Southern University's Cador likes new format for SWAC‎

After 25 seasons of coaching baseball within the Southwestern Athletic Conference, Roger Cador has learned, again and again, that road trips within the league sometimes come with unique obstacles. After all, some of the SWAC’s smaller hometowns don’t offer much in the way of fine restaurants, comfortable hotels or even video-rental stores, much less an open movie theatre. This weekend, in fact, the Southern baseball team will spent four more innings in Pine Bluff, Ark., than it has in previous years.

And Cador is actually happy about it. The up-and-down Jaguars (5-8, 3-0 Western Division) visit Arkansas-Pine Bluff (2-10, 1-5) for three games, including a doubleheader that begins at noon today. Today will mark the second time the Jaguars play a two nine-inning games in a doubleheader — a new experience this season for SWAC teams. Before, conference series began with a pair of seven-inning games on Saturdays, then finished with one nine-inning game on Sunday. The SWAC changed its format during the offseason, opting for nine-inning doubleheaders on the first day.

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WNIT: Miami runs past North Carolina A&T

Senior Lamona Smalley ends A&T basketball career on a very high note with two historic post season wins and the MEAC regular season conference championship. The Lady Aggies ends the year at 23-11 (14-2 MEAC).

Miami Hurricanes reach WNIT quarterfinals

The North Carolina A&T basketball team came into its game against the University of Miami in the Women's National Invitation Tournament with the reputation as a fast-paced, never-slow-down team. UM had an answer for that. The Hurricanes laced up their sneakers and decided to run with the Aggies. In fact, they ran right past them 84-77 in front of 982 fans at BankUnited Center on Thursday night. While UM was celebrating and smiling at the end, A&T was left breathless and gasping -- and with its season over.

Next up for Miami (20-13) is a quarterfinal game at 2 p.m. Sunday against Providence (19-14), which defeated Maryland 77-64 on Thursday night. "An unbelievable basketball game," UM coach Katie Meier said of defeating A&T. The victory marked the first time Miami has won three postseason games. Meier had no doubts about what she was going to do against A&T. ``We were going to run,'' she said.

Lady Aggies suffer season-ending loss in Miami

The N.C. A&T Lady Aggies' early defensive struggles in the first half helped advance the Miami Hurricanes to the fourth round in their 84-77 victory in the Women's National Invitational Tournament. Miami hit 10 3-pointers for the game and expanded the lead to as much as 15 points shooting over 80 percent in the first half. A&T did cut the deficit to five points on multiple occasions in the second half, but had trouble stopping Miami's transition break in the final minutes. The Hurricanes held standout freshman, Amber Calvin, to just 13 points on a 4-17 shooting performance for the game. Calvin left the game in the final minutes with a knee injury.

Jaleesa Sams led all Aggies with 20 points and nine rebounds. The loss marked the end of a historic 2-game postseason winning streak, which is the longest for any historically black college in NCAA Division I postseason. It also brought two stellar careers to an end with Ta'Wuana Cook and Lamona Smalley both finishing among the school leaders in points and rebounds respectively. The other seniors playing in their final game included Tyronnica Alford and Shantar Waddell. A&T seasons ends at 23-11.

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Ex-Citadel standout gets fresh start with S.C. State‎

ORANGEBURG, S.C. -- Two years ago, Asheton Jordan was the top freshman running back in the Southern Conference with a promising future ahead of him at The Citadel. On Saturday, the Stratford High School product will play in South Carolina State's Garnet and Blue spring game with an eye toward securing a starting spot on coach Buddy Pough's team next fall. It's a fresh start for the 6-0, 206-pound Jordan, who spent last season on S.C. State's scout team after transferring from The Citadel, where he rushed for 711 yards and four touchdowns as a freshman in 2008.

South Carolina State University Bulldogs Coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough: "Any time you follow a guy who is the leading rusher in the history of your conference, that's pretty heavy stuff," Pough said. "But I think Asheton has got a shot."

"It was tough to see them play every day last year and to just be running scout team," Jordan said before a recent spring practice. "I was glad to help the team get as far as they did, but I'm ready to be out there playing now." Jordan and S.C. State's other running backs have huge shoes to fill with the departure of Will Ford, who rushed for 1,032 yards and eight TDs a year ago while leading S.C. State to a 10-2 record, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title and a berth in the FCS playoffs. Ford is the all-time leading rusher in MEAC and S.C. State history.

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ESPN's "Outside the Lines" visits Savannah State University

SSU's Dr. Claud Flythe, Vice President for Administration is the architect behind the Tigers successful move from Division I Independent to membership in the MEAC.

A crew from ESPN's investigative program "Outside the Lines," including reporter Jemele Hill, visited SSU on Tuesday and Wednesday. ESPN interviewed administrators and coaches about ex-football coach Robby Wells, who accused administrators of racism and lies in his Feb. 11 resignation letter. SSU golf coach Art Gelow said ESPN interviewed him for 15 minutes about the validity of Wells' accusations.

SSU Vice President for Administration Claud Flythe said ESPN was unaware of Wednesday's "MEAC Celebration" until it arrived on campus Tuesday afternoon. The crew filmed SSU's baseball game Tuesday against Charleston Southern, and ended up shooting footage of Wednesday's celebration in Tiger Arena.

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Alcorn State releases 2010 football schedule

LORMAN, MS — Alcorn State University released the Braves’ tentative 2010 football schedule on Tuesday, and head coach Earnest Collins can breath a little easier not only when he sees the teams the Braves are playing, but who they aren’t. Unlike last season, when Alcorn opened its season on the road against Bowl Subdivision teams Southern Miss and Central Michigan — and lost those two games by a combined 100-0 — the Braves will open up the 2010 season at Mississippi Valley State on Sept. 18.

That could change, however, as Collins said the school is trying to find an opponent to come to Lorman and play Alcorn on Sept. 4. Alcorn currently has four games scheduled at Jack Spinks Stadium. If the Braves are able to find an opponent to play them on Sept. 4, that would give them five home games only one year after they played just three games in Lorman. “We’re excited we have more home games this year,” Collins said. “We’d prefer to get a team to come in here on Sept. 4 and then leave the 11th open.”

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Alcorn State Braves 2010 Football Schedule

Date Opponent Location Time

9/18 Mississippi Valley* Itta Bena, MS TBA

9/25 Alabama State* Alcorn State, MS 2:00PM

10/2 Mississippi State Starkville, MS TBA

10/9 Texas Southern* (Homecoming) Alcorn State, MS 2:00PM

10/16 Grambling State* Grambling, LA TBA

10/ 21Arkansas Pine Bluff* Alcorn State, MS TBA

10/30 Southern University* Alcorn State, MS 2:00PM

11/6 Alabama A&M* Huntsville, AL TBA

11/13 Prairie View A&M* Prairie View, TX TBA

11/20 Jackson State* (Capital City Classic) Jackson, MS 1:00PM

12/11 SWAC Championship Birmingham, AL 1:00PM CT

Still wanted: Playmakers for AAMU Bulldogs

Alabama A&M football coach Anthony Jones went into spring practice looking for playmakers on both sides of the ball. Offensively, the Bulldogs sought key replacements at running back, receiver and along the line, while defensively, the big need included pass rushers. With just four practices left, including Saturday's Maroon and White scrimmage, Jones is still looking for playmakers. "We need guys that can make a difference whether it's a tackle on offense or an end on defense," said Jones, whose team will return to practice today after taking off last week for spring break.

"We need guys who are going to make plays and the results will do the talking. I feel like we'll find those guys, but we've got to coach them. "I knew this day was coming. We're just going to have to fight our way through this. We've got some guys that will get a chance to play extensively for the first time and some of our young guys will have to show their mettle. Everybody is going to have to step their game up - players and coaches - for us to have a chance to be successful."

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WNIT: North Carolina A&T crowd drowns out 49ers to end Charlotte’s season

North Carolina A&T State University Lady Aggies coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs and team have made history, again. With the win over UNCC, the Aggies (23-10) become the first NCAA Division I historically black college or university to win two postseason games. The Aggies will play Miami Thursday night in the WNIT at 7 p.m., the BankUnited Center in Coral Gables, Florida.

Charlotte, N.C. - The University of North Carolina-Charlotte 49ers’ season came to an end Sunday afternoon at the hands of the North Carolina A&T Aggies, 79-70 in Halton Arena. Charlotte had won 13 straight games in Halton Arena, but Sunday afternoon didn’t feel like much of a home game for the Niners. Notoriously known for traveling well, the Aggies brought a crowd and band that easily outnumbered Niner Nation three to one. At times, it seemed like a battle of the bands, as Charlotte and A&T’s band went back-and-forth at one another with the best songs they had.

Charlotte jumped out to an early 6-0 lead but just as quickly, fell behind; as A&T hit three straight three-pointers to jump out to a 9-6 lead with 15:54 left in the opening stanza. Charlotte retook the lead shortly after and lead for a large portion of the rest of the half, until A&T used a 9-2 run to take a 35-32 lead into the break. “Well I thought their guard play was terrific, and you have to commend them on a gutsy performance,” Niner Head Coach Karen Aston said following the loss. “I thought every time we tried to make a run, they answered it. They were just a little bit tougher and more aggressive than us, in particular at the guard position.”

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