Mike Gillespie hired as head coach Jacksonville Jam, PBL

Photo: Mike Gillespie makes final cuts on the nets after FAMU Rattlers won 2007 MEAC Tournament Championship and the conference automatic bid to NCAA Tournament.

from Jacksonville Jam Press Release

Premier Basketball League (PBL) Jacksonville Jam

Jacksonville, Fla., - The Jacksonville JAM, Jacksonville's professional basketball team announced that former Florida A&M head coach Mike Gillespie will be joining the JAM coaching staff as Head Coach for the upcoming 2007-2008 Premier Basketball League season.

"Mike Gillespie is one of the most outstanding basketball minds in the country and his presence here with the Jam will help elevate an already impressive roster that we are forming for the upcoming season." stated Jam GM Felix Krupczynski. "It is a rare opportunity to bring in the experience, drive and knowledge that someone like Coach Gillespie brings to an organization."

The Joliet, Illinois native began his impressive coaching career on the high school level in his home state, winning 223 games from 1974 through 1987. Then he moved south to Florida, beginning his college coaching career at St. Leo College (now University) in St. Leo, Florida (just north of Tampa). There, he won 26 games in two seasons (1988-89 to 1989-90), including a 15-12 mark his first year. Gillespie then moved to Tallahassee, where he built the now nationally-renowned Tallahassee Community College program from scratch. From 1991-92 to 2000-01, Gillespie spun gold in Tallahassee, guiding the Eagles to 258 wins in 10 seasons. He compiled back-to-back 30-plus win seasons in 1995-96 (30-2) and 1996-97 (35-2), and his teams were annually ranked among the nation's best junior college programs.

He then moved down the road to Division I Florida A&M, where over the last six seasons, he compiled a record of 60-64, won two Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championships, and made two NCAA tournament appearances in 2004 and 2007. This past season he led the Rattlers to their first 20-win season since 1989-1990.

Photo: Mike Gillespie coaching the FAMU Rattlers during timeout with Delaware State Hornets at 2007 MEAC Championship game. Gillespie took the Rattlers to two automatic bids to the NCAA Championship Tournament.

"I am extremely excited about having Coach Gillespie join our organization" stated associate head coach Scott Cooper. "I have known Coach G for over 15 years and he has been a mentor to me throughout my basketball career". "His guidance and savvy will certainly be a tremendous asset in our drive to attain a championship for the City of Jacksonville."

The Jacksonville JAM successfully launched its inaugural season in the 2006-2007 American Basketball Association. The JAM emerged on the scene as a premier sports and entertainment organization entertaining and delighting their fans throughout Jacksonville and beyond. The Jam will now tip-off their second season at the University of North Florida as a member of the Premier Basketball League.

WJXE TV-15 will now broadcast all of the JAM games throughout the season for both home and road games. The team's pre-season and regular season schedule will be released later this month. For information on season tickets, log on to www.jaxjam.com/contact/tickets.html or call 904-302-5323. For more information on the excitement and buzz being created by your Jacksonville JAM, visit us at www.jaxjam.com.

FAMU Notebook: FAMU Rattlers vs. Norfolk State Spartans tonight

Compiled by BEEPBEEP, MEAC/SWAC Sports Main Street

Photo: The "Welcome" signs are out for MEAC foe Norfolk State University and the Spartans maybe just what the doctor ordered to get the FAMU Rattlers healthy and back on the winning track. The Rattlers are 9-0 lifetime against the NSU Spartans.

The stormy weather that is coming into the Tallahassee area this evening, shifts the game favorite from Norfolk State University to our FAMU Rattlers. Let it rain, let it rain--to stop that MEAC #2 ranked passer in QB Casey Hansen and the NSU #3 ranked offense. Not that we don't have faith in the Rattlers, but every element from God helps.

The Rattlers received good and bad news yesterday as follows:

• WR Willie Hayward may be back from grieving the passing of this grandmother. If so, what kind of mental shape is he in for playing the game tonight? If he is in fact back and plays, don't count on Hayward to be a factor this evening (period).


• Robert Love, r-freshman QB has been officially ruled academically ineligible to play this season. Love is the message board coaching experts favorite to lead the Rattlers to the championship promise land, but that plan was derailed by a preseason suspension which carried over to the first three games. Love may become the best quarterback in Rattler- lore that never plays a down of football for FAMU, unless he is able to get on track.


• Freshman QB Gregory Tobias Lee will be unavailable for tonight's game. Coach Rubin Carter was quoted as stating, "Lee has a university-related issue that he needs to get taken care of." "This will keep him from participating in all activities of the team," as was stated in an article from the Tallahassee Democrat. There is more accuracy of the FAMU situation coming from the TDO message board than from our beat writers. The "MB coaches" indicates that Lee will be red shirted as he has not played in any games this season. We all like the size and strength of Lee and he needs time to develop.


• Who says Coach Rubin Carter does not accept tranfers? FAMU has a new name to get accustomed to in Football Bowl Subdivision (1-A) Troy University transfer QB Jeb Tyre from Class 1A Vernon High School. Tyre was on the 1A All-State second team in 2004. He is a walked-on FAMU player and will be activated as the third string QB for tonight's game. Who? What? That theory is now dead regarding 1-A transfers coming to FAMU.


• Four starters will be back for NSU game: DE Tyrone McGriff, DE Carlos Rolle, SS Ernest Williams and LB Victoriano Arboleda.

Photo: Norfolk State University QB Casey Hansen, #3 is a marked man in tonights game. Hansen has completed 96 of 180 passes for 1255 yards and 4 TDs on the season.

The MB coaches says Albert Chester II wants to return to the Rattlers. As a supporter of Chester, I say, depart from us--we never knew you! I rather the Rattlers fail with class as a team than let that selfish AC2 come back and make a greater mess of the present situation.

The greater question is how will all of this impact the Rattlers tonight? Our guess is the Rattlers will play their best game tonight to regain respect by knocking off FCS #25 ranked Norfolk State University. Just run the damn ball down NSU throat! NSU can't stop the run and FAMU can control the clock. If FAMU plays conservative and Norfolk State will crack like they did last year in that 36-33 OT loss to the Rattlers. QB Casey Hansen is a load, but he can be stopped if pressure is put on him from the defensive line. We expect FAMU to sack Hansen like a 235 pound bag of sugar.

This all should make for an exciting Thursday night game, but remember--NOT on ESPNU so you have to go to this game.

THE GAME WILL BE ON FAMCAST ON THE INTERNET LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. TONIGHT AT: http://www.famu.edu/?a=famcast

Florida A&M University Incomparable Marching 100 --(Playing: All we do is think of you (Rattlers))

Gallery: ALL MEAC DE Kendall Langford, Hampton University Pirates

Photo Gallery: Kendall Langford, All-American/All-MEAC Defensive Player of the Year (preseason), #98, 6-6/294 DE, Sr. Petersburg, VA, Petersburg H.S.

What are they saying about this big guy....

• Hampton's top tackler, 39 in six games.
• Plays with passion of a "big cat" that will not be denied at 6-6/294 and runs with speed and power.
• Made 11 tackles and 1.5 sacks against rival Norfolk State in the Battle of the Bay game last week.
• Enough speed to run down running backs from behind.
• Consistent performer and leader of Hampton's defense; can beat double and triple team and impossible to stop one-on-one without illegal holding.
• NFL Pro scouts have discovered him and projects a possible 3rd or 4th round draft position.
• Solid student, outstanding player, excellent All-MEAC performer that is taking care of business in the classroom and on the football field.
  
  Definitely a division I level talent that selected Hampton University for academics first, and football. Kendall Langford may surprise all of us and get drafted higher by a smart NFL general manager. He is traveling the same path as last year's 3-Time All-MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, Jacksonville Jaguars ILB, Justin Durant (Hampton University), who was drafted #48, NFL second round pick.
  
  --beepbeep

Grambling State Band: How are they this season?

If you have not heard the famous band from the deep, deep South--here is a clip for your listening pleasure. We all know Grambling football team is headed for the SWAC Championship but is the band up to their usual championship quality? Holla back and let me know your opinions....

Grambling State University Tiger Marching Band (@ UAPB 10/13/07)

SSU undecided about Kilcrease's playing status

Photo: QB JaCorey Kilcrease

By Noell Barnidge, Savannah Morning News

Savannah State starting quarterback JaCorey Kilcrease practiced Tuesday but he will have his left (non-throwing) shoulder re-evaluated by the team's physician today, SSU sports information director Opio Mashariki said.

Kilcrease re-aggravated his shoulder while being hit after a 20-yard scramble with 4 minutes remaining in the first half of SSU's 32-14 loss at Morehouse last Saturday night.

It was Kilcrease's first time playing in a game since Sept. 15, when he separated the shoulder against Bethune-Cookman. The sophomore was sidelined against Fort Valley State (Sept. 29) and Charleston Southern (Oct. 6).

Kilcrease's status for the Tigers' game Saturday against North Carolina Central is undetermined. SSU (1-5) will play host to NCCU (5-2) at 1 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.
NCCU defeated North Greenville, 17-14, last Saturday. The Eagles are competing in their first season in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA).
The Durham school is the defending Black College Football national champion and won the NCAA Division II Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship last season.

McCrary developing at QB

If Kilcrease can't play Saturday, freshman Greg McCrary will start at quarterback. McCrary produced the best performance of his career against Morehouse, leading SSU's offense with 112 total yards.

He ran 10 times for 40 yards, and was 5-for-11 passing for 72 yards and two touchdowns. He was intercepted once, did not fumble and was not sacked.

"We were happy with the way (McCrary) played," SSU second-year coach Theo Lemon said. "He did some things where we had a chance to score some points. We haven't done a lot of that in the last three weeks."

After the Charleston Southern game, McCrary said he was having trouble adjusting to the speed of the college game, something that Lemon said only experience can alleviate.

Against Morehouse, McCrary took over for Kilcrease and led SSU to its first scoring drive in 10 quarters when he connected with freshman running back Justin Babb for a 34-yard touchdown early in the third quarter.

McCrary found wide receiver Deleon Hollinger for a 21-yard touchdown late in the third quarter. Hollinger, a sophomore from Miami, caught two passes for a team-high 25 yards.

Johnson still punter; Justiniano out for season

After the Charleston Southern game, Lemon said the starting job at punter was up for grabs between senior Jeremy Johnson and freshman Brandon Webster, a McIntosh County Academy graduate.

Lemon said the starter for the Morehouse game would be determined by how Johnson and Webster performed during practice last week.

Johnson kept the starting job and executed all five of the Tigers' punts against the Maroon Tigers for a 31.8-yard average, including two attempts inside Morehouse's 20-yard line. His longest punt traveled 36 yards.

Johnson also made an extra point and kicked off once while filling in for sophomore kicker Luis Justiniano, who was injured against Morehouse.

Justiniano is out for the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in one of his knees, Mashariki said.

Justiniano, a walk-on from Bluffton (S.C.) High School and Armstrong Atlantic State, was 1-for-5 on field goals and 6-for-7 on extra points this season.
SSU senior defensive end Dominique Clark (ankle sprain) will not play against NCCU, Mashariki said.

Beach High grad led all receivers

Morehouse wide receiver James Steadman, a Beach High School graduate, made five catches for 58 yards, both game highs, against SSU.

Steadman, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound junior, is the Maroon Tigers' leading receiver with 26 receptions for 402 yards and two touchdowns. He has played in six of seven games for Morehouse (5-2).

Defensive standouts

SSU junior middle linebacker Calvin Leonard made a game-high 12 tackles against Morehouse.

Sophomore strong safety Antwan Allen and junior weakside linebacker Chris Herans made 10 tackles apiece.

Allen and junior free safety Javorris Jackson each intercepted passes. Jackson has a team-high four of the Tigers' nine interceptions.

EKU rout of Tennessee State Tigers lights fire for coach

Photo: TSU Head Football Coach James Webster

By MIKE ORGAN, Tennessean

Webster uses lopsided loss to spur his team

Tennessee State Coach James Webster won't say he's bitter.

He won't say he's out for revenge.

But he won't deny that he vividly remembers Eastern Kentucky continuing to try to pile on points late in the game during Webster's first season at TSU.

The Tigers (3-3, 2-0 OVC) play at Eastern Kentucky (5-2, 4-0) Saturday in a match-up that pits the only Ohio Valley Conference teams with unbeaten conference records.

"I remember when it was 49 to nothing and they were still trying to score at the end of the game,'' Webster said Tuesday. "I remember it. There's no bitterness. I just remember it."

In 2005, Eastern Kentucky, comfortably ahead 35-0 after three quarters, tacked on two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. The last was an 11-yard pass from the starting quarterback to a starting wide receiver with 6:23 left to play.

The 49-0 loss stands as TSU's worst under Webster.

Not only does Webster remember the rout, but he's also making sure his players do as well. He's reminded them not only of the lopsided loss in 2005, but also of last year's 20-3 loss in Richmond, a game that TSU went into still clinging to hopes of sharing the OVC championship.

"The last two times we lost to them are a factor in my mind,'' Webster said. "Those are games our players need to think about and realize that this football team needs to take a step. Eastern Kentucky obviously has been, and is one of the top teams in the OVC. That's the level we're trying to get to."

Webster is not surprised that EKU stands between his team and the primary goal it set at the start of the season, to win the OVC title.

"Obviously, in order to get into the position to win the OVC we've got to beat Eastern Kentucky,'' Webster said. "This is a very important game for us. And I would like to think that we've learned something from the first two games when we played them since I've been here."

Injury updates: Starting defensive nose tackle Lamar Divens likely will miss Saturday's game with a sprained foot and high ankle sprain, which limited his action last week against Tennessee Tech.

Starting wide receiver Troy Smith (quadriceps muscle), who didn't play against Tech, also is doubtful along with defensive back Brandon Blackmon (knee), and defensive tackle Harold Ayodele (ankle).

Webster also said the chances of tight end Antonio Graham (broken hand) returning this season are not good.

Tennessee State University Aristocrat of Bands (@ SU 2007)

No early rest for the N.C. Central women

Photo: NCCU Head Women's Basketball Coach Joli D. Robinson

By MIKE POTTER, The Herald-Sun

Joli Robinson couldn't get practice started quite early enough for her N.C. Central women's basketball team.

McLendon-McDougald Gym wasn't available over the weekend because of homecoming festivities, so the Eagles couldn't get started preparing for their first season of Division I competition on Friday when most teams did.

But they were ready to go at 5:15 on Monday. That's 5:15 a.m., and players were required to be on site by 4:45. That pattern will be the pattern for four weeks.

"I never get that much sleep during the season anyway," said Robinson, who will enter her 13th season with a 181-135 record that includes four 20-win seasons including a 26-6 mark and a CIAA title last season.

She may be getting even less sleep this season. The Eagles will be facing 14 Division I foes in 26 games, with all of those games on the road. The biggest challenges are in their season opener, Nov. 9 at UNC (34-4 last season), and their Jan. 3 game at Duke (32-2).

"Those are games we need to play," Robinson said of the local challenges. "They should be good experiences for our student-athletes."

The measuring-stick game may be on Nov. 20 when NCCU travels to traditional MEAC power Coppin State (25-8 last season) in a battle of Eagles. The two shared the Black College National championship.

NCCU lost some major firepower from last season, as all-time leading scorer Cassie King (16.5 points per game, 7.9 rebounds) finished her career and had her jersey retired. Additionally, both sophomore LaQuanda Williams (14.2, 5.6) and classmate Jasmine Newkirk (11.2, 3.2) will miss this season because of separate violations of team policy.

But Robinson is most concerned about the road, where NCCU will play all but six games including the first 10.

"We'll just have to get used to it," the coach said.

And they'll be going as far away as Tallahassee, Fla.; Nashville, Tenn.; Pittsburgh; and Wilberforce, Ohio by bus.

"I'd rather go by bus than fly," Robinson said. "That way you have more control over when you leave."

The Eagles return six of their top nine scorers, led by sophomore center Jori Nwachukwu (11.7, 9.3). Guards Jennifer Hukill (5.9, 1.1) and Jordan High alumna Casey Daniel (4.6, 1.8) are the only seniors. Guards LaVonna Hailey (5.7, 5.6 assists) and Northern alumna Tonia Roundtree (4.2, 2.4 rebs.) are juniors and post player Latoya Bennett (4.0, 3.3 rebs) a sophomore.

"We're all going to have to score more," Hukill said. "I know I have to step up my game and show I can do things other than shoot 3-pointers."

Robinson said 6-0 center Losamo Osby from Richmond, Va., and 5-9 guard Shanice Blanks of Wilmington New Hanover have been the most impressive of the current freshmen.

"They're all looking pretty good," Roundtree said of the newcomers. "I'm looking forward to the challenge of this season. Some people are expecting us to get blown out, so we don't have anything to lose."

NOTES -- The Eagles will have two exhibition games -- at home against Virginia State on Nov. 3 and at Wake Forest on Nov. 7 -- before taking on the Blue Devils. ... Daniel is in her fourth season with the Eagles. If NCCU wins at least 14 games, she will become the first player in school history to participate in four straight winning seasons.

2007-08 NCCU Women's Basketball Schedule

Day Date Opponent Location Time/Result Record

SAT. NOV. 03 VIRGINIA STATE (EXHIBITION) DURHAM, NC 2:00 PM
Wed. Nov. 7 at Wake Forest (Exhibition) Winston-Salem, NC 7:00 pm
Fri. Nov. 9 at North Carolina Chapel Hill, NC 8:30 pm
Mon. Nov. 12 at Elon Elon, NC 7:00 pm
Wed. Nov. 14 at Maryland Eastern Shore Princess Anne, MD 7:00 pm
Fri. Nov. 16 at Appalachian State Boone, NC 7:00 pm
Tues. Nov. 20 at Coppin State Baltimore, MD 7:00 pm
Wed. Nov. 21 at Morgan State Baltimore, MD 5:30 pm
Fri. Nov. 23 vs Lenoir-Rhyne (Catawba Classic) Salisbury, NC 6:00 pm
Sat. Nov. 24 at Catawba (Catawba Classic) Salisbury, NC 4:00 pm
Thurs. Nov. 29 at Tennessee State Nashville, TN 7:00 pm
Wed. Dec. 5 at Armstrong Atlantic Savannah, GA 7:00 pm
FRI. DEC. 7 ELIZABETH CITY STATE
(Lady Eagle Classic)
Fayetteville State vs. Barton - 7:30 pm DURHAM, NC 5:30 PM
SAT. DEC. 8 FAYETTEVILLE STATE
(Lady Eagle Classic)
Barton vs. Elizabeth City State - 2:00 pm DURHAM, NC 4:00 PM
Sat. Dec. 15 at Florida A&M Tallahassee, FL 2:00 pm
Mon. Dec.17 at Bethune-Cookman Daytona Beach, FL 5:30 pm
Sat. Dec. 22 at Towson Towson, MD 2:00 pm
SUN. DEC. 30 MERCY COLLEGE DURHAM, NC 2:00 PM
Thurs. Jan. 3 at Duke Durham, NC 7:00 pm
Sat. Jan. 5 at High Point High Point, NC 7:00 pm
Mon. Jan. 7 at Duquesne Pittsburgh, PA 7:00 pm
WED. JAN. 9 NORFOLK STATE DURHAM, NC 6:30 PM
Sat. Jan. 12 at West Virginia Tech Montgomery, WV 6:00 pm
SAT. JAN. 19 WEST VIRGINIA TECH DURHAM, NC 2:00 PM
Mon. Feb. 4 at Fayetteville State Fayetteville, NC 7:00 pm
Wed. Feb. 6 at Central State Wilberforce,OH 7:00 pm
Fri. Feb. 8 at Lincoln Lincoln, PA 5:30 pm
SAT. FEB. 16 LIVINGSTONE DURHAM, NC 2:00 PM

Home Games at McLendon-McDougald Gym in CAPS