FAMU Well Armed At QB

There is no quarterback controversy for the Rattlers this Spring. When it comes to the two play callers that led the MEAC's top scoring offense in 2008, if the system's not broken, don't fix it. "We're going to probably start the way we finished with Curtis being the guy," Head Coach Joe Taylor said. "I just feel good that you got a guy that for whatever reason, he's winded or temporarily gets knocked out of a game, you got a guy like Eddie that can just come in and keep things going. Look to see Eddie playing, but the starter is definitely Curtis."

Last season, Pulley and Battle combined for the best pass efficiency in the MEAC, and tied for the fewest interceptions. It's a duo that understands the needs of the team come before the individual. Eddie Battle says, "He comes in, he's having an equal opportunity, knowing the system, but it's never combative. We're friends first and we're teammates, and then we compete for a spot, and that makes the both of us play better." Taylor adds, "You want to be able to create an atmosphere of competitive spirit, and certainly we're hopeful that there are going to be some battles."

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HU men's basketball coach resigns

Coach Kevin Nickelberry joins the exit train of successful former HU Pirates coaches -- Patricia Cage-Bibbs, Steve Merfeld, Bobby Collins, Joe Taylor, Jerry Holmes and Walter Mebane.

Hampton University men's basketball coach Kevin Nickelberry resigned Wednesday with one year remaining on his multi-year contract. Hampton athletic director Lonza Hardy said in a release that Nickelberry resigned now so that his decision would not affect recruiting. "I want to thank coach Nickelberry for his three years of service to Hampton University," Hardy said. "While we hate to lose him, I respect his decision to resign in order to pursue other opportunities."

Hardy said assistant head coach Edward Joyner will be the Pirates interim head coach through the 2009-10 season.Nickelberry, 44, said in the same release that the decision was a tough one. "I want to thank Hampton University for giving me my first college head-coaching opportunity," Nickelberry said. "Everyone here has helped to work to make me a better coach." Joyner joined Nickelberry's staff when Nickelberry was hired at Hampton in 2006. Joyner, a graduate of Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, N.C., served as an assistant for 11 years at his alma matter.

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FAMU Baseball Splits Doubleheader

Tallahassee, FL - The Florida A&M Baseball team split a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference doubleheader with North Carolina A&T Sunday, winning the opening game, 8-5, before dropping the second game, 10-2 here at Moore-Kittles Field. FAMU (9-12, 2-3 in MEAC) had 11 hits in Sunday's opener. Led by Derrick Shaw and Antonio Burke with two hits apiece. Gabriel Rodriguez and Adam Gordon each drove in a pair of runs.

The Rattlers erased a 1-0 A&T lead with a four-run rally in the bottom of the first, then added a single run in the second to build a 5-1 lead. FAMU extended their lead to 8-1 by the sixth inning with a run in the fourth and two more runs in the sixth. The Aggies (7-15, 3-2 in MEAC) scored once in the eighth before pushing across three more in the ninth to make the game interesting. Sophomore Anthony Espin (2-4) turned in a complete game in the opening, scattering nine hits and allowing five runs in nine innings. He struck out six and walked three Sunday.

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Jaguars slam Grambling to finish 3-game sweep

Victor Franklin and Edmond Morton both hit grand slams in a nine-run Southern second inning as the Jaguars routed Grambling State, 26-10, today at Lee-Hines ield. The Jaguars (14-7 overall, 11-1 Southwestern Athletic Conference) completed a three-game sweep with their seventh consecutive victory overall.

Southern pushed its SWAC winning streak to 11. Romey Bracey drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the second to give the Jaguars a 3-2 lead. Franklin followed with his bases-clearing shot as SU took a 7-2 advantage.

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Rain can't dampen Aggies' spirits

GREENSBORO -- The sky was gray, the field green, the jerseys blue and gold. And for one day, at least, the outlook was rosy. With new head coach Alonzo Lee running the show from the sideline, N.C. A&T's Blue team defense eked out a 27-26 victory over its Gold team offense in the annual spring game Saturday at Aggie Stadium. Rising junior linebacker Brandon Jackson made eight tackles for the Blue, which came back from deficits of 14-0 and 17-10. Linnell Evans, another linebacker who redshirted as a freshman last season, made four of his six tackles in the backfield.

Carlton Fears, who will be a senior in the fall, staked an early claim to the starting quarterback job, completing 17 of 28 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns for the improved offense. But in this controlled scrimmage -- the offense scored points on touchdowns and field goals, while the defense earned points based on things like third-down stops and turnovers -- the final stat sheet didn't matter much.

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Alcorn State releases 2009 Football Schedule

by ASU Sports Information

Alcorn State, MS--- The Alcorn State University Department of Athletics announces its 2009 tentative football schedule. The schedule has a new twist to it with the Golden Eagles of Southern Miss as an opponent. This will be the first meeting between the two schools in football.

The Braves will have a three game road swing after opening up at the “Rock” in Hub City. Alcorn State will travel to the Midwest to face Central Michigan on September 19th before beginning conference play in Baton Rouge, Louisiana against Southern University. Pine Bluff, Arkansas will be the final stop on Alcorn State’s travel schedule for a while when they line up against the Golden Lions on October 3rd.

The Braves will not see the field at Jack Spinks Stadium until October 10th when they face the Delta Devils of Mississippi Valley. Homecoming will feature divison rival Alabama A&M. Alcorn State will go back on the road to play Southwestern Athletic opponents Texas Southern Tigers and Alabama State Hornets. The final home game of the season will be against Prairie View A&M University. The Braves will face arch-rival Jackson State University on November 21st in the Capital City Classic.

Click here to view the ASU Braves 2009 Football Schedule.

Braddy says JSU needs $500,000 to save some sports

Only four SWAC institutions, Alabama State, Southern, Prairie View A&M and Jackson State have 18 sports programs. Southern is in danger of losing men's tennis and women's golf.

Jackson State might be forced to drop some sports if the athletic department's financial situation does not improve, administrators say. Offering 18 intercollegiate sports on a $6.5 million budget, the department is scraping to get through the 2008-09 fiscal year that ends June 30. If more money is not raised through donations and sponsorships, JSU might have to eliminate two or three sports, athletic director Bob Braddy said. Braddy said the department needs to raise $500,000 by June to feel secure going into the 2009-10 school year.

Jackson State president Ronald Mason said he won't slash budgets of individual sports in order to keep all 18 programs. JSU has won the Southwestern Athletic Conference All-Sports competition two years running and a large crystal vase signifying those successes sits in the lobby of Mason's office. He said he would rather maintain success in fewer sports than fall to mediocrity in others by cutting the recruiting budget or other needs. About half of JSU's $6.5 million budget comes from student fees and general funds.

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