Hampton University Lady Pirates win sixth straight MEAC Track Title, HU men finish third

Photo: Francena McCorory, sophomore, Hampton, VA Bethel H.S.

Hampton University sophomore Francena McCorory clocked the fastest collegiate 400-meter time in nation this season on Saturday, when she ran 51.54 seconds to win the event at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference track and field meet in Baltimore.

BALTIMORE, MD – The Lady Pirates did it again!

For the sixth consecutive year, the Hampton University women’s track and field team captured the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championship. This time around, they did it in a dramatic fashion.

Sitting in fifth place after the first two days of the championships, which were being contested at Hughes Stadium on the campus of Morgan State University, the Lady Pirates slowly edged their way into the lead over the University of Maryland Eastern Shore but found their margin at a mere three points entering the meet’s final event, the 4x400 meter relay. In that decisive event, Hampton rolled to a first place victory, leaving no doubt that the league’s powerhouse program still resides in Hampton, Virginia.

“Entering the championship, we did a quick score projection and figured we’d win by 13 or 15 points,” said HU head coach Maurice Pierce, “but we made some mistakes. It was a dogfight throughout the meet. Winning it is a sign of us being a true champion and of the great track and field teams in this conference.

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HU Rookie DE a free spirit for Dallas Cowboys

Faith and prayer carried Marcus Dixon through prison, and gave him the opportunity of a lifetime

IRVING, Texas – An elaborate tattoo stretches from the top of Marcus Dixon's left shoulder nearly to his elbow and contains a passage from Revelations 20: 1-3. On the inside of Dixon's left forearm, Psalms 91 is tattooed in cursive.

If you had been to hell and back like Dixon, you'd understand why he's permanently engraved religious passages on his body. You'd understand why he reads Psalms 91 every morning before he brushes his teeth. And you would understand why the defensive end from Hampton University spends his free time reading the Bible.

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Alcorn State Coach Accepts Internship with the Houston Texans

Alcorn State Head Football Coach Ernest T. Jones, has accepted an internship with the Houston Texans. His duties will be coaching the entire offense in addition to attending meetings with the actual coaching staff of the professional football team.

Jones stated that he is “elated to have another opportunity to bring exposure to Alcorn State University and is proud to represent his alma mater.” He also said he is excited about working with 3rd round draft pick Steve Slayton and veteran quarterback Matt Schaub.

Jones will report to his internship on July 20, 2008 and end on August 3, 2008.

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SSU down to three AD finalists

Savannah State University has narrowed its search for an athletic director to three finalists, all of whom are scheduled to visit campus early next week. SSU's finalists are:

Bart Bellairs, Virginia Military Institute assistant AD for operations and marketing, who will visit Monday.

Keshia Campbell, NCAA assistant director of championships, who will visit Tuesday.

Leonard Clark, Wichita State assistant AD for corporate relations, who will visit Wednesday.

SSU vice president for administration Claud Flythe, who oversees the athletic department, said he hopes to reach a decision by May 9 and announce a hire May 10.

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Delaware State Hornets extend Lavan's contract

DOVER, DE -- Al Lavan took the Delaware State football team to its first NCAA Division I-AA playoff game last fall. On Thursday, he was rewarded with a one-year contract extension through the 2012 season. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Lavan had been earning $200,000 annually after signing a one-year extension last spring. DSU athletic director Rick Costello said Hornets coaches typically receive a 5 percent annual raise.

Costello would not say if Lavan's assistant coaches also would get a raise. "It's well-deserved and he's done a super job as coach, and the faculty and administration is certainly happy to have him as our football coach," Costello said of the new deal. Since his arrival in 2004 from Eastern Michigan University, Lavan has compiled a 29-16 record. Last year's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship was the school's first since 1991.

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COMMENTARY : Small schools can produce big-time players

Photo: Hampton University's DE, Kendall Langford #98 was selected in the 2008 NFL Draft 3rd Round by Bill Parcell to help rebuild the Dolphins defense. Here he crushes Norfolk State's QB Casey Hansen in backfield for another sack.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Hampton, Georgia Southern and Idaho. What is this ? Ohio State’s 2007 nonconference football schedule ? Delaware, Maine and Montana. Must be the top of the NCAA Division I-AA hockey poll, right ?

OK, you’ve probably figured it out by now. All of these low-profile schools, plus Portland State and Toledo, are represented on the Miami Dolphins’ new roster as part of Bill Parcells’ brawny draft weekend haul.

The guy from Hampton (enrollment 6,000 ) is defensive end Kendall Langford, the 66 th overall pick in the NFL Draft, and he’s just one of four Miami draftees from non-Bowl Championship Series schools.

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South Florida loaded with RB talent

As we get ready for this month-long spring practice, Miami Killian's Lamar Miller and Palmetto running back Jaamal Berry aren't the only Class of 2009 running backs to watch. Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach is loaded with quality runners.

In the Miami area, Northwestern boasts a pair of game breakers in Daquan Hargrett (5-9, 180) and Tyresse Jones (5-9, 185). Branden Oliver (5-7, 185) out of Southridge and Darian Mallery (5-8, 170) from Gulliver are also rising athletes.

In Broward, Deshaun Sands (5-9 175), the son of former St. Thomas and University of Kansas standout, ''Tuxedo'' Tony Sands, is one of the area's best .....

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