Florida A&M signs two players from Tallahassee Rickards

Tallahassee, FL - Adam Decker and Avery Moore must like going to the same school. The two athletes signed together to continue their education with FAMU, but their friendship before Rickards High. Decker says, "Avery has been a friend of mine since the sixth grade at Cobb (Middle School). Both of us signing and achieving this big of an accomplishment is great to do at the same time. It's just fun."

Moore says, "It's real good signing with Adam since we go way back to middle school at Cobb. We both played sports there together. We both went to high school together. It's an honor to sign with Adam because we've been together for so long." Decker will play baseball for the Rattlers while Moore looks forward to playing on the hardwood. FAMU's head basketball coach Eugene Harris wouldn't mind having some more Radiers committing to the Orange and Green.

Rickards' duo to don green and orange

The two MVP's sat there in their orange and green ties before more than 100 well-wishers. Thursday was a joyous day for Rickards High seniors Adam Decker and Avery Moore, both of whom signed to play collegiately at Florida A&M. Both Raiders athletes were named the most valuable player during their highly successful senior seasons. Decker, who led Rickards to two district titles as a pitcher, will play baseball. Moore, the most valuable player and defensive stopper on Rickards' undefeated basketball team, will fulfill his hoop dreams.

"I didn't want anyone to pay for my college," Moore said. "I wanted to do something on my own. There are a lot of people who doubted me at the Division I level, so I guess I proved them wrong." Those doubters certainly were not Moore's aunt and uncle, Cassandra and Andrew Molten. He has lived with the two since middle school and took time to thank them both for turning him into a young man who has the ability and drive to win a college scholarship. Moore may have been the more emotional during the brief speeches, but Decker was fulfilling a lifelong dream to play Division I baseball.

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U.S. House of Representatives passes North Carolina Central University Resolution

Washington, D.C. - Today, the United States House of Representatives passed H.Res. 1361, Recognizing North Carolina Central University (NCCU) on its 100th Anniversary by a vote of 408-1.

NCCU is one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The resolution was sponsored by Representatives David Price (NC-04) and G.K. Butterfield (NC-01). Rep. Price’s district includes NCCU and Rep. Butterfield earned an undergraduate and juris doctorate from the university.

Yesterday, Rep. Price addressed the House of Representatives to recognize the institution’s impact on North Carolina and urge swift passage of the resolution. The text of Rep. Price’s remarks is below.

CONGRESSMAN DAVID PRICE
FLOOR STATEMENT ON H. RES. 1361
Recognizing North Carolina Central University on its 100th Anniversary
May 19, 2010

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.Res.1361, which commemorates the centennial anniversary of North Carolina Central University and honors its founder, Dr. James E. Shepard. I’ve introduced this resolution as the member of this body privileged to represent North Carolina Central, but I’m proud to say it has the support of the entire North Carolina delegation as well as a number of other members who recognize the university’s significance.

People frequently talk about the “Big 3” universities in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina – referring to Duke University, North Carolina State University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – but I like to remind them that it is actually the “Big 4”. North Carolina Central is fully as integral to the historical fabric of our state as its three peer institutions; it is one of the oldest and most prestigious Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the nation; and it has rapidly assumed an important role as a research institution.

Established by Dr. James E. Shepard in 1909 in Durham, North Carolina, the University first opened its doors to students a year later as the National Religious Training School and Chautauqua. Dr. Shepard was a visionary leader guided by the conviction that individual self-improvement and collective self-advancement were inextricably intertwined. “There is no economy in ignorance,” he declared. “Education is a vastly expensive resource, but ignorance is incomparably more so. Ignorance and poverty are cures for nothing.”

Dr. Shepard led the University until his death in 1947, guiding the institution through several name changes; watching the University grow in size and mission; and helping the school to gain the support of the North Carolina state legislature. In 1925, thanks to Dr. Shepard’s leadership, the school became the nation’s first state-supported liberal arts college for African-American students.



Now an integral part of the University of North Carolina system, NC Central offers bachelor’s degrees in more than 100 fields of study and graduate degrees in about 40 disciplines to a student body of about 8,500. U.S. News and World Report recently ranked NC Central the top public HBCU in the nation and one of the top ten HBCUs overall. The NC Central School of Law has been named the “Best Value Law School” in the nation by National Jurist magazine for two consecutive years.

NC Central is also renowned for its contributions to the cultural and performing arts. The University is home to the “Marching Sound Machine,” an award-winning marching band that will be performing on New Year’s Day 2011 in the Rose Parade, and the NC Central Jazz Ensemble, which recently performed in the Newport Jazz Festival.

NC Central also has a strong history of athletic prowess: its sports teams have won 41 conference championships, three NCAA regional titles, and two national championships. More than 50 of its student-athletes have won individual NCAA and NAIA national championships; and student-athletes representing NCCU competed in every Olympic Games from 1956 to 1976 in track and field, capturing eight Olympic medals, including five gold medals, during that span.

As a co-chair of the congressional National Service Caucus, I must also note that NC Central was the first state university in North Carolina to establish community service as a requirement for graduation and has been recognized by the Carnegie Foundation as a “community-engaged university”. It should therefore come as no surprise that the University has enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship with its home city of Durham throughout its 100-year history.

Thousands of NC Central graduates have served Durham as community leaders, educators, professionals, entrepreneurs and volunteers. However, the reach of NC Central extends far beyond the borders of the Triangle region of North Carolina. In the century since its founding, the University has graduated approximately 40,000 students and proudly boasts many distinguished alumni, including civil rights lawyer and educator Julius L. Chambers, basketball Hall of Famer Sam Jones, two-time Olympic track gold medalist Lee Calhoun, NC Superior Court Judge Toby Fitch, state Senator and former Speaker Dan Blue, and state Rep. Mickey Michaux, not to mention my friend and lead cosponsor of this legislation, Congressman G.K. Butterfield.

In the words of NC Central’s current Chancellor, Dr. Charlie Nelms: "It's no small accomplishment that an institution of higher education - and in this case founded by African-Americans at a time when African-Americans were barred from most colleges - survived and thrived for 100 years." I could not agree more. Under the visionary leadership of Dr. Shepard, Dr. Nelms, and all who served the institution in between, the University has flourished and has touched countless lives in North Carolina and throughout the country and the world.

With that, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this resolution and yield back the remainder of my time.

Tuskegee University signs Prattville H.S. Bria Young

Bria Young, a four-year letter man on the Prattville High School softball team, inked a letter of in tent Tuesday afternoon in the high school's media center to attend Tuskegee University. Young will play for the Tigers' softball program headed by coach Tarsah Askew. The Golden Tigers ended the 2010 season with an 18-14 record and will be competing in the SIAC tournament this week end in Columbus, Ga.

Young earned two letters with the Prattville junior varsity and for the past two seasons she had played in the outfield for the varsity Lions. Not only is Young a versatile softball player, she is a well-rounded student, and quite popular. She was named the homecoming queen as well as the 2010 Prom Queen. "Bria is a very coachable young lady. She is very smart, an excellent student and a very good kid. She played centerfield for us, and had some clutch hits over the season. "Tuskegee is getting a very good player. Bria will earn early playing time next year at Tuskegee. More than an athlete, Tuskegee is getting an excellent student," head coach Sabrina Tutchtone said.

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Shaw's Asberry makes his mark‎

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Darrell Asberry can't erase this loss from his mind. The fourth-year Shaw football coach holds on to defeats and uses them as a source of energy. This particular loss, to Elizabeth City State, came during his first season with the Bears, in 2006. And it wasn't so much that his team lost, but that they were crushed 36-0 near the end of an ego-bruising 3-7 campaign. Vikings coach Waverly Tillar called for a two-point conversion after a fourth-quarter touchdown with five minutes to play. The run attempt failed, though it came as a stark reminder of how weak opponents considered the Bears.

"He called time out and went for two," Asberry said last month through coarse laughter. It's only funny now because that was the last game the Bears lost to Elizabeth City State. Two years later, Asberry's team won its second consecutive CIAA championship, defeating the Vikings 36-7 in the title game. Last season, the Bears were a botched snap away from returning to the conference championship game - led by their offensive-minded coach, who despite limited resources has spearheaded a successful program. "He made it known, you got me down now, but I'm not going to stay down," Tillar said.

A former quarterback at Jackson State, Asberry helped head coach Rod Broadway - now at Grambling State - orchestrate two CIAA championships at N.C. Central in 2005 and 2006, serving as an assistant head coach before accepting his first head coaching job at Shaw.

In a short time, Asberry, 38, has won 28 games, captured two conference titles, led the Bears to the NCAA Division II playoffs and distinguished himself as one of the nation's top Division II coaches. "To do what he's done at Shaw definitely puts him in the arena with successful [historically black college and university] coaches in the country," said LeCounte Conaway, an analyst with Heritage Sports Radio Network. "He's winning. ... He's proven that his teams are going to be very competitive, well-prepared and also they're going to have talent."



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Saint Augustine’s College Wins CIAA All-Sports Men’s Trophy

Saint Augustine's College athletic director George Williams.

RALEIGH, N.C. - Saint Augustine’s College capped an outstanding athletic year by winning the C.H. Williams All-Sports Trophy on Tuesday at the 2010 CIAA Coaches of the Year Award Program at the Crabtree Valley Marriott. The award is given to the season’s best men’s athletic program in the CIAA.

“It is another significant achievement by an institution which believes in academics first, athletics second and then a controlled social life,” said George Williams, athletic director and acclaimed head track and field coach at Saint Augustine’s College.

The Falcons earned the honor by winning CIAA titles in baseball, men’s basketball, and men’s indoor and outdoor track and field. In addition to their four league crowns, the Falcons finished second in men’s cross country, third in the Western Division in football, fourth in men’s golf and tied for third in men’s tennis. The winner of the Williams Trophy is based on the championship place finishes for each sponsored sport.

Three coaches and one student-athlete from Saint Augustine’s College also were recognized during the banquet. Williams was honored for winning four CIAA coach of the year awards – men’s indoor and outdoor track and field, women’s outdoor track and field and women’s cross country. Head coaches Lonnie Blow, Jr. received the CIAA coach of the year plaque for men’s basketball and Charles Whitaker accepted his plaque for CIAA baseball coach of the year. Blow is in his second year of coaching and Whitaker is a first-year head coach at Saint Augustine’s College.

The Falcons' Orolando Duffus was the winner of the CIAA male scholar-athlete of the year award. Duffus, a junior from St. Catherine, Jamaica, is an NCAA Division II All-American jumper in track and field and has a cumulative grade-point average of 3.96 in business administration.

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Southern coach Cador staying in background

Southern University Coach Roger Cador is taking it easy and will allow assistant coach Fernando Puebla to run the team during the SWAC Tournament.

On a hot, muggy afternoon Saturday, acting head coach Fernando Puebla had the Southern University baseball team running. The position players were doing 24 sprints in the outfield at Lee-Hines Field, the pitchers six laps around the warning track. “It’s going to be hot in Shreveport too,” said Puebla, looking forward to the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament, which starts Wednesday at Fairgrounds Field. “We need to be in condition.” What was missing was the dragging of heels and the bickering of a bunch of young men having to toil in the heat of a day where one might break a sweat just standing in the shade.

Instead, players smiled and cracked jokes. Things were loose, almost relaxed — or at least as relaxed as things can be while running 24 sprints in the outfield — as the players put in the work in preparation for the postseason. A relaxed demeanor is part of the reason the Jaguars (23-20) won five of their final six regular-season games, all after Puebla took over for Roger Cador, who sat out the late part of the season for health reasons. And although Cador said he has been cleared to return to “do whatever I want to,” he said, the veteran coach knows a good thing when he sees it. Watching from the sideline, Cador has seen his team play well.

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Main Street Expands With CIAA and SIAC Sports

After 4,189 postings on black college sports, I believe we have learned a few things about the main stream press coverage of our Division I historical black colleges and universities.

First, the coverage is not equal, especially for institutions located in the States of Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas, Georgia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. Secondly, HBCUs can help themselves by updating their own athletic websites (daily) with future events, breaking news stories and press releases on the sport news on their campus. Finally, for changeovers in coaching personnel, HBCUs should release the story first on their school websites, so that their Administration's perspective gets out on the Internet before the facts get twisted by the local press corps.

For sometime now, I have been attempting to stop blogging and posting at "MEAC/SWAC Sports Main Street" due to a need to devote time to other interests. But, I have a burning passion for HBCU sports and bands and can never find enough real-time information on either topic at one site--the very basis of this blog.

It is very difficult to argue with the facts--the data shows that this blog serves a very useful purpose and generates a considerable following around the globe. Here is what today's Google Analytic metrics says about the MEAC/SWAC Sports Main Street blog:

• Over 253,623 visits have been made to the site this year, using 82 languages. There has been 429,355 page views and over 20,000 visitors have visited the site over 201+ times. The 253,623 visits came from 164 countries/territories; and approximately 239,904 from the United States, 3199 from Canada, 1217 from the United Kingdom, 946 from Germany, 477 from France and 69 from Iraq, just to name a few.

• Within the U.S., the top States with visitors to this blog are: Florida (39,394), Georgia (19,433), North Carolina (18,976), Texas (18,050), Virginia (14,172), Maryland (13,024), New York (10,817), Alabama (9,304), and California (9,218). Visitors came from all states with a high number from states with no HBCU or HBCU Division I institutions -- like California, New Jersey (4497), Michigan (3536), Pennsylvania (4338) and Illinois (5509). One could conclude that these states have a high concentration of HBCU graduates or fans/followers of black college Division I sports.

• In examining the data from Florida and the 39,394 visits via 562 cities, Tallahassee lead the pack with over 8,903 visits, followed by Orlando (2,652), Hialeah (2155), Miami (2000), Jacksonville (1723) and Lakeland (944). The greater number of visitors to the site in Florida are located in the big cities and urban areas. But more importantly, the fans in small towns and communities, visit the site just as often as fans in urban areas, according to the data.

Effective today, we are going to broaden our content to include the Division II, Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) and the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). There is no reason not to give the CIAA and the SIAC the same level of exposure that the MEAC and SWAC have enjoyed from this ONE MAN-- three year effort. Our goal is simply to provide greater global exposure and expand interests in our Historical Black Colleges and Universities athletic programs and their exceptional student-athletes.

We have a wonderful story to tell and it should be told from both a black perspective that accentuate the positives of HBCU culture and athletic accomplishments.

Recently, we did a blog on the football accomplishments of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. The school was formally know as Maryland State College and played football in the CIAA, prior to ending the football program in 1980. The school's football coach, Vernon "Skip" McCain was legendary, but has been generally forgotten by main street America.

We are talking about a school--UMES-- that produced over 25 NFL players, including Pro Football Hall of Famer and the first African American NFL head coach of the modern era in Art Shell ( Oakland Raiders); College Football Hall of Famer and Super Bowl III star half-back Emerson Boozer of the New York Jets; and Roger Brown, an anchor of the Fearsome Foursome of the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams. Both Brown and Coach Skip McCain have been enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.

Few articles are written on trailblazing pioneers of HBCU sports like Skip McCain (UMES), Jake Gaither (FAMU), John Merritt (TSU) , Clarence Big House Gaines (WSSU), Willie Jefferies (SCSU), Davey L. Whitney (Alcorn St.) and many other black icons of the modern era.

Few know that five UMES Hawks played in Super Bowl III, tying an NFL record with Florida State University for the most players in a single Super Bowl game from the same college.

How many know of Rudy Hubbard, Marino Casem, William "Billy Joe" or Arnett Mumford accomplishments. How many of you grasshoppers know that the second African American coach to win an NBA championship is none other than Alvin Attles from North Carolina A&T State University.

Attles is in the CIAA Hall of Fame, played 11 seasons in the NBA as a guard and ended his NBA coaching career with 588-548 overall in 14 seasons with 6 playoff appearances. His #16 was retired by the Golden State Warriors.

If you are interested in blogging and/or providing e-press clippings of your HBCU press releases, or local articles, please send me a message as I can use the help. The pay is zero but the greater reward is that your postings will get exposure annually to over 500,000 fans and readers in 164 countries and territories. Talk to me at email: oneproposal@yahoo.com.

Thank you readers for providing your feedback on this project and for your continued loyalty in reading the articles posted at MEAC/SWAC Sports Main Street. To my alma mater, Florida A&M University, thank you for giving me the gift of sharing. On gridiron, diamond, track and field, Thy sons thy victory never yield, And while they tread a broader life, Thy love shall stay them in the strife. Hubba, Rattlers!

Welcome fans of the CIAA and SIAC. Let's talk HBCU Division I and II sports!!

CIAA - "Established in 1912"

Northern Division

Bowie State University

Chowan University

Elizabeth City State University

Lincoln University (Pennsylvania)

Saint Paul's College

Virginia State University

Virginia Union University

Southern Division

Fayetteville State University

Johnson C. Smith University

Livingstone College

Saint Augustine's College

Shaw University

Winston Salem State University

SIAC - "Established in 1913"
School: Location: Year Joined SIAC:
Albany State University, Albany, GA 1969
Benedict College, Columbia, SC 1932
Claflin University, Orangeburg, SC 2008
Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA * 1913
Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, GA 1941
Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY 1997
Lane College, Jackson, TN 1929
LeMoyne-Owen College, Memphis, TN 1932
Miles College, Fairfield, AL 1927
Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA * 1913
Paine College, Augusta, GA 1985
Stillman College, Tuscaloosa, AL 1978
Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL * 1913

*Founding Member Institution of the SIAC

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