Grambling State University claims SWAC baseball tournament title

Grambling State University Tigers first year coach James Cooper wins first SWAC championship.

SHREVEPORT, LA — As the Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball tournament crawled along, the regular-season powerhouses quietly tiptoed out of Fairgrounds Field. Eventually, Grambling and Alcorn State found themselves in the championship game. Sunday afternoon, with an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament on the line, Grambling was quiet no more. The long-suffering Tigers — playing against Alcorn State University and their former coach, Barret Rey — unloaded on the Braves pitching staff and got a sterling effort from left-hander Adrian Turner in a convincing 15-2 victory.

It is the ninth SWAC championship for Grambling, but its first in 25 seasons. The Tigers hadn’t won a baseball title since 1985, when then-coach Wilbur Ellis led them to their third consecutive crown. This time, their coach is James Cooper, who, at 29 years old, took over the Grambling program last summer when Rey left after three years for the same job at Alcorn.

The Braves (28-27), who finished third in the SWAC Eastern Division, were 3-0 in the tournament heading into Sunday’s championship game, with two wins over Southern and one more against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Grambling (22-30), which finished third in the SWAC West, went undefeated in four games at Fairgrounds Field. Jackson State lost its first two games. Southern and Texas Southern flamed out Friday.

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Morgan State Bears Football to Face North Dakota State University Bison

Morgan State University has an East versus West date with perennial NCAA Division I FCS power North Dakota State University Bison of the Missouri Valley Conference. The game will be played at the Bison home field at the Fargodome, Fargo, North Dakota.

FARGO, N.D.-- North Dakota State University finalized its 2010 football schedule with a 6 p.m. home game against Morgan State University on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2010 in the Fargodome. NDSU director of athletics Gene Taylor made the announcement today. The Bison have six home games on the 2010 schedule.

Morgan State University is a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). Head coach Donald Hill-Eley led the Bears were 6-5 last season and tied for fourth in the MEAC with a 4-4 record. Morgan State returns six starters on offense and six on defense. It is the first meeting between the Bison and the Bears.

The Morgan State game is the first of three in a row at home after NDSU opens at the University of Kansas of the Big 12 Conference on Saturday, Sept. 4. The Bison will face a rejuvenated Jayhawks program under first year head coach Turner Gill (formerly at University of Buffalo). Gill has a familiar MEAC name on his staff in coach Lee Fobbs, serving as Director of High School Relations/Player Development. Fobbs served as head football coach at North Carolina A&T State University in 2006-08, ending his head coaching career at 2-28.

After Kansas, the Bison will play at University of Northern Iowa in the Missouri Valley Football Conference opener on Saturday, Sept. 11. The Bison are scheduled to entertain the University of South Dakota at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25 and Western Illinois at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2 in the annual homecoming game.

North Dakota State then embarks on Missouri Valley Conference Football road trips to Youngstown State on Oct. 9 and Illinois State on Saturday, Oct. 16. The Bison return home for three in a row with Indiana State in the Harvest Bowl with the game time to be determined on Oct. 23, Southern Illinois at 3 p.m. Nov. 6, and South Dakota State in the Dakota Marker game at 3 p.m. Nov. 13.

NDSU closes out the season at Missouri State on Saturday, Nov. 20.

North Dakota State averaged 16,515 spectators over five home dates in the Fargodome and placed ninth in the 2009 Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) attendance figures released by the NCAA. NDSU had a season-high 18,608 spectators in the Fargodome for the 27-24 loss to Illinois State on Oct. 3, 2009. The football program has enjoyed seven sellouts over the past four seasons including a school record 19,053 against South Dakota State in 2006. The Bison are 30-9 in the Fargodome over the past seven years under head coach Craig Bohl.

North Dakota State finished the 2009 season with a 3-8 record overall including a 2-6 mark in the MVFC.

The Morgan State Bears have completed an exceptional schedule for 2010. The Bears opens with in-state rival Bowie State University Bulldogs of the CIAA on Sept. 4 at Hughes Stadium. The teams last played in 2006, and the Bears edged the Bulldogs by a score of 28-20.

The Bears return six starters on the defensive side of the ball including #7 Darren McKhan, senior defensive back Miramar H.S./U. Connecticut, from Miami, Florida.

In the first meeting ever on the gridiron, Morgan State will take on Atlantic Coast Conference bottom dweller, the University of Maryland Terrapins. The Bears will be meeting the Terps at a good time as they finished last season with a 2-10, 1-7 ACC record. Don't expect much improvement this season under head coach Ralph Friedgen who cannot recruit the best players from Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia. The Bears should give the Terps a tough game with their lights out defense.

The Bears thereafter will travel to Fargo, N.D. on September 18 to prove MEAC supremacy with a stampede of the North Dakota State Bison. After chomping up on the Bison, the Bears will travel to the New Meadowlands Stadium at East Rutherford, N.J., for the 39th Annual New York Urban League Football Classic. There, the Bears will continue their "undefeated streak" with MEAC rival Howard University Bison.

MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY 2010 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME/RESULT
9/4/2010 Bowie State University Hughes Stadium 6 p.m.
9/11/2010 at University of Maryland College Park, MD 6 p.m.
9/18/2010 at North Dakota State Fargo, ND 6 p.m.
9/25/2010 * Howard University East Rutherford, NJ 2 p.m.
10/2/2010 * Bethune-Cookman College Hughes Stadium 4 p.m.
10/9/2010 * North Carolina A&T State University Greensboro, NC 1 p.m.
10/23/2010 * Delaware State University (Homecoming) Hughes Stadium 1 p.m.
10/30/2010 * at Florida A&M University Tallahassee, FL TBA
11/6/2010 * at Norfolk State University Norfolk, VA TBA
11/13/2010 * South Carolina State University Hughes Stadium 4 p.m.
11/20/2010 * Hampton University Hughes Stadium 4 p.m.

Alcorn advances to SWAC title game with comeback win

Alcorn State Braves will play Grambling State Tigers at 2 p.m. today for the 2010 SWAC Championship and an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.

SHREVEPORT, LA — The Alcorn State Braves are making a habit of late-inning victories at the SWAC baseball tournament. And that perseverance has put the Braves on the cusp of their first ever SWAC tournament championship. One day after scoring a run in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Alcorn scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning to post an 8-7 victory over Southern that puts them in the tournament championship game against Grambling State on Sunday.

“We’ve had a lot of fight and a lot of heart,” Alcorn State coach Barret Rey said. “That’s what has gotten us to where we are right now.” Southern helped Alcorn’s cause by committing six errors — three in the decisive seventh inning. Trailing 6-4 entering the top of the seventh, two Alcorn batters reached on errors by Southern infielders. With two outs, Kilby Perdomo singled to load the bases.

Rodney Warren tied the game with a two-run single up the middle off Kyle Wahl, who relieved starter Chase Richard after the first error of the inning. Alcorn took its first lead of the game when David Reed reached and Perdomo scored on the second error of the inning by SWAC Player of the Year and Southern third baseman Frazier Hall.

SWAC baseball: GSU vs. Valley

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Savannah State Signs Track and Field Dynamo

Mapp Ivey isn’t one to say ‘I told you so.’ But the Social Circle High School coach knew he was dealing with a special athlete nine year’s ago as a first-year elementary school physical education teacher. Sitting in the audience at the end-of-the-year award’s ceremony at Social Circle Elementary School, Ivey watched as young Asia Stinson was given the “PE Award” for being the best among his students. Two weeks ago, Ivey was again sitting among the crowd, this time at Hugh Mills Stadium in Albany as Stinson was crowned one of the best athletes in the state (Georgia).

The Lady Redskins senior won gold medals in two events and finished fourth in a third at the Georgia High School Association Girls Track and Field meet. When the dust settled, she was the top individual scorer with 24 points, almost single-handedly leading her team to an eighth-place overall finish. “She’s a special person,” said Ivey, who also coached Stinson on the school’s basketball team the past two years. “I told her parents a while back that track would be her ticket out of here.” Right again. A week before her heroics, Stinson received a track scholarship from Savannah State University (Division I, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference).

At a diminutive 5-foot, 105 pounds, Stinson’s physical presence hardly strikes fear in an opponent. But when the basketball is tossed or the starting gun sounds, she’s often head-and-shoulders above her competition. As the starting point guard this past winter, she helped guide the Lady Redskins to the second round of the state tournament. She averaged five points, four assists, two steals and two rebounds and was named the team’s “Most Improved Player” at season’s end. But for the past four years, she’s been the most valuable player on the track team, qualifying for the state meet every spring.

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City agencies spar over sporting events

The Shreveport-Bossier City region will be a major player in Southwestern Athletic Conference events in 2010/11 with the first Port City Classic on Labor Day Weekend featuring Grambling State vs. Louisiana Tech at Independence Stadium; Southern University vs. Prairie View A&M University on October 23 in the inaugural Shreveport Classic, played at Independence Stadium; the men's and women's SWAC basketball tournament; and the SWAC baseball tournament played at Fairgrounds Field in Shreveport.

Nicknamed the Sportsman's Paradise, Louisiana is known for sports. But the most contentious battle is happening off the field between two agencies vying to bring bigger and better sporting events to Shreveport-Bossier City. That competition is attracting attention from local officials and others who say this particular brand of infighting is not good business. The Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau and Shreveport Regional Sports Authority are active members in the area's sports business. And both can stake respective claims to a certain measure of success.

This year, the tourist bureau will spend about $450,000 in sports marketing and assistance. In return, it expects to receive about $300,000 in revenue from events like the Port City Classic (featuring Grambling State University vs. Louisiana Tech University), the Sickle Cell Softball Tournament and USA Weightlifting.

The sports authority, a nonprofit by incorporation that receives city funding, is operating under a $193,890 budget in 2010 but projects it will generate a revenue figure that exceeds $206,000. But numbers alone don't tell the whole story. "We need the tourist bureau out of the sporting event business with the understanding that we have a properly led, properly managed, properly staffed sports authority," Shreveport Mayor Cedric Glover said in a recent interview. "Have the bureau take care of the sports conventions. What we're doing right now is not making maximum use of our taxpayers' resources.

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Beach High back takes versatility to Savannah State

Simon Heyward was patiently waiting to hear the magic words. Finally, Savannah State University said them. Heyward, a senior at Beach High School, was holding out to receive a full scholarship for football. On Wednesday afternoon, he got his wish, signing a scholarship to continue his career with the hometown Tigers. "I was talking to Alabama State, Georgia Southern and Tuskegee, but none of them were talking the right words," Heyward said. "Then Savannah State came up to me and laid it out to me and I made that decision.

"(I wanted) a full ride," he added. "Where the money is at, is where I'm going to go play ball and get an education." In his senior season for the Bulldogs, Heyward became one of the city's most versatile weapons and prompted coach Ulysses Hawthorne to instill a portion of the wildcat offense, with the 5-foot-10, 180-pounder at the center of it. Heyward regularly played receiver, running back and quarterback. He totaled 41 receptions for 653 yards, rushed 68 times for 544 yards and completed 30 of 48 passes for 183 more yards. Defensively, he intercepted a pair of passes and made nine deflections and 37 tackles as a defensive back. He scored a total of 13 touchdowns.

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Prairie View A&M Makes The Right Choice--Promotes Wilson

Prairie View A&M University Lady Panthers assistant coach Toyelle Wilson has been promoted to head women's basketball coach, making the 28 year old Wilson one of the nation's youngest NCAA Division I coach. Coach Wilson succeed Cynthia Cooper-Dyke who moved on to University of North Carolina - Wilmington.

Prairie View A&M University athletic director Fred Washington finally made a good decision with the promotion of Lady Panthers women basketball assistant coach Toyelle Wilson to the head coach position. First, no one can "replace" a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coach like Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, who has moved on to the University of North Carolina-Wilmington and the Colonial Athletics Association (CAA). Cooper-Dyke was hired away from Prairie View A&M (without a fight) for a mere $25,000 annual increase in pay.

This is where the PVAMU administration and I differ -- "Never let anyone hire away your top coach in the conference without a "battle." Otherwise, you will never be respected as an institution, conference and competitor, nor will your constituents believe that you are serious about your business in intercollegiate athletics."

To make matters worst for Prairie View, the gem of the Lady Panthers 2010/11 recruiting class -- Charlotte Amalie High School star center Aesha Peters has decided to follow Cooper-Dyke to the Colonial Athletic Association school. The 6'-4" Saint Thomas, Virgin Islands native was just what the doctor ordered in talent at center to take the Lady Panthers to the next level in 2010/11.

The difficult task now facing coach Toyelle Wilson, a 28 year old first- time head coach is holding together a recruitment class that is the best the Southwestern Athletic Conference has seen in the past 30 years. In addition to Peters, the Lady Panthers had inked to National Letters of Intent:

Alisha Andrews, Guard, 5-4 Freshman, Stone Mountain, Ga. Redan High School; Ranked as the 31st best point guard prospect in the nation with a grade of 90 by ESPN.com and second-best point guard in the state of Georgia…averaged 14 points, six assists and 4.3 steals…shot 40 percent from the three-point line…earned First Team All-Metro Dekalb County Honors…led her team on a 58-game winning streak….guided Redan back to the state finals as a senior where they fell in the state championship game to finish with a 31-1 record in 2009-10…dished out 11 assists on two occasions during senior campaign…also scored 32 points in a contest and recorded 10 steals in a game…drained seven three-pointers against Luella High School…scored over 1,000 points as a four-year starter in high school.

Gabrielle Scott, Guard, 5-8 Freshman, Vancleave, Miss. Vancleave H.S; Listed as the second-best player in the state of Mississippi by ESPN.com…ranked fourth by Mississippi Sportstalk.com…averaged 20 points and five assists as a senior…finalist for the Biloxi and South Mississippi Sun Herald Basketball Player of the Year…guided her team to the Class 5A South State semifinals…earned district MVP and all-state honorable mention honors.

Tesha Stokes, Forward, 6-0 Freshman, H, Hawthorne, Calif. Morningside H.S; Younger sister of former Lady Panther standout and first-ever recruit under Cooper-Dyke in Twila Stokes (2005-2009)…averaged 12.4 points, 15.4 rebounds and 4.1 blocked shots per game as a senior…earned second-team honors by the Los Angeles Wave newspaper…named to the 2009-10 All CIF-Southern Section / SCIBA 4AA Second Team…played in the East-West 110 All-Star Basketball Game…ranked 54th nationally among class of 2010 standouts by Carolina’s Scouting Report…a rebounding machine as she pulled down 20-plus rebounds in 10 games this season…had seven games with 10 or more offensive rebounds…grabbed 10 or more rebounds in 26 of 30 games played as a senior.

Ryven Jackson, Guard, 5-9 Freshman, Little Rock, Arkansas Parkview; Earned Class 6A Girls All-State Honors….selected to play in the 2010 East-West Tyson/Arkansas Army National Guard High School Coaches Association in June…guided team to the Class 6A State Tournament…participated in the 11th Annual Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Metro Basketball Game…tournament MVP of Martin Luther King Tournament in Memphis, Tenn. and made history as the first girl’s out-of-state team to win the girl’s championship…ranked among the top prospects in the state of Arkansas.

Damika Abria Trice, Guard/Forward, 6-1 Freshman, Atlanta, Georgia, Dutchtown; Averaged 12.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and one block per game…can play both guard and post…guided team to the semifinals of the 2010 Georgia High School Association Class 4A Girls State Tournament…earned All-Southern Crescent Honors…also played softball and earned Class 4A First Team All-Region Honors at shortstop.

The future success of the Coach Wilson era will be dictated by the decisions made by these 18 year old that now have a choice to request a release from the NCAA from their NLI or stay put at Prairie View A&M. The outcome of this process will be announced at some point before the Fall term. Right now, their decision can go either way and it will lay the foundation on the future success of the Lady Panthers basketball program. Let's be honest here; without the thoroughbreds, Toyelle Wilson will become just another ordinary HBCU coach toiling in obscurity.

Nevertheless, I like this hire! Now, the rest of the story...

Wilson Elevated to head women's basketball coach

Prairie View A&M University Athletic Director Fred Washington announced today the promotion of Toyelle Wilson to head coach of the women’s basketball team. “We’re glad to have been able to retain Coach Wilson and are excited about the future of our women’s basketball program,” said Washington. “Wilson has been a part of all the success we’ve had and is deserving of a chance to show everyone her ability to coach on this level.”

Prior to accepting the position of head coach, Wilson spent the past four seasons as the top assistant coach for the Lady Panthers and played a large role in Prairie View A&M’s success with four consecutive postseason appearances, three straight Southwestern Athletic Conference regular season titles, two NCAA Tournament and two Women's NIT berths. Off the court, Wilson was involved in all aspects of the program with special emphasis on recruiting, the development of the team’s perimeter players, scouting, film breakdown, game strategy and operations such as team travel.

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