Southern faces Alabama State in SWAC opener

The Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament returns today to Southern’s Lee-Hines Field for the first time since 2003, but the Jaguars are far from the dominant favorite they were with Rickie Weeks tearing up the basepaths.

This one, with a new format concluding with a single, TV-friendly championship game, features teams with plenty to prove.

Photo: SU Jaguars Romey Bracey.

The tournament will be divided into two four-team brackets of double-elimination play. The survivors of those brackets meet at 1 p.m. Sunday for a single, winner-take-all game on ESPNU.

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DSU baseball faces Florida A&M in tourney

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- Delaware State will take on the Florida A&M Rattlers on Thursday at 6 p.m. in the first round of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament. The double-elimination tournament will take place on the campus of Norfolk State.

Thursday's game will be the teams' fourth meeting of the season. Florida A&M (19-20, 11-7 MEAC) won the last contest 14-13 on May 5. The first-round game will be the 16th meeting all-time in conference tournament action between the two squads (FAMU leads 12-3).

The Hornets (16-31, 11-7 MEAC) are making their 24th straight MEAC Tournament appearance. DSU has reached the championship game...

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Winston-Salem State Men's Basketball Announces 2008 Signing Class

WINSTON-SALEM, NC - Winston-Salem State University men's basketball coach Bobby Collins announced a talent-laden 2008 signing class on Monday afternoon as he confirmed that four student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to play basketball for the Rams next season.

"We're addressing some issues and adding some quality depth to our team with these signees" Winston-Salem State head men's basketball coach Bobby Collins said Monday afternoon. "We have an opportunity to strengthen our program with these four talented freshmen. They are a welcome addition to the strong tradition of Rams basketball."

The Rams will strengthen their backcourt with the signing of three guards, including a pair of North Carolina natives.

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Restoration of AAMU's Elmore Gym set to begin today

Photo: AAMU athletic director Betty Austin.

After delays, A&M facility could now be ready by June.

Alabama A&M's much-anticipated renovation of Elmore Gym is slated to begin today, five months after it was originally scheduled.

School officials had hoped to have the project - which includes installing new chair-back seats in the facility's lower level - completed last December, in time for the Bulldogs' opening of Southwestern Athletic Conference play. But athletics director Betty Austin failed to submit the project for bidding on time.

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Unstoppable Bethune-Cookman takes both men's and women's titles

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Bethune-Cookman University of Daytona, Fla. captured both the Division I men's and women's titles Sunday at the 22nd PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

In the men's division, Bethune-Cookman carded a team-total of 8-over-par 872 to defeat Jackson (Miss.) State University by 17 strokes. The University of Texas-Pan American finished in third place overall.

Carl Corbin of Bethune-Cookman won the Division I men's individual standings title after carding a final-round 3-under-par 69. Corbin finished two strokes ahead of Brett Benson of Jackson State.

In the women's division, Bethune-Cookman won for the third consecutive year after carding a team-total of 918 to defeat the University of Texas-Pan-American by 16 strokes. Becky Dowell of Bethune-Cookman claimed the women's individual medalist honors with a three-day-total of 225. She edged Mariale Camey of Texas-Pan American by one stroke.

"I am very satisfied with the overall performance of my team at this Championship," said Head Coach Dr. Gary Freeman. "I have super group of kids that I am able to coach and it was a privilege to watch them play out here this week."

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What is causing decline in black baseball players?

Kaylum Graham was like a lot of future E.E. Smith High School athletes.

As a youth, he played many sports — baseball among them. But faced with tough choices entering high school, his passion for baseball waned.

“I felt there was a better chance for me to go to college playing basketball and football, so I stuck with the other two,” he said.

Those are among the common reasons given to explain a national decline in black athletes in baseball.

It’s been documented at the major league level, but it’s also evident in the high school ranks in Cumberland County. A Fayetteville Observer study reveals that only 40 of 152 (26 percent) varsity baseball players in Cumberland County are black. As a whole, 51.4 percent of Cumberland County students are black.

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Out of the shadows: Legendary Grambling assistant built Hall of Fame resume as a head coach too

GRAMBLING — Until this week, Douglas Porter was most often referred to as a former assistant under Grambling State’s mythical Eddie Robinson.

Porter stood, without complaint, inside the dark outline of that coaching legend’s shadow — despite having assembled a terrific, if seldom decorated, career of his own.

“That couldn’t have been easy with a person of his skill,” said James “Shack” Harris, Porter’s first quarterbacking protégé at GSU. “He was able to do it without ego, and to do it well.”

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2008 valedictorian is different kind of 'Morehouse Man'

ATLANTA - From his first day at Morehouse College -- the country's only institution of higher learning dedicated to the education of black men -- Joshua Packwood has been a standout.

His popularity got him elected dorm president as a freshman. His looks and physique made him a fashion-show favorite. His intellect made him a Rhodes Scholar finalist. His work ethic landed him a job at the prestigious investment banking firm Goldman Sachs in New York City.

But it's his skin that has made all of this an anomaly. This month, Packwood is set to take the stage and address his classmates as the first white valedictorian in Morehouse's 141-year history.

The 22-year-old from Kansas City, Mo., will graduate on May 18 with a perfect 4.0 GPA and a degree in economics.

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Morehouse College: http://www.morehouse.edu/

U.S. Naval Academy: Facility Dedicated to Black Pioneer, retired Howard U employee

D.C. Resident Broke Institute's Color Barrier When He Graduated in 1949.

Annapolis, Md (March 25, 2006) - The first African American Commandant of the Naval Academy, Capt. Bruce Grooms stands with Retired Lt. Cmdr. Wesley Brown at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Wesley Brown Field House at the U.S. Naval Academy. (Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

Wesley A. Brown, a son of the District who became the first African American to graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy, entered the pantheon of military heroes yesterday as the academy's newest facility was dedicated in his honor.

The Navy's highest brass celebrated Brown as a pioneer of racial justice with attendant pomp at yesterday's opening of the $52 million Wesley A. Brown Field House on the scenic bank of the Severn River in Annapolis. Brown's life story was hailed as an American tale of courage and perseverance, grace and humility.

"He fought a war his whole life for all of us to improve who we are as individuals, who we are both as a Navy and a nation," said Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "It was his noble calling and it was his call to service and citizenship that led to lasting change in our Navy and in our nation."

Capt. Peter W. McGeory, the academy's senior chaplain, paid tribute to Brown. "He is a true American treasure, and may all of us learn from his courage, his grace, his humor and his humility," McGeory said.

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(Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)
Annapolis, Md. (March 25, 2006) - Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Mullen talks with Ret. Lt. Cmdr. Wesley Brown at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Wesley Brown Field House at the U.S. Naval Academy. The 140,000 square-foot complex will sport facilities for physical education, varsity and intramural athletics, club sports and personal fitness, at a cost of about $52 million dollars. The project is scheduled to be complete by 2008. Brown was the first African American graduate of the Academy in 1949. There had been five before him, but they were all forced out.

Brown's story was not particularly well known until the publication in 2005 of Robert J. Schneller Jr.'s book, "Breaking the Color Barrier: The U.S. Naval Academy's First Black Midshipmen and the Struggle for Racial Equality." This book documents the experiences of the first five African Americans admitted to the Academy and the challenges Brown and the others faced.

Photo: (Courtesy of Brown Family) Wesley A. Brown U.S. Army photo.

Brown became the first in his family to attend college, at Howard University. Prior to 1945, he began his military career with a stint in the Army before applying to the Naval Academy. He originally wanted to go to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He served in the Korean War and the Vietnam War and served in the US Navy from May 2, 1944–June 30, 1969.

He was nominated for admission and later appointed to USNA, by New York Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.

The Wesley A. Brown Field House houses facilities for physical education, varsity and intramural athletics, club sports and personal fitness. The field house utilizes the most advanced technology for personal condition and combat preparedness.

Yesterday, with the dedication of this facility, Ret. Lt. Cmdr. Wesley Brown joined the likes of William F. Halsey Jr. and Chester W. Nimitz, Alfred Thayer Mahan and Hyman G. Rickover with a rare honor of having a Naval Academy building named after him.

Read: 1st Black Graduate Joins Elite Group (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/25/AR2006032500994.html)

Photo Gallery: Wesley A. Brown Field House Construction: http://navysports.cstv.com/photogallery/gallery_index.html?school=navy&sport=&

Note to Readers: We were unable to verify if Ret. Lt. Cmdr. Brown is an alumnus of Howard University. If any historians have verification of this fact and year of graduation, please provide us with a link. Thank you.

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Mother's Day for Peace

Link: http://www.mothersdayforpeace.com/

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DSU Hornets Softball sweeps MEAC Tournament; Awaits NCAAs

Courtesy: DSU Athletic Media Relations

Ormond Beach, FL - Brittney Ruark tossed a two-hit shutout and Aisha Holloman smacked a three-run homer in the fourth inning to lift Delaware State to a 3-0 win over Norfolk State, and give the Hornets their first MEAC Softball Championship this afternoon in Ormond Beach, Fla. Delaware State completed a four-game tournament sweep to capture the 2008 MEAC title and the league’s automatic berth to the NCAA tournament.

“This is such a thrill for the team and the university,” said Delaware State’s Jeff Savage, who was named Most Outstanding Tournament Coach. “We had an up-and-down regular season, but things really came together during the tournament. Our pitching was great and we got timely hits all weekend. These girls worked so hard to reach this point, and I am so proud of them.”

In the title clinching contest, Ruark allowed just...

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Bethune-Cookman rallies to lead after Day 2 of Minority Golf Championship

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Bethune-Cookman College of Daytona, Fla., stormed to the top of the Division I men's leaderboard in the 22nd PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship Saturday after tallying a two-day total of 8-over-par 584.

The Wildcats rallied to overtake first-round leaders Florida A&M University of Tallahassee and Savannah (Ga.) State University with 18 holes remaining. The three-day event is being played on the Ryder and Wanamaker courses at the PGA Golf Club.

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Round 2 scores at bottom of blog link page.

'It's Over' - Clinton Strategist to Clinton

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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