DSU Land's list of accolades grows

He used to be called "Fast Land," or sometimes "Little Land," nicknames that sprouted from his 5-foot-9, 195-pound frame. But these days, John Land, a onetime standout football player in the college and professional ranks, goes by only one nickname.

Big Daddy.

It's what Land, 64, is called by his four grandkids -- Kayla, Kimmi, Jackson and Riley -- and spending time with his grandkids is how Land now uses his free time. He regularly plays Uno with Kayla (she's "Little Nut," following her mother, Denise Woods, who was "Peanut") and younger sister Kimmi, who is "Munchkin."

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Casey Printers mania grips CFL Tiger-Cats fans

Former Florida A&M University quarterback Casey Printers is the CFL highest paid player and the starting QB for the Hamilton Tiger- Cats.

The new face of the Hamilton Tiger-Cat franchise has filled soup bowls for the poor, built houses for the homeless, phoned season-ticket subscribers and yesterday drove the lane to score points in a charity basketball game.

Actually scoring points is what Casey and his sunshine band of Ticat promotional, media and community staff have been doing a lot of. During and after a Cops and Cats charity basketball tilt yesterday against the Hillfield-Strathallan Trojans, quarterback Casey Printers was mobbed by throngs of smiling school kids.

Printers said he has a few more trips to Hamilton planned from his home in Houston before camp.

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Printers transferred to FAMU in 2002, from Texas Christian University where he led the Horned Frogs to three straight BCS bowl games. He was attracted to playing in FAMU's high powered 'Gulf Coast Offense' under legendary Coach William "Billy Joe."

After graduating from FAMU, Printers signed with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League, where he rose from third-string quarterback in 2003, to be named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2004 season, leading the Lions toward an appearance in the 92nd Grey Cup. The CFL MVP threw for 5,088 yards, 36 touchdowns in 2004.

Printers left Canada in 2006, and signed a free agent contract with the Kansas City Chiefs of the NFL. He spent the 2006/07 seasons on the Chiefs practice squad, never getting activated to play in a regular season game.

In September 2007, the Tiger-Cats put an offer on the table that lured Printers back to the CFL. Printers said good bye to Herm Edwards and the K.C. Chiefs practice/developmental squad, and then signed a three contract worth $500,000 per season that includes an option for a fourth year and makes him the highest-paid player in the league.

Casey Printers and Quinn Gray (Houston Texans) are the only FAMU quarterbacks currently playing at the major level of professional football. Both played under Coach Billy Joe and his famous Gulf Coast Offense.

Casey is 26 years old and a native of DeSoto, Texas.

Website: http://www.ticats.ca/

-beepbeep

Obama Honors King on the Campaign Trail

Southern knocks off Chicago State

Talbot throttles Jaguars in 9-2 victory

Southern University had six strong innings out of freshman pitcher Jordan Talbot and broke away with four runs in the third inning to beat Chicago State 9-2 Friday night at Lee-Hines Field.

Talbot (1-0) made his second appearance his longest of the season. He picked up his first career victory allowing two runs and five hits, while striking out five.

“Jordan and (Joesph) Hughes threw the ball well,” SU coach Roger Cador said. “We really needed it because we still have 27 innings to play this weekend with three more nine-inning games.

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Washington Redskins Sign (former HU) Wide Receiver Mathis

The Washington Redskins signed wide receiver Jerome Mathis, the team announced yesterday. Mathis, a member of the Houston Texans his first three seasons in the NFL, appeared in three games in 2007 before a leg injury ended his season.

As a rookie in the 2005 season, Mathis, 24, finished second in the NFL in kickoff returns with a 28.6-yard average. He scored two touchdowns on kickoff returns and went to the Pro Bowl. In his career, Mathis has six receptions for 80 yards (a 13.3-yard average) with one touchdown.

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Mathis, a wide receiver/kick returner was taken in the 2005 NFL Draft, Round 4, pick 114 by the Houston, Texans. The Petersburg, Virginia native is 5-11/191.

ASU Hornets set to scrimmage today

With the possibility of inclement weather on the way, and with a scrimmage set for this morning at 9 a.m., the Alabama State football team went light Friday afternoon. Instead of their usual full-scale practice, the Hornets went with a brief walk through at Cramton Bowl.

The walk through was in preparation for this morning's scrimmage, which Barlow said would focus primarily on game situations, particularly on the game management by the coaches.

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Alabama State Hornets releases 2008 Football Schedule

*08-30: @Florida A&M
* 09-06: @Bethune-Cookman
* 09-13: Concordia
* 09-20: @UAB
* 09-27: Mississippi Valley St.
* 10-04: OPEN
* 10-11: @Prairie View A&M
* 10-18: @Grambling
* 10-25: Alabama A&M#
* 11-01: @Alcorn St.
* 11-08: Jackson St.
* 11-15: Southern *
* 11-22: OPEN
* 11-26: Tuskegee%
#Birmingham, Magic City Classic
*Mobile, Gulf Coast Classic
%Turkey Day Classic

SCSU football to scrimmage this morning

On the eve of his team's second scrimmage of the spring, South Carolina State head coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough had a little to smile about Friday night. Of course, he had a little to frown about to. "It was a pretty good day by the defense," Pough said. But, a good day for the defense often means a bad day for the offense.

"The offense was a little bit ugly," he said with a sigh.

At least there was a reason for that. The Bulldogs were without lineman Nygel Pearson who was busy handing out report cards at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School. The big, fifth-year senior, is practicing teaching at the school. While the Bulldogs practiced he met parents. So, South Carolina State was short a lineman before Johnny Culbreath took a knee to the thigh that ended his practice.

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South Carolina State University Marching 101 Band @ Nov. 2007 LowCountry Classic, Charleston, S.C.

Alabama State discussed future games with TSU Coles

Alabama State's 2008 football schedule is almost set. Finally. Athletic director Ron Dickerson's strange, and often frustrating, quest to fill the school's 12-game schedule lacks only the signatures of Southern University and Concordia College officials on contracts.

Those contracts would see ASU and Southern meet in the Gulf Coast Classic for the next four years and would bring Concordia to Montgomery for the Hornets' home-opener on Sept. 13.

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Spotlight: Greek Life at Hampton University

How do Black Greeks feel about their stereotypes?

Nevada transfer makes presence felt at Jackson State

Photo: Jackson State Tigers No. 1 free safety, Sergio Villasenor, transfer from University of Nevada.

Blue & White Game: Today, 1:30 p.m., Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium

Rick Comegy kept seeing the same face around the football offices, but it wasn't a familiar one. That's a little strange for the head football coach. Comegy finally decided to say something. "One day he walked out and he looked like a baseball player to me," Comegy remembered with a smile.

"I said, 'How's baseball?' Coach (James) Woody said, 'Man, he's one of our players.'" That player turned out to be Nevada transfer Sergio Villasenor - who's currently listed on the depth chart as the No. 1 free safety.

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FAMU Rattlers remain undefeated in MEAC

Photo: Dr. Carl B. Gooman is in his 11th season as the FAMU Men's Tennis Coach and has guided the Rattlers to eight MEAC championships.

Men's tennis able to take care of B-CU.

Paul Paige didn't need a lot of motivation, although he was playing the No. 6 spot for FAMU's men's tennis team. Just playing Bethune-Cookman University was enough motivation Friday afternoon.

He fought off a couple of service breaks to put down Kristofer Martin 6-2, 6-3 to help secure a 6-1 victory over the Wildcats. FAMU, 9-10 overall, remains the only undefeated team in the Southern Division of the MEAC standings with its third straight conference win.

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Weather changes plans for UAPB Golden Lions

File Photo: UAPB Golden Girls 2007 at JSU Homecoming.

Just as the Arkansas-Pine Bluff football team was getting back into football mode this week, Mother Nature’s method of madness has a way of scuttling plans.

UAPB head coach Monte Coleman called off Wednesday’s practice due to unfavorable field conditions at Old Pumphrey Stadium due to the weather. Although the Golden Lions returned to the field Thursday to practice for the second time this spring, Friday was UAPB’s scheduled day off, therefore they did not practice to make up for Wednesday. UAPB players lifted weights on Wednesday and Friday.

“It’s put a damper on us, as far as on paper,” Coleman said. “But the attitudes of the players and coaches are a blessing in disguise.”

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UAPB M4 Marching Band and Golden Girls 2007

BCU Baseball to host nationally televised game on Sunday, April 6

Wildcats will have Greek Spirit Day at Jackie Robinson Ballpark

Daytona Beach, Fla. - Bethune-Cookman University baseball will host North Carolina A&T State University on Sunday, Apr. 6 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in front of a nationally-television audience as the game will be broadcast live on ESPNU at 2 p.m. in Daytona Beach, Fla.

This will mark the first-ever live televised game at Jackie Robinson Ballpark for the Wildcats. These same two teams met last season on ESPNU in Greensboro, N.C. where the entire nation saw the Aggies defeat the Wildcats by a score of 14-11 in one of the best contests for both teams of the year.

















Photo: Home of BCU Baseball, Jackie Robinson Baseball Park, Daytona Beach, FL.

Bethune-Cookman will be having an array of events during the day, including Greek Spirit Day at the ballpark. Every fraternity and sorority at B-CU is invited to attend and wear their Greek paraphernalia. The first 100 students wearing their fraternity and/or sorority paraphernalia will be able to receive a hot dog and soda compliments of the B-CU Athletic Department.

Once again, the game is slated for a 2 p.m. first pitch time, and all tickets are just $5. All faculty/staff and students with current valid ID are admitted free.

For more information on the event and local television listings, please call the B-CU Office of Sports Information at (386) 481-2206.

Bethune Cookman coach on track to better things

Photo: Bethune Cooman University head track and field coach Garfield Ellenwood.

The odds were not in Garfield Ellenwood's favor.

Those who fall off the mountain don't usually climb back up. But Ellenwood, Bethune-Cookman's track and field coach, just needed to find the right path.

He thought it was football. In 1993, Ohio State offered a scholarship to the star receiver at Ben Franklin High in Rochester, N.Y. But he blew it.

"I had some trouble throughout high school, but toward the end it got really bad," Ellenwood said. "I was in the street doing things I had no business doing. I got in fights in school. I got suspended. I actually got sent to alternative school right after football for two months. I was able to get back into my high school and graduate. But a lot of the offers got taken away."

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Harvey named men's basketball coach at Texas Southern

Photo: Texas Southern University Tigers head basketball coach Tony Harvey.

Tony Harvey was officially named Texas Southern's men's basketball head coach on Friday morning, and the former Missouri assistant promised that, with time, he would be able to restore the Tigers' program to its glory days under the man he replaced, Robert Moreland.

"Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither will this program," said Harvey. "But no one -- and I mean no one -- will outwork me and my staff when it comes to making TSU a quality program."

Harvey signed a five-year contract with the school. Financial terms of the deal were still be finalized.

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Tennessee State football defensive coordinator and backfield coaches named

Photo: Tennessee State University head football coach James Webster.

Tennessee State Sports Information

Tennessee State University head football coach James Webster has elevated Rod Reed to defensive coordinator, adds Lee Calland and John Parker to the Tigers’ defensive coaching staff for the 2008 season.

Rod Reed, a TSU graduate and former All-American, presently serves as linebackers coach, will begin his sixth season on the Tigers’ staff. Reed returns to the defensive coordinator’s position he held in his first year at TSU. During that stint the Tigers led the Ohio Valley Conference in total defense for the first time in school history.

A keen recruiter, Reed is responsible for bringing several key players into the TSU program. Reed counts Javarris Williams, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Shaun Richardson among his recruits. He has also coached All-American and professional player Jamie Landrom (Jacksonville Jaguars).

Lee Calland joins the Tigers’ staff as a defensive backs (safeties) coach. Calland a former NFL defensive back with the Minnesota Vikings’ “Purple People Eaters” and the Pittsburgh Steelers’ “Steel Curtain” defenses. He has served stints on the coaching staffs of the London Monarchs (WFL), Southern University, Fort Valley State (GA) and Morris Brown College.

John Parker will coach the corner backs at TSU. Parker is the former head coach and defensive coordinator at Cumberland (TN) University and Cheney (PA) University; he has served stints on the staffs with the River City Rage (AFLII), East Tennessee State and Minnesota-Morris.

Defection, injuries take toll on Southern's LBs

First, Southern University’s defense suffered a blow when the Jaguars lost emerging eagle linebacker Brian Lewis, who left the program this semester.

Then, a rash of injuries throughout the linebacking corps further complicated matters as SU tries to adjust during spring practice.

Eagle Corey Ray (back), okie Johnathan Malveaux (pectoral muscle) and okie D.J. Bolton (knee surgery) aren’t expected back this spring. Of those, Ray practiced some before getting injured Saturday. Meanwhile, eagle Allan Baugh (knee) isn’t expected back until next week.

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Injuries force Southern's Cador to look at reserves

Photo: Southern University catcher Michael Thomas tags out LSU runner at home plate.

Though the Southern baseball schedule is awfully busy, as the Jaguars get ready to play an unusual, four-game, out-of-division weekend set, this is also the last time SU can rest some players.

That’s important, because SU’s roster continues to nurse a host of injuries as the Jaguars keep an eye on being strong for the second round of divisional play and then the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament in May.

Southern (10-11) hosts Chicago State (3-22) at 6 p.m. today and stages a doubleheader of two nine-inning games Saturday, first playing Eastern Division leader Jackson State (18-12) at noon and then Chicago State at 4 p.m., at Lee-Hines Field.

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South Carolina State to host Bulldog Golf Classic

By SCSU Sports Information

South Carolina State men's golf team will host the two-day Bulldog Golf Classic Saturday and Sunday (April 5-6) at the Hillcrest Golf Course in Orangeburg. The event, in its sixth year, returns to the Par 72, 6,722-yard course where it was played the first four years before being conducted at the Orangeburg Country Club last year.

The competition gets underway at 8 a.m. Saturday when 18 holes will be played. The final 18 holes will be played Sunday, beginning at 8 a.m.

Nine teams, including the host Bulldogs, will be participating in the tournament, which will have a practice round on Friday. This year's field is the largest since the inception of the event.

Other participating teams are Bethune-Cookman, the 2005 and 2006 champion, Charleston Southern, 2007 winner Florida A&M, Hampton, High Point, Savannah State, St. Augustine and Winston-Salem State.

Coach Richard Arrington's Bulldogs have been the runner-ups each of the last two years.