including an unprecedented 24-0 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play, in winning the first SWAC Championship in program history and earning ASU first berth to the Division I NCAA Baseball Tournament.
 
Prior to Alabama State, Vazquez spent the previous nine seasons as assistant coach at Bethune-Cookman, with 2011 his first as Associate Head Coach. Vazquez played a prominent role in the programs' success, bringing in players that posted a staggering 100-4 MEAC record over the final six seasons, all ending in conference titles and NCAA Tournament appearances.

Playing under former ASU head coach Mervyl Melendez at B-CU, Vazquez earned all-conference honors as a catcher in his only season with the Wildcats, transferring there for his senior season in 2002. As a starter, Vazquez helped post the best record in school history (39-22), including the programs' only NCAA Regional victory over Florida International. Vazquez then joined the coaching ranks, first as a student in 2003 and, upon graduating, a full-time assistant.

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS