S.C. State's Lee makes the cut with Cleveland Browns

Photo: OT James Lee.

BEREA, OHIO - The jersey number 78 is what Cleveland Brown free-agent signee James Lee wore at South Carolina State University and briefly at the University of Georgia.
Aside from the different color scheme, there’s one feature which makes this particular jersey more awe-inspiring than any the former All-American offensive lineman has ever worn - an NFL logo.

“I was just real excited, ready to go and show the world what I had,” Lee said. “It was just a great feeling.” They were really impressed, especially after talking to them and after everything was over, they told me to keep working out and keep working on my sets and when I come back on (May 15th) to be ready to go.”

Another good sign for Lee was the fact he was the only offensive lineman retained out of the three signed by Cleveland during draft weekend. The Browns cut Robert Powell of Purdue and Eric Young of Tennessee, while signing Clemson’s Nate Bennett, one of seven tryout players kept on the roster.

No to N.O.: SCSU McCoy headed to Winnipeg

No New Orleans for Cleve McCoy after all.

Just days after getting the green light to chase his NFL dream and go to camp with the New Orleans Saints, the former South Carolina State quarterback backtracked and will now head to Canada to play for the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers. McCoy’s reasoning was simple. He could have attended New Orleans’ camp, but by the time that was over he may have been left with no offer from the Saints and although the contract may have still been on the table from Winnipeg, the Bombers could have just as easily moved on to another prospect.

Photo: #19 Cleve McCoy makes wise choice to play QB for CFL Winnipeg Blue Bombers; says no to NFL Saints.

“Just the opportunity was there,” McCoy said. “I looked at it, and I just felt more comfortable going over there and playing quarterback. It’s something I have been doing for 10 years. Just to have that security…it’s mostly about security. Guys make it to camp, and they are home the next week. It’s just something that…that was in my mind. I took the offer on the table and I am going to make the best of it.”

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MEAC to visit Joel again

Officials seeking host site for their basketball tourney

Winston-Salem is getting closer to being named the host city for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference basketball tournament. Chico Caldwell, the athletics director at Winston-Salem State, said that a visit by MEAC officials in mid-April went very well.

"I thought they were very impressed with what we had to offer so," Caldwell said after showing off Joel Coliseum, the coliseum annex and the downtown area. The MEAC has been shopping its tournament around since Raleigh decided not to renew after a three-year contract ran out. However, Raleigh is in the mix again, according to Caldwell.

"From what I understand, it's down to us or Raleigh," Caldwell said.

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Ex-boxing champ to get doctorate degree from Texas Southern University

Photo: George Foreman, 1968 Olympic Heavyweight Gold Medalist.

HOUSTON -- Today, former heavyweight champion George Foreman receives a doctorate degree. Texas Southern University will present Foreman with a Doctor of Humane Letters degree during the school's commencement ceremony.

Besides winning the title of heavy weight champion twice, Foreman founded the George Foreman Youth and Community Center in Houston, to create a haven for at-risk kids.
Foreman grew up in the Fifth Ward and is now a minister at a church in the Houston area.

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George Foreman on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Part I


George Foreman on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Part II

FAMU, Savannah State share lead in PGA Minority Collegiate Championship

Savannah State and Florida A&M share the overall lead in the Division I men's team standings with a 5-over-par 293, and hold a 1-shot lead over Jackson State.

In Division II, Fayetteville State in North Carolina leads Lincoln University of Jefferson City, Mo., by three-strokes after firing a first-round 1-under 287.

In the women's division, Bethune-Cookman, winner of the 2006 and 2007 Championship, carded a first-round team total of 309 to grab a one-stroke lead over Texas-Pan-American in Edinburg.

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ROUND 1 SCORES - DIVISION I MEN

Team/Players Score
T1. Savannah State University 293
T8. Riley Baxter 37-36--73
T8. Jamie Montgomery 36-37--73
T8. Corey Brown 40-33--73
T14. Spencer Slade 37- 37--74
T22. Zac Gelow 37-38--75

Team/Players Score
T1. Florida A&M University 293
T3. Doug Smith 33-39--72
T8. Wesley Yates 38-35--73
T14. James Petty 37-37--74
T14. Stanley Wilson 35-39--74
T62. Gallop Franklin 46-43--89

Team/Players Score
3. Jackson State University 294
1. Michael Bailey 32-35--67
T3. Brett Benson 36-36--72
T14. Albert Kilgore III 36-38--74
T42. Reggie Newton 41-40--81
T55. James Cox, Jr. 40-46--86

Team/Players Score
4. Bethune-Cookman College 298
T3. Carl Corbin 38-34--72
T14. Daniel Venema 37-37--74
T14. Sean Edey 36-38--74
T31. Willie Mack 39-39--78
T62. Troy Coker 45-44--89

Team/Players Score
5. Texas-Pan American 299
2. Shane Pearce 35-36--71
T3. Armen Kirakossian 36-36--72
T24. Kyle Tudi 38-38--76
T38. A.J. Gonzalez 41-39--80
T51. Jeff Hensley 46-38--84

Team/Players Score
6. South Carolina State 302
T8. Aaron Robinson 37-36--73
T14. Matthew Gilliard 37-37--74
T28. Cory Jozefiak 40-37--77
T31. Robert A. Biggers 40-38--78
T38. Hector Arroyave 38-42--80

Team/Players Score
7. Texas Southern University 307
T3. Jacob Scriven 38-34--72
T8. Devaughn Robinson 37-36--73
T38. Corey Woodard 37-43--80
T45. Riccardo Davis 41-41--82
61. Jason Monroe 43-45--88

Team/Players Score
8. Winston-Salem State University 312
24. Kenneth Lathan 37-39--76
T28. Joshua Sherrill 36-41--77
T31. Lance Holmes 38-40--78
T42. Jerell Fields 42-39--81
T45. Steven Mason 43-39--82

Team/Players Score
9. Alabama State University 314
T14. Kyle Demester 38-36--74
T22. Todd Hutcheson 39-36--75
T31. Devin Crenshaw 36-42--78
T57. Brendan Prouse 40-47--87

Team/Players Score
10. Hampton University 321
T24. Christopher Frazier 40-36--76
T28. Justin Martin 35-42--77
T42. Jared Williams 41-40--81
T57. Jason Sherer 42-45--87
T57. Sidney Fields 42-45--87

Team/Players Score
11. Alabama A & M 322
T24. Tyler Kirby 37-39--76
T36. Trey Miller 38-41--79
T45. Larry Benson, Jr. 40-42--82
T53. Cody Calvert 43-42--85
T57. Ryan Randolph 42-45--87

Team/Players Score
12. Grambling State University 325
T31. Devon Raymond 40-38--78
T38. Jonathan Coleman 40-40--80
T45. Dean Weatherly 40-42--82
T53. Brandon Bradley 40-45--85

Team/Players Score
13. Southern University 328
T36. Suhail Vally 40-39--79
T45. Edgar Evans 37-45--82
50. Ervin Nixon 41-42--83
T51. Joshua Martin 45-39--84
T55. Gregory Alex Scott 47-39--86

Sex, Lies and Barbara Walters; Obama, Yes we can...

Barrack Obama and hit song by Prince Thompson


"I Got a Crush...On Obama" By Obama Girl


Coco Tea's tribute to Barack Obama

Delaware State will focus on smarter recruiting

School addresses academic shortcomings

DOVER -- Delaware State University officials said Wednesday the school is working with coaches as part of its response to Tuesday's announcement that four DSU sports teams are among 218 cited by the NCAA for poor academic progress.

"Coaches are no longer evaluated on wins and losses," athletic director Rick Costello said, noting that the school was expecting the NCAA's action. "[Coaches] are evaluated on A's and B's. They are now considering the APR."

The NCAA requires that a team's APR, or academic progress rate, reach a score of at least 900 each school year. The APR measures how teams retain athletes, keep them academically eligible and ultimately graduate them.

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READ: (http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080507/SPORTS08/805070319/1002/SPORTS)

OFFENDERS

INDIANAPOLIS -- The list of schools and teams that have posted two consecutive scores of less than 900 on the NCAA's academic progress report. A third consecutive score under 900 next year would ban the teams from postseason competition in 2009-10.

Listed in alphabetical order)

California State-Fresno -- men's basketball
California State-Sacramento -- football
Centenary -- baseball, men's basketball
East Carolina -- men's basketball
Florida International -- baseball
Hampton -- men's basketball
Indiana State -- men's tennis
Jacksonville State -- football
Louisiana-Lafayette -- men's basketball
Montana State-Bozeman -- football
Morgan State -- women's volleyball
Murray State -- football
New Mexico State -- men's basketball
New Orleans -- baseball
Oral Roberts -- baseball
San Jose State -- football, men's cross country, men's soccer
Southern -- football
Temple -- football
Tennessee-Chattanooga -- football, wrestling
Texas-Arlington -- baseball
Texas Southern -- men's tennis
Weber State -- football

Former FVSU, Howard, MVSU head coach picked for Hall of Fame

Former Fort Valley State head football coach Doug Porter is one of six coaches and players who will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame this summer.

The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame made the announcement Wednesday about the inductees, who represent the FCS, Divisions II and III in the NCAA and the NAIA.

"I am very grateful to all of the coaches and players that helped me receive this honor, because without them, this could not have happened," Porter said in a statement. "I also want to thank all of the various administrations that have been supportive of our athletic program."

Porter is joined by coaching colleague W.C. Gorden of Jackson (Miss.) State and former players Jim Ballard (Mount Union, Ohio, 1991-93), Ronald McKinnon (North Alabama, 1992-95), John Randle (Texas A&M-Kingsville, 1988-89) and Brad Rowland (McMurry, Texas, College, 1947-50).

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JSU's Gorden elected to college hall of fame

Former Jackson State coach W.C. Gorden, who led the Tigers to eight Southwestern Athletic Conference championships, was one of six people elected to the College Football Hall of Fame on Wednesday as part of the divisional class. The divisional class includes players and coaches from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA), Divisions II, III and the NAIA. The class will be inducted July 19 in South Bend, Ind.

"He is a fine, fine Christian man," said Jim Stirgus, who hired Gorden at Temple. "He's a good coach and a good man."

Also elected as part of the divisional class were North Alabama linebacker Ronald McKinnon (1992-95); Mount Union quarterback Jim Ballard (1991-93); Texas A&M-Kingsville defensive end John Randle (1988-89); McMurry halfback Brad Rowland (1947-50); and Doug Porter, who won 166 games at Mississsippi Valley State (1961-65), Howard (1974-78) and Fort Valley State (1979-85, '87-96).

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TSU Takes Significant Steps in Dynamo Stadium Effort

Photo: TSU athletic director, Charles McClelland.

HOUSTON -- Texas Southern University Athletics Director Charles McClelland believes his school has taken "significant" steps this week toward becoming a part of the project to build a downtown soccer stadium for the Houston Dynamo.

TSU's interest is a new home for its athletics department, specifically football. To that end McClelland told FOX 26 Sports he met Thursday with Dynamo team President Oliver Luck. This session comes after McClelland met Monday with the city's lead negotiator on the project, Andy Icken, Deputy Director of Public works for the City of Houston.

"Charles and I had a productive meeting and he clearly sees the vision for returning to TSU football to a position of prominence in the SWAC and that involves using the proposed new stadium for its home games," Luck said in an interview with FOX 26.

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Grambling basketball candidate Tic Price withdraws from consideration

As the search for Grambling State's next basketball coach drags on, North Texas assistant Tic Price has withdrawn his name from consideration. "I'm going to withdraw to pursue other opportunities," Price said.

Others mentioned as Grambling candidates include Washington assistant Cameron Dollar, Mississippi State assistant Robert Kirby and Southeastern Louisiana assistant Roman Banks. The job has been open since the April 1 firing of ninth-year coach Larry Wright.

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Former Alcorn star Smith hired as Braves’ basketball coach

VICKSBURG — Former Alcorn State University star Larry Smith was introduced as the school’s men’s basketball coach in a news conference here today. Smith, 50, replaces Sam West, who posted a 44-103 record in five seasons. Alcorn State won just seven games and lost 24 in 2007-08 and did not qualify for the SWAC tournament.

“I know it’s not going to be easy,” said Smith, who signed a four-year contract with a $125,000 base salary. “But this thing’s going to happen. Believe me, I’m here for the duration. It’s not going to be easy getting rid of me.

Smith spent 23 years as a player and coach in the NBA and was an assistant with the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA until last week. He was an assistant with the Houston Rockets when they won NBA titles in 1994 and ’95.

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Alabama State to answer NCAA charges by June 27

NCAA slaps 668 athletic violations on Alabama State University

The NCAA has issued a long list of allegations of possible rules violations to Alabama State University, bringing the nearly 5-year probe closer to a finish.

ASU has until June 27 to respond to the report, which details 23 violations that spring from the college's self-reporting of rules it felt were broken by the football staff of L.C. Cole. Some of the allegations dating from 1999 come from the NCAA's enforcement staff, which has been investigating ASU's program since the institution issued its self-report in July 2003.

Cole was fired in 2003 and replaced by Charles Coe, who resigned following the 2007 season and was replaced by Reggie Barlow.

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NCAA Member Institutions on Probation

Institution Division Starting Date Ending Date Sport(s)

Alcorn State University I-AA 29-JUN-06 28-JUN-09
Women's Basketball

Ball State University I-A 16-OCT-07 15-OCT-09
Football
Men's Tennis
Women's Softball

Baylor University I-A 23-JUN-05 22-JUN-10
Football
Men's Basketball

Brigham Young University I-A 11-MAR-08 10-MAR-11
Men's Volleyball

California State University, Fresno I-A 26-APR-06 25-APR-10
Men's Basketball

Cheyney University of Pennsylvania II 28-JUN-07 27-JUN-10
Football

Florida A&M University I-AA 01-FEB-06 31-JAN-10
Baseball
Football
Men's Basketball
Men's Swimming
Men's Tennis
Men's Track, Indoor
Men's Track, Outdoor
Women's Basketball
Women's Bowling
Women's Softball
Women's Track, Indoor
Women's Track, Outdoor
Women's Volleyball

Florida International University I-A 07-MAY-08 05-MAY-12
Baseball
Football
Men's Basketball
Men's Cross Country
Men's Cross Country
Men's Soccer
Men's Track, Indoor
Men's Track, Indoor
Men's Track, Outdoor
Men's Track, Outdoor
Women's Golf
Women's Soccer
Women's Softball
Women's Swimming
Women's Tennis
Women's Tennis
Women's Volleyball

Florida International University I-A 21-MAY-05 20-MAY-08
Football

Indiana University of Pennsylvania II 30-OCT-07 29-OCT-09
Men's Basketball
Men's Swimming
Women's Swimming

Kentucky Wesleyan College II 14-JUL-06 13-JUL-09
Football
Men's Basketball
Men's Golf
Men's Soccer
Women's Basketball
Women's Tennis
Women's Volleyball

Lane College II 27-FEB-08 26-FEB-12
Football
Men's Basketball
Women's Basketball

Lewis University II 15-OCT-04 14-OCT-08
Baseball
Men's Golf
Men's Soccer
Men's Tennis
Men's Track, Indoor
Men's Track, Outdoor
Men's Volleyball
Women's Track, Indoor
Women's Track, Outdoor
Women's Volleyball

Lincoln University (Missouri) II 26-JAN-05 25-JAN-09
Football
Men's Basketball
Women's Cross Country

Long Beach State University I-AAA 06-MAR-08 05-MAR-11
Men's Basketball

Lynn University II 17-JUL-07 16-JUL-09
Women's Softball

MacMurray College III 04-MAY-05 03-MAY-09
Men's Tennis

McNeese State University I-AA 08-FEB-07 07-FEB-09
Men's Basketball
Men's Cross Country
Men's Track, Indoor
Men's Track, Outdoor
Women's Cross Country
Women's Track, Indoor
Women's Track, Outdoor

Mississippi State University I-A 12-JUN-04 11-JUN-08
Football

Morehouse College II 05-NOV-03 04-NOV-08
Men's Soccer

Nicholls State University I-AA 10-MAY-05 09-MAY-09
Football
Men's Basketball

Oklahoma Panhandle State University II 22-FEB-06 21-FEB-09
Women's Softball

Prairie View A&M University I-AA 08-JAN-08 07-JAN-12
Women's Basketball

Purdue University I-A 22-AUG-07 21-AUG-09
Women's Basketball

Savannah State University I-AA 19-MAY-06 18-MAY-09
Football

St. John's University (New York) I-AAA 11-MAY-06 10-MAY-08
Men's Basketball

Temple University I-A 10-MAY-07 09-MAY-09
Men's Tennis

Texas Christian University I-A 28-FEB-08 26-FEB-10
Men's Tennis

The Ohio State University I-A 10-MAR-06 09-MAR-09
Football
Men's Basketball
Women's Basketball

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville I-A 25-OCT-07 24-OCT-10
Men's Track, Indoor
Men's Track, Outdoor

University of Central Oklahoma II 20-FEB-08 18-FEB-11
Football

University of Colorado, Boulder I-A 21-JUN-07 20-JUN-09
Football

University of Iowa I-A 02-NOV-06 01-NOV-08
Men's Swimming

University of Kansas I-A 12-OCT-06 11-OCT-09
Football
Men's Basketball

University of Louisiana at Lafayette I-A 19-APR-07 18-APR-09
Football
Men's Basketball

University of Oklahoma I-A 24-MAY-08 23-MAY-10
Football

University of Southern Maine III 22-FEB-07 21-FEB-09
Baseball
Field Hockey
Men's Golf
Men's Ice Hockey
Men's Lacrosse
Men's Soccer
Men's Track, Outdoor
Men's Track, Outdoor
Men's Wrestling
Women's Basketball
Women's Ice Hockey
Women's Lacrosse
Women's Softball

West Virginia University I-A 01-MAY-07 29-APR-09
Men's Soccer

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Former A&M Standout Mickell Gladness Signs With NBA Agent

Huntsville, Ala. - Former men's basketball standout Mickell Gladness has recently signed with NBA agent Mark Fleisher of Enter Sport Management Inc. based in Connecticut. They will be sending Gladness to Las Vegas to train with one of the NBA's top workout specialist. While in training, the company will be working on Gladness' behalf for an invite to the Orlando pre-draft camp held for all rookies.

Gladness finished the 2007-08 season third on the team in scoring with a 10.3 average. He also led the Southwestern Athletic Conference in blocked shots with 4.5 per contest - good for a No. 2 NCAA-DI individual ranking.

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Morgan football takes hit

The NCAA yesterday penalized 123 colleges and universities, including Morgan State, for having athletic teams that fell short of academic guidelines.

Morgan State was punished with the loss of 1.68 scholarships in football and two scholarships in women's volleyball. Anticipating the result, the school said it had already cut back its number of football scholarships last fall from 63 to 60. "That gives you a sense of how serious and how diligent the athletic department is," university spokesman Jarrett Carter said.

Morgan State's APR was 902 in football and 860 in women's volleyball. UMES men's basketball scored 818 but was not penalized because of academic improvements and other considerations, the NCAA said. Coppin State's men's basketball and baseball teams scored below 925 but weren't penalized because the teams' performances eclipse that of the general student body, according to Coppin and the NCAA.

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Hampton University again loses scholarships

Photo: Hampton University head basketball coach Kevin Nickelberry interviewed last month for the University of Massachusetts head coaching vacancy. It's any body guess how long Coach Nickelberry stays committed to HU.

NCAA academic progress reports tell a good-news, bad-news story for Hampton University

Hampton University will lose athletic scholarships for the third consecutive year for failing to meet NCAA academic progress requirements. Hampton's men's basketball and men's indoor track teams lose one scholarship each, according to Academic Progress Rate (APR) data released Tuesday.

But Hampton's APR performance was better than the previous two years, and the news also is good for most other area and state programs. Hampton loses one of its 13 men's basketball scholarships because its four-year APR average is well below the benchmark of 925. An APR of 925 projects to about a 60-percent graduation success rate, a number the NCAA requires to avoid penalties.

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Howard University names Sidney Ribeau president

Photo: Dr. Sidney Ribeau (Courtesy Toledo Blade)

Howard University named the head of Bowling Green State University, Sidney Ribeau, as its 16th president Wednesday after an eight-month search, replacing the embattled Patrick Swygert.

Ribeau, who has led the 21,000-student Ohio university since 1995, will take over Aug. 1. A professor of communication, he previously was vice president for academic affairs at California Polytechnic State University in Pomona.

"I am excited by the opportunity to serve this historic institution," Ribeau said of the 10,000-student university. "Howard is a remarkable university, a truly international university and one that has made significant contributions not only in this country but around the world, training principally African-Americans for global leadership roles in America and the world."

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell, who co-chaired the search committee with Time Warner Inc. Chairman Richard Parsons, stressed Ribeau's reputation for communication.

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FAMU Hires Ledawn S. Gibson as New Women's Basketball Coach

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida A&M University today hired Ledawn S. Gibson, a former head coach at Winter Haven High School, as its new women’s basketball coach.

“We are pleased that we found someone that we believe is a good fit for our program,” said FAMU Athletic Director Bill Hayes. “She is a talented coach who has demonstrated from year-to-year that she has what it takes to lead us to a championship.”

FAMU Board of Trustees today approved a three-year contract for Gibson with an annual salary of $90,000.

“When you consider her record and history, I’m confident that we have found the right coach for our program,” said FAMU President James H. Ammons. “We were looking for consistency and a person with the ability to build a winning program. We found it in Coach Gibson.”

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View Video of Gibson: (http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid464021271/bctid1445126719 )

I'M NOT IMPRESSED WITH THIS HIRE!

First, congratulations to the Ammons Administration for killing the progress of the FAMU Women's Basketball Program. Certainly, a change was necessary from the substandard performance of the Debra Clark era; but to completely ignore accomplished NCAA Division II experienced head basketball coaches and experienced non-HBCU Division I top assistant coaches at Mid-Major programs is just completely stupid.

Ledawn S. Gibson is a very fine "high school coach" with a nice history of productivity. However, if you believe her statements made on March 6, 2008, to The Ledger.com, (read: http://www.theledger.com/article/20080306/NEWS/803060561/1008/SPORTS01 ) she has gone from needing a change from girls coaching to planning to becoming an assistant principal, to FAMU's head women's basketball coach is less than 60 days. And all of this maneuvering was done before Debra Clark was ousted on March 24.

No one with both paddles in the water quits a gig in the mists of a national recession, without a firm offer in hand to pay the bills. I don't think Gibson is totally nuts; but she may be unrealistic regarding what lies ahead, coming to the college arena with a record of 0-0 and ZERO Division I college experience to boot.

The Bob Wade Story

Secondly, this scenario reminds me of the Robert Pernell Wade ("Bob Wade") experiment. Some of you may recall this story of the former Morgan State great who played college football for the MSU Bears. After college, ole Bob had a nice NFL career playing for the Steelers, Redskins and Broncos, before returning to Baltimore to coach basketball and mentor inter-city kids.

Prior to his coaching stint at University of Maryland, Wade had coached at Baltimore's Dunbar High School for ten years, where he compiled a 341-25 record and was often ranked in the nation's top 10. Wade was legendary in Baltimore circles and for stocking both John Thompson's Georgetown Hoyas and Maryland's program with key pieces of their championship teams.

Wade was originally hired to replace College Basketball Hall of Famer, Charles "Lefty" Driesell, Maryland's basketball coach of 17 years. Driesell resigned over concerns about the death of All-American forward Len Bias and subsequent revelations about his players' poor academic performances.

In high school, Wade had been a strong disciplinarian, and he was appealing to University of Maryland administrators who were attempting to clean up the basketball program.

He was also hired in order to increase diversity as he became the first African American coach of a major sport in the Atlantic Coast Conference, despite the fact that he had no prior experience in coaching a team at the collegiate level.

Wade resigned on May 12, 1989 after three years as head coach, compiling a 36-50 record. Not only was he unable to rebuild the basketball program during his tenure, but his resignation came amid allegations that he broke NCAA rules in dealing with players and recruits, and as a result the university received severe sanctions.

Thirdly, Gibson, like Cynthia Cooper Dyke at Prairie View A&M University did two years ago, will be coming to FAMU with total unfamiliarity of NCAA rules and regulations. You may recall that PVAMU lost three scholarships attributed to the former WNBA coach and Houston Comets star major violations in practice and financial support due to unfamiliarity with the required NCAA regulations. PVAMU women's basketball program is currently on four years of NCAA probation.

And Ammons wants you to believe that Gibson will bring consistency and win championships with no preparation for what lies ahead in the complex and competitive world of Division I women's college basketball. As Bob Wade learned, it's one thing to coach high school kids in high school, but it is a completely different world to persuade these same players to come play for a coach with no track record at all beyond junior varsity and high school.

Gibson may one day become a great college coach. Too bad that Ammons has decided that FAMU should become her training ground for his silly experiment, and not some low profile JUCO, Division III or Division II level program. This should not be--FAMU should always strive to hire the best experienced coach available--that can compete with Coppin State University, North Carolina A&T, Morgan State University and Delaware State University; conference programs that are consistently at the top of the MEAC standings.

What does Savannah State and FAMU now have in common? They both hired inexperienced high school coaches to lead their purported Division I major programs in football and basketball, respectively. Unfortunately, Gibson will soon learn that coaching and recruiting against the upper echelon of Division I experienced coaching leadership is not the same as her success on the lesser level.

Did FAMU not learn anything valuable from the Rubin Carter experiment?

You get the picture--I'm not impressed with this hire.

-beepbeep

Grambling's football game at Texas Southern moved to a Thursday night for ESPNU

Grambling State's football game at Texas Southern has been moved to a Thursday night to accomodate plans to broadcast the action on ESPNU.

Texas Southern will host Grambling on Thursday, Nov. 20, with kickoff set for 8 p.m.
The date is one of three SWAC football games that have been moved to Thursday night contests. On September 18, Arkansas-Pine Bluff will take on Alcorn State at 6:30 pm . On September 25, Alabama State will travel to Mississippi Valley State for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

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