Luke Johnson breaks down the SWAC's 2017 football outlook

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- FOUR KEY GAMES

Grambling at Tulane, Sept. 2: This has no bearing on the SWAC race, but it should be a barometer of how good Grambling is. Can the Tigers pull off an upset against a rebuilding FBS team on the road?

Southern at Alcorn State, Sept. 23: This is the
SWAC's biggest early season matchup, as two teams that figure to contend meet up in Week 4. Southern snapped a long losing streak to Alcorn State in Lorman last year. Can the Jaguars top the Braves again?

Jackson State at Prairie View, Sept. 30: Two of the league’s dark-horse candidates meet in Texas, and the contrasting styles should be interesting, with Jackson State’s tough defense matching up against a potent Prairie View offense.

Southern vs. Grambling, Nov. 25 in New Orleans: The Bayou Classic is always appointment viewing, but will it carry the same weight as last year’s game between rivals unbeaten in SWAC play? That’s likely up to Southern, since Grambling looks like the heavy favorite to win the league.

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Judge rules FAMU doesn't have to pay fired basketball coach Clemon Johnson

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- A Leon County circuit judge has sided with Florida A&M University in a breach-of-contract lawsuit filed by former men's basketball coach Clemon Johnson, who was fired in April 2014 after three years in the job.

Judge James Shelfer this month issued a brief order granting summary judgment to the university. Johnson, a former Florida A&M and NBA basketball player, argued, in part, that he had a four-year guaranteed contract and that the university breached it by firing him a year early for “convenience.”

FAMU argued in court documents that it followed university regulations in deciding not to reappoint Johnson.

Johnson was fired in April of 2014 in the third year of a four-year contract after leading the Rattlers to a 14-18 record in his final season. He was let go a week after Kellen Winslow was introduced as the school's athletic director.

Winslow resigned Dec. 15, 2014.

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N.C. A&T Men's Golf Release Their Inaugural Schedule

GREENSBORO, North Carolina – The inaugural season of the men’s golf team is only a month away. N.C. A&T men’s and women’s golf coach Richard Watkins released the schedule on Monday with eight tournaments scheduled over two semesters. The men will share four of those tournaments with the women’s golf team.

“It will be easy for people to expect from these gentlemen the same success our ladies had in their first season,” said Watkins. “Both teams are playing golf, yes, but they are facing different circumstances as well. We must let these young men make their own path to success and grow. As the season progresses, I think they will get better and better.”

2017-18 A&T Men's Golf Schedule

The men will hit the tee for the first time on Sept. 18 when they participate in the Queen University of Charlotte Invitational, Sept. 18-19 at par 72, 7,099-yard at The Club at Irish Creek course in Kannapolis, N.C. In their next tournament, the men will join the women for the women’s season opener at the Hampton Collegiate Golf Invite at the par 72, 7,000-yard Sleepy Hole Golf Course. The first and second rounds begins at 8:30 a.m., with shotgun starts. The men will play 36 holes on Sept. 25 and 18 holes on Sept. 26. The women will play 18 holes on both days.

After a month away from competition, the men will participate in the VSU Trojan Fall Classic hosted by Virginia State in Petersburg, Va. The par 72, 6,605-yard Dogwood Trace Golf Course will host the tournament, Oct. 23-24. It will be their final tournament of the semester before they open the spring semester at the B-CU Wildcat Invitational at the par 72, 5,952 yard LPGA International Golf Course in Daytona Beach, Fla. The men will play March 1-2 in Daytona Beach before the women play on March 3-4.

On March 11-12, the men will travel to Leland, N.C., to participate in the Cape Fear National at Brunswick Forest. The men will also participate in the MEAC Invitational and the PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Tournament, but those dates have not been set.

NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Stanley Cromartie Named 8th AD in Edward Waters History

STANLEY CROMARTIE

JACKSONVILLE, Florida -- Edward Waters College President, Dr. Nathaniel Glover, Jr., has removed the interim tag from Stanley B. Cromartie and has promoted him to be the new Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. With his appointment, Cromartie becomes the eighth full-time Director of Intercollegiate Athletics in EWC history.

A 1990 graduate of EWC, Cromartie "came home" to his alma mater in 2010 where he served as the Assistant Athletic Director in charge of day-to-day operations under former Athletic Director Johnny Rembert. "Cro" as he is known around the EWC community has been instrumental in revitalizing and re-energizing students, alumni, & fans of Edward Waters to be passionate in their support of the athletics programs.

 "I am honored and humbled to accept this position as the Athletic Director at Edward Waters College." said Cromartie. "This institution gave me my degree and I have a responsibility to give back and take this program to even higher heights."

He has also been key in bringing unprecedented revenue to the athletic department with fundraising efforts such as the annual Athletic Department Gala, which has featured keynote speakers such as NFL Hall of Famer Darrell Green and Rev. Cecil Newton, Sr., the father of NFL All-Pro quarterback Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers. Cromartie also helped engineer two of the biggest paydays for the football program with guarantee games against Alcorn State in 2013 and Tennessee State in 2014 ($65,000 for ASU & $75,000 for TSU) and has also worked deals to make Under Armour an official outfitter of Tigers athletics.

Academically, Edward Waters student-athletes have made record breaking strides under Cromartie's leadership. In 2016-17, EWC student-athletes finished with a combined 3.16 grade point average, one of the highest combined GPA's in program history. In 2016, football student-athlete Sean Adkison was named Salutatorian while in women's track & field athlete Ariane Vitale and baseball student-athlete Alberto Rivera were named Valedictorian and Salutatorian, respectively for the Class of 2017. For the past two school years, EWC has led the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference with the highest number of student-athletes on the Commissioner's Honor Roll and has several student-athletes who have received national academic honors as well.

"I have always said that our program is the best kept secret in America." Cromartie continued. "Now, it's my job along with all of those who support Tiger Nation to not keep this secret to ourselves and continue to do all that we can to ensure that this is the best athletic department in the country."

EDWARD WATERS COLLEGE ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

With stadium on way, Edward Waters hopeful of new football era

COURTESY: EDWARD WATERS COLLEGE TIGERS ATHLETICS

JACKSONVILLE, Florida -- The first brick hasn’t yet been set in place for the new home of Edward Waters College football.

But for head coach Alvin Wyatt, the anticipation is already building.

“I’m excited and I haven’t even seen it yet,” he said.

Wyatt looked forward to his fourth full season at the helm of Tigers football at the 151-year-old school’s media day at the Adams-Jenkins Sports Center on Wednesday.

Mayor Lenny Curry proposed more than $4 million for athletic field upgrades at the school in his annual budget in July, a move that - among other things - would help give the football team a permanent home.

“Any time you can have your own football facility on the campus, it brings excitement for the student body. It makes alums more engaged, and it makes this community more engaged,” interim athletic director Stanley Cromartie said.

Cromartie said the field would include bleachers, a press box and a walking track around the field. He’s hopeful that the stadium would be completed in time for the 2018 football season.

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S.C. STATE FOOTBALL: Pough expects young players to step up in secondary

COURTESY : SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- By all accounts from South Carolina State head football Coach Pough and his defensive staff, the 2017 Bulldogs appear to be solid along the defensive front and at the linebacker position.

But there is some pause for concern when it comes to the S.C. State secondary, usually the last line of defense.

Two 2016 starters — All-MEAC safety Phillip Henry, the 2016 leader in interceptions (six) and pass breakups (10), and cornerback Marquise Jones -- have graduated, leaving some big shoes to fill and somewhat of a scramble to establish the depth needed at defensive back, according to Pough.

“Not having a talent like Henry is a big loss for our team, and Jones was a good player for us as well,” Pough said. “We have our work cut out for us to try and get close (talent-wise) to where we were last year.”

Strong safety Jason Baxter (6-2, 185 Gr.), a 2016 All-MEAC second-team selection and a 2017 preseason first-team choice, is one of two starters returning in the secondary. Baxter was third on the team in total tackles last season with 55, including 4.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions. The Manning native is playing his final year of eligibility as a graduate student.

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Lane College football Media Day 2017

JACKSON, Tennessee — With two weeks before the Lane College Dragons hit the field, the team talked about getting more wins to get more fans in the seats.

Head Coach Derrick Burroughs says the 5-5 record in 2016 was disappointing and that team could have won two or three more games.

This season lane is working with only a few returners on defense but is loaded on offense with 10 of 11 returning players. Coaches and players say winning more games is the goal this season and to put Lane College on the map in the conference.

“I don’t think that’s what we’re all here for, to be average,” Lane Head Football Coach Derrick Burroughs said. It’s very easy to be average. I don’t expect that from our football team. We want to be better than average.”

“I plan to run the table,” Lane running back Marcus Holliday said. “For all the teams in the SIAC, we coming for y’all. Y’all put us 4th, its all good though.”

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