Grambling State fires both head basketball coaches

By GSU Sports Information

GRAMBLING, La. – The Grambling State University Department of Athletics has announced that head men’s basketball coach Larry Wright and head women’s coach David “Rusty” Ponton will not be retained for the 2008-09 season.

"I applaud the dedication both head coaches have put into their programs during their tenure at Grambling," stated Grambling State Director of Athletics Troy Mathieu. "However, as we look to take our basketball programs to a higher level of competitiveness, a change in leadership was necessary.” ,

The university will begin the process of conducting a comprehensive search to fill both positions. While the search is taking place, Senior Woman Administrator and Lady Tiger assistant coach Sharon Perkins and men’s assistant coach Kenny Sykes will serve as interim coaches for their respective programs.

B-CU speedsters on Thunderbirds

DAYTONA BEACH -- Lamont Finnie and Louis Brown first met on the streets -- the streets of Bethune-Cookman University.

The two Daytona Beach Thunderbirds speedsters shared a common bond there.

"Me and Louis met back at Bethune, we were racing on the street with each other. We'd race and everything on the strip on foot," said Finnie, whose Thunderbirds play their Arena Football League2 home opener Sunday vs. Wilkes-Barre. "It was 60 yards. Everybody comes out. They say, 'You're fast,' well, then they text you and tell you to come out to race. If somebody calls you out, you go race."

Apparently, foot-racing is an age-old tradition among the football players and students at B-CU.

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This must be a southern thing--running in the streets for no other purpose than someone called you out...

Relief pitcher Ross stymies Southern in LSU Tigers’ 8-3 win

Photo: (L) LSU Tigers Coach Paul Mainieri; and (R) SU Jaguars Coach Roger Candor.

What was shaping up as a thriller between crosstown rivals — with Southern’s Human Jukebox grooving a cozy full house and seven runs already on the scoreboard — got quelled quickly when LSU coach Paul Mainieri made the unusual move of going to the bullpen in the second inning.

Freshman Austin Ross answered the extremely early call.

Ross struck out eight and walked one, scattering four hits, in getting his first collegiate win and making his longest appearance as LSU won 8-3 Tuesday night, in front of 660 fans, the band and onlookers from the Harding Blvd. overpass, at Lee-Hines Field.

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Southern University baseball is 2-43 all-time against LSU.

Alcorn State basketball coach West fired

Photo: Alcorn State's head men's basketball coach Samuel West (gray suit) ends 12 year coaching career with the Braves. West is a native of Natchez, MS and a 1977 graduate of Texas Southern University.


Alcorn State men’s basketball coach Samuel West was fired Tuesday after five seasons on the job, a school official confirmed.

West’s removal coincides with the arrival of new athletic director Darren Hamilton, who started Tuesday, replacing interim AD Wiley Jones. Alcorn State officials would not comment further but said a news release with more details would be issued on Wednesday.

West, 52, won 44 games and lost 103 in his five seasons as the Braves coach. The former Northwest Rankin High School boys coach was an assistant at Alcorn for seven years under legendary coach Davey Whitney before being named head coach in April of 2003.

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Florida A&M Rattlers' defense works hard, hits hard

Photo: FAMU Coach Orlando Mitjans, defensive coordinator/secondary coach; first year, a 1982 graduate of Northeastern (Mass.) University.

The drill looked pretty routine. FAMU’s defensive front rushed up to a mock offense, then backed off upon contact.

Defensive coordinator Orlando Mitjans wanted the play repeated — again and again. Defensive end Kendrick Washington clearly understood what Mitjans wanted.

“We just put it in our hearts and our heads to make most of the plays,” Washington said after the Rattlers went through the sixth day of spring workouts on Tuesday.
The defense has been showing a tenacious attitude even before the team put on pads on the third day. The front seven has been especially aggressive, showing unusual speed this early.

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If you are attempting to keep up with the players on the FAMU roster, here is what we have been able to confirm from this article:

#71 Cameron Houston, Nose Tackle/DT, 6-0/285 soph., Rockledge H.S., Rockledge, FL.
#97 Kendrick Washington, DE, 6-5/245, soph., Sebastian River H.S., Sebastian, FL.
#91 Marquiste Ramos, DE, 6-5/245, junior, Bayside H.S., Bayside, FL.
#99 Joseph Weems, DE, 6-5/245, RS junior, Carol City H.S., Miami, FL.

The class standings indicated are the anticipated school level for Fall 2008.

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South Carolina State football holds fifth practice

South Carolina State continued spring football drills Monday as the Bulldogs conducted the fifth of 15 scheduled workouts.

A good bit of Monday's workout was devoted to correcting mistakes from the team's first scrimmage this past Saturday, according to head coach Buddy Pough. The Bulldogs also devoted some time to fundamentals, sharpening execution of assignments, red zone offense and defense, and third down-and-medium execution.

Pough said overall execution was fair but that his team appeared sluggish in the beginning before coming alive near the end of the workout.

VIDEO: S.C. State quarterback Malcolm Long in 5th Bulldog spring practice session (3/31/08).



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UAPB using spring practice for evaluation

As spring practice begins today for the Arkansas-Pine Bluff football team, the Golden Lions are under evaluation by first-year head coach Monte Coleman.

Coleman, who has served as the Golden Lions’ defensive coordinator the last two seasons and will continue that role this season, said Monday that the next three weeks will be an evaluation period for his football team.

“I addressed the team and told them that the spring is an evaluation period,” Coleman said. “Every position is open.”

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