Sharpe highlights SSU HOF induction class

Shannon Sharpe

Savannah State University will induct 10 new members into the SSU Athletics Hall of Fame on May 28 at 7 p.m. at Tiger Arena. The 2010 inductees will be the third induction class in SSU's history. SSU inducted 17 members in 1973 and 12 members in 1974. The Class of 2010 includes:

Lee Blitch, baseball and football player (1974-78): All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference catcher in baseball (1975, '76, '77,'78); SSU Baseball MVP in 1977; All-SIAC defensive back in football in 1975 and 1976; Played in the Atlanta Braves minor league system for three years; Native of Claxton. Lives in Union City.

Shannon Sharpe, football player (1986-89): All-SIAC First Team as a flanker in 1987, '88, '89: Co-SIAC Player of the year in 1989; Kodak Small College All-America First Team in 1989; Named College Player of the Year in Georgia in 1989; First Savannah State football player to play in Blue-Gray Classic in 1990 and East-West Shrine Game in 1990; owns SSU single-season receiving records for yardage, touchdowns and yards per catch; Played in NFL for 14 seasons; Glennville native. Lives in Atlanta.

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SSU sweeps Edward Waters

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Savannah State swept Edward Waters, an NAIA team, in a doubleheader at the Baseball Grounds (SSU 4-8, EDWARD WATERS 3-4). SSU (22-17) was led in the first game by starter Joseph Jackson, who earned the win. He struck out one, walked three and allowed three earned runs on five hits in 6 1/3 innings. Jonathan Ross was 2-for-3 with a home run and two runs RBIs. Darien Campbell was 2-for-3 with a double and RBI. Kevin Herlihy (two doubles) and Emory Barkley each were 2-for-3.

In the second game, SSU was led by starter Mark Sherrod, who earned the win. He struck out eight, walked one and allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits in six innings. Campbell was 4-for-4 with an RBI. Joseph McCrary was 3-for-3 with two RBIs. Brandon Webster was 2-for-3. Blake Lee, Dexter Kelley, Herlihy, Bubba Green and Dondregius Jackson each drove in runs. Edward Waters fell to 22-23.

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FAMU's Joyner Jr. will coach WSSU women

Winston Salem State University Lady Rams head coach Steven Joyner, Jr.

Steven Joyner Jr., an assistant women's coach at Florida A&M, has been named the new women's coach at Winston-Salem State University. Joyner, 30, is a former point guard at Johnson C. Smith and a son of Steve Joyner Sr., a hall-of-fame coach at Johnson C. Smith. A search committee helped Bill Hayes, the athletics director at WSSU, through an extensive search to replace Dee Stokes. According to several sources, Joyner and Keith Bell, a Winston-Salem native and the director of basketball operations for the Elon women's team, were both interviewed last week. Joyner, who could not be reached for comment yesterday, has extensive ties to WSSU and Winston-Salem. Joyner's father is a Winston-Salem native and Joyner's mother, Narell, is a graduate of WSSU.

Joyner is a 2001 graduate of Johnson C. Smith and was a four-year point guard for his father. He wound up with a 399 career assists (4.5 a game) and during his senior season helped the Bulls win the CIAA Tournament title. For the last two seasons he has been an assistant for the Florida A&M women's team, where he worked for Hayes for one season. Hayes is a former athletics director at Florida A&M and came to WSSU in January. Before coming to Florida A&M, Joyner was an assistant at UNC Asheville for a brief time, and he spent four seasons as an assistant at N.C. Central.

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'D' rules at B-CU Spring Game

DELAND, FL -- Bethune-Cookman did not show much of its hand in Saturday evening's Maroon and Gold spring football game at Spec Martin Stadium. But new coach Brian Jenkins was pleased with everything he saw. "It was pleasing. I saw some good things on offense and defense," Jenkins said. "I was happy to see us move the ball on the ground, and I was happy to see us play aggressively on defense." He was also happy to see a sizeable crowd turn out. B-CU athletics director Lynn Thompson said nearly 3,000 tickets were sold.

"I felt like we came a long way this spring," linebacker Ryan Lewis said. "The offense definitely came a long way, starting totally new, and they played great." In the first half, the teams were divided up into maroon and gold squads, with the Maroon team scoring the only touchdown on safety Stephen Berthelot's 65-yard interception return. In the second half the format changed to offense vs. defense with the offense -- wearing the white jerseys -- starting each possession at the defense's 35-yard line. The offense scored on two of five possessions in the half with the defense stopping their counterparts on two goal-line stands.

Spring ball has fall feel at B-CU - Sports

Bethune-Cookman football fans will get a chance to preview the new-look Wildcats in the Maroon and Gold game at 6 p.m. today at DeLand's Spec Martin Stadium. The intrasquad game concludes new coach Brian Jenkins' first spring training camp. In the past month Jenkins and his staff installed a new multiple offense, featuring I-, split-back and spread formations. Rising senior Matt Johnson, sophomore Ben De La Cruz (Pine Ridge) and freshman Jackie Wilson have been sharing time at quarterback. Jenkins discussed today's spring game and more:

B-CU's Jackson finds solace on football field

Just five months ago, freshman Isidore Jackson was pretty sure he was leaving Bethune-Cookman. Now he can't bear being separated for long from the teammates and coaches who make up his support mechanism. But a lot has happened in five months. Days after B-CU's football season ended last November, longtime head coach Alvin Wyatt was relieved of his duties. A month later, the Wildcats hired Brian Jenkins, an assistant coach at Rutgers, to become their new head coach.

Jackson, a running back, saw Jenkins' hiring as a new start for his career. "I wasn't going to get the chance to play here, I don't think," Jackson said. "I was going to transfer if we didn't get a new coach. They had me at wide receiver, and I never played wide receiver in my life. I was uncomfortable."

B-CU holds off Norfolk St.

B-CU 6, Norfolk St. 4: Matt Wright went 2-for-3 with one home run, three RBIs and two runs scored to lead Bethune-Cookman (23-14, 9-0 MEAC) past Norfolk State (11-16, 4-8 MEAC). Peter O'Brien also homered for the Wildcats and went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and one run scored. Jordan Dailey picked up the win for B-CU. He gave up two hits and struck out one while pitching one inning in relief. Juan Perez picked up his seventh save of the season.

B-CU softball complete sweep

Celsey Tafoya went 2-for-4 with one RBI to lead Bethune-Cookman (22-20) to 5-2 win and a three-game series seep against Winston-Salem (6-20). Allison Garcia (16-12) picked up the complete-game win for B-CU. Garcia gave up two runs on eight hits and struck out six.

Former 'Dog newest 'Cat

It's funny what people worry about when they are thrust into a new situation. Bethune-Cookman football coach Brian Jenkins was pleased former Georgia wide receiver Tony Wilson did not bring huge expectations with him when he joined the Wildcats this spring. Wilson was thrilled he was welcomed unconditionally by his new teammates. "They're great guys, and they accepted me as a brother," the former Mainland High star said. "Coming from a big school, they could have been, 'Well, he thinks he's you know what. He thinks he's better than us.' But they didn't see me as that."

And for good reason. Wilson is as humble and down to earth as they come. He decided to utilize his final year of football eligibility because B-CU offered him a full scholarship to earn a master's degree. He still has the desire to play and he thought he could help the team one way or another -- whether it's making plays on the field or just being a steady voice of experience on the sidelines. "I've been pleased with him and he's adjusted well," Jenkins said. "Normally when you get guys like him, they come in asking for the world: 'I want this. I want that.' But Tony's fallen right in. I know right now he has the attitude where he'll help us in any capacity."

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TSU's Preston Brown refocuses on football

Running Back Preston Brown is a transfer from Arkansas State, who originally signed with Oklahoma State out of Antioch High School. The 5'10/200 play maker was a Rivals three-star recruit that ranked No. 11 among all players in the 2006 class in the state of Tennessee and 18th in the nation among all running backs.

Preston Brown got his act together at Tennessee State just in time to salvage his senior season. The former Antioch running back was on the brink of being kicked off the team, but used spring practice to prove he could follow rules as well as he follows lead blocks and break old habits as well as he breaks tackles. Spring practice ends today with the Blue and White game at 2 p.m. in Hale Stadium. Admission is free.

Brown, TSU's second-leading rusher last season (474 yards, four touchdowns), didn't realize it in December when Rod Reed replaced James Webster as head coach, but he was dangerously close to not getting to participate in spring practice, the spring game or his senior season. "If he continued the way he was going he wasn't going to be a part of this program,'' Reed said. "He's a super kid, but there are certain things you can't allow to destroy the team. He wasn't belligerent and there wasn't any one thing that would cause you to immediately say he was off the team. It was just a build-up of a lot little things."

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Former Rattlers' Coleman honored for service to Johnson High School

Coach Roosevelt Coleman played for the Florida A&M University Rattlers from 1959-62 as offensive and defensive tackle. "I went to FAMU 6-2, 195 and I left 6-2, 235.” In 2005, Coleman was named as a member of the Florida A&M Centennial Team for his outstanding play on the gridiron. He is also a member of the FAMU Hall of Fame.

In his 31 years as a coach and teacher at Johnson High School, Roosevelt Coleman wanted to give his students and athletes something they'd remember and, hopefully, appreciate. Judging by the more than 200 friends, colleagues and former students who filled Savannah State's King-Frazier Ballroom for a retirement banquet commemorating his contributions, he did just that. "I tried to make their experience with me a memorable one that they would remember," Coleman said. "I'd say, 'I want you to remember something that we did in this classroom or on the football field or on the track, and remember it for the rest of your life.'"

When the school year ends in June, Coleman's years of service will come to a close. Coleman said he and his wife, Vernelle, plan to spend time with family, volunteer within the community, and make more frequent use of their football season tickets at Florida A&M University, his alma mater. "There a lot of things in mind that I'd like to do," Coleman said. "...Now I don't have anything to hold me back." The banquet's Master of Ceremonies, Gerald "Lil' G" Arrington, opened the evening with an anecdote many of today's students under Coleman can relate to.

"Coach Coleman does not know me by name," Arrington said. "He knows me as Young Man. 'How are you today, Young Man?' 'I'm good coach.'"

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MSU's Reggie Holmes Shines at NBA Prospect Camp

MSU 6'4 All-American senior guard Reggie Holmes was the only HBCU player invited to play at the Portsmouth Invitational Pro Basketball Exposure Camp, one of three camps considered a “stepping stone” towards the NBA draft.

The Morgan State Bears basketball squad ended its season weeks ago, but that hasn’t stopped its best player from dominating the court. MSU senior star Reggie Holmes—one of 64 players selected to compete in the Portsmouth Invitational pro basketball exposure camp held last week—was named as one of 10 members selected to the All-Tournament Team.

According to a MSU media relations representative, Holmes pleasantly surprised several scouts during the camp in Portsmouth, Va., which invited the top collegiate players in the nation to show off their skills to be potentially drafted or signed by NBA teams or other professional basketball clubs.

Holmes, the only player invited from a historically Black college/university (HBCU), recorded double-figures in each of the three tournament games he competed in, scoring a game-high 24 points with six rebounds in game-one, 22 points with seven rebounds in game-two and 15 points and six rebounds in game-three. “I’m very excited to have been the only Black college player represented in the tournament,” Holmes said. “I’m even more excited to have been recognized as one of the top 13 players in the whole tournament.”

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