NCCU Eagles ready to take flight

DURHAM, N.C. -- N.C. Central coach Mose Rison spoke succinctly about his football team's record the last two seasons, accepting any criticism thrown his way."We're not going to make any excuses: 4-7 has not been good enough," he said.

Heading into his fourth season at N.C. Central, Rison knows there's a hunger for more wins. He has been credited with guiding a proud football program through its transition from NCAA Division II to Division I, but ultimately he knows judgment comes on the field. With seven home games this season, starting with Thursday's opener against Johnson C. Smith, Rison's program has a great opportunity to prove it's headed in the right direction.

When N.C. Central left the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association in 2007 to begin playing as an independent in the NCAA's Football...



READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Murray will help build FAMU's program through recruiting

Coach LeDawn Gibson didn't have to look at Freddie Murray's complete resume to find out how much he could help the women's basketball program at Florida A&M. She only needed to look at his role at North Carolina A&T.

"It was a big factor but it was all of those things — the loyalty, maturity and all that played a part," Gibson said Wednesday. "I just knew how experienced he is and that can help me take this program up. We're looking to do better each year and I think his experience will help us out a lot."

Murray joined Gibson's staff as an assistant to replace Stephen Joyner, who left at the end of last season to take the head coaching job at Winston Salem State. One of the primary roles for Murray will be to help build FAMU's program through recruiting.



READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Ex-Rams hero Jones now coaching SU linebackers

For seven long seasons, Southern football coach Stump Mitchell ran on the rock-hard turf at Busch Stadium, earning his reputation as a fan favorite in St. Louis. But as former NFL players go, he’s not the most beloved in St. Louis history. In fact, Mitchell’s not even No. 1 on his own coaching staff. That honor belongs to his linebackers coach, Mike Jones.

Yes, that Mike Jones.

If you’ll recall, he’s the guy who made perhaps the most famous tackle in Super Bowl history — wrapping his arms around Kevin Dyson, dropping him 1 yard short of the goal line as time ran out in Super Bowl XXXIV, preserving a 23-16 win for the St. Louis Rams. “He told us about the stop. He said he missed the tackle, but he really made it,” strongside linebacker Gary Chatman said. “He’s a good linebacker coach and a cool, good guy.”



READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Lake Taylor's Sawyer is more than a head coach

NORFOLK, VA -- Gloria Johnson always knew her son had all the qualities to be a great coach. He’s humble, dedicated, loyal, caring, passionate and a leader. That’s why Johnson was a little troubled when her son, Hank Sawyer, asked her if coaching was the right job for him.

“He was talking to other people, and they were telling him that he wasn’t going to make any big money coaching, so he asked me what I think,” she said. “And I told him, 'There are a lot of people who go to work every day and work a job that they hate. If you have an opportunity to work a job that you love then you take it. Money is not everything. So he went on and coached football.”

Decades later, Sawyer has become one of the elder statesmen on South Hampton Roads’ sidelines. Sawyer, who turns 53 today , has compiled an 89-33 record over 11 seasons at Lake Taylor. He’s helped lead the Titans to seven Eastern District titles, including the last five. He’s helped produce 45 All-Tidewater players and sent more than 75 kids to college to play football at all different levels.



READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

S.C. State looks to continue its trend of success

Most college coaches would consider this a rebuilding year. South Carolina State starts this season minus its all-time leading rusher and four other star players who have moved on to professional football. But head coach Buddy Pough isn't most coaches, and South Carolina State isn't most college football programs.

While there are still plenty of questions left to be answered by the two-time defending Mid-Eastern American Conference champions, Pough thinks like this might be the most talented bunch he's had since returning to his alma mater eight years ago.

Gone from last year's 10-2 team is running back Will Ford, who finished his career as the leading rusher at S.C. State and in the MEAC.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

UMES Cohesion will set them apart‎

PRINCESS ANNE, MD -- For the past three years, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore volleyball team has been dominant in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Over that time, the Hawks have won 20 or more games each season and the MEAC North title thrice, sporting a 30-0 mark against divisional competition. During the streak, UMES has lost only one set.

Because of that success, the Hawks again have been named the preseason favorite in the division, but in order to reach the top, they will have overcome a large turnover on their roster.

"People have set expectations for us," UMES coach Don Metil said. "Our expectations are really just to get all these new girls to gel on the courts and to go into our first MEAC tournament as a very cohesive unit."

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Cole driving Texas Southern on road to relevancy‎

His is a typical football coach's office. Awards and plaques all over the place. Photos of former players, like Texans wideout Jacoby Jones, on the wall. And of course, all the standard equipment for watching game highlights.

In the corner, to the right of Johnnie Cole's large desk at Texas Southern University, there is a bookshelf stocked with helmets from the stops along his college coaching career.

The headgear comes in an assortment of colors, a mixed bag of logo designs and school names spanning the alphabet from A to T (Alabama State to Tennessee State). Whether it was with the Jaguars, Tigers or Dragons, Cole has been successful at each stop along his coaching journey.

As he enters his third season at TSU with an overall losing record (10-13), Cole is working on a new success. Turning around a program takes time, and although TSU hasn't turned, it is turning with Cole, a former TSU quarterback, at the wheel.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.