A Look Back: The day FAMU's Bob Hayes came home an Olympic champion

Jacksonville, FL -  I can remember it as if it were yesterday.

Joe Livingston, who did public relations for the city, came into the newsroom on the fourth floor of The Florida Times-Union building at 400 W. Adams St. with a release that said in two hours, the city parks and recreation department along with the Florida A&M band would stage a parade downtown to welcome home Bob Hayes.

The Matthew Gilbert High School and Florida A&M football and track athlete was to be welcomed home from the 1964 Summer Olympics in Japan, where he won two gold medals.

Executive Editor John S. Walters happened to be in his office and I took Livingston's release in to him. After glancing at it, Walters told me to put it in the Star Edition's mailbox. The Times-Union started the Star Edition on Jan. 1, 1950, to report on "news for and about the colored people." It was distributed to the city's African-American readers.

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Videographer: jesudomine
Bob Hayes (#702)  winning the 100m final in a time of 10.0 seconds, equaling the world record. Taken from Kon Ichikawa's documentary Tokyo Olympiad (東京オリンピック Tōkyō Orinpikku) from 1965.



Videographer: sportnotv3
USA wins the 4 x 100m relay at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics in a then World Record time of 39.06 seconds. The improbable victory was made possible by the phenomenally swift anchor leg run by Robert Lee "Bullet Bob" Hayes (#702).  His leg was quite possibly the fastest ever (8.50 seconds hand timed) according to many pundits. This relay race was Hayes' last race as a track and field athlete, as he permanently switched to NFL football (Dallas Cowboys) after the 64' Olympic games.

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VISIT: PROFOOTBALLHALLOFFAMERBOB HAYES

2011 KSU Thorobreds Football Schedule Highlighted by Conference Clash in Indianapolis

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky State University's Director of Athletics, Dr. Denisha L. Hendricks, has announced the 2011 Thorobred Football schedule. In a campaign that opens against rival Central State University on September 4 in the Dayton Classic, this year's schedule boasts five home games, three non-conference matchups and a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference battle in one of the oldest HBCU classics.

“We are very excited about the upcoming football season and the start of the SIAC East-West Division setup,” said Hendricks.

After opening the season on the road, the Thorobreds return home to take on Lincoln University (PA) on September 10 and then their first West Division game against Stillman College on September 17. On September 24 KSU travels to Owensboro, Ky. to play their final non-conference game of the season against Kentucky Wesleyan.

The 2011 season is highlighted by KSU's matchup against conference foe Albany State in the 2011 Circle City Classic at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Following their appearance in the Circle City Classic, the Thorobreds return to Frankfort for a homecoming, conference battle against Fort Valley State. Last year the Breds fell 12-14 to the Wildcats on Senior Day.

“This year's schedule is great for fans to witness Thorobred football on our home turf,” said Head Coach Wayne Dickens, who enters his third season as head coach at KSU. “It's always great to play in front of the home crowd and the new SIAC divisional format allows us to play more home games and not have to travel as far for away games.”

The remainder of the season alternates home and away games with KSU traveling to Miles College on October 15, returning home to play Tuskegee on October 22 and then hitting the road again on October 29 to battle Lane College. The Breds conclude the regular season with a home game against Morehouse College on November 5.

The Thorobreds wrapped up the 2010 season with a record of 3-8 overall and 2-7 in the SIAC, but they are focused on building upon their strong recruiting class. “We had a successful recruiting season and now it is time to see the fruits of our labor,” said Dickens. “We are one team, with one vision and that's to win, first our division and then the conference championship.”

2011 KSU Football Schedule
Date    Opponent      Location      Time
9/4 Central State (Dayton Classic), Dayton, OH, 5 pm
9/10 Lincoln (Pa.), Frankfort, KY, 5 pm
9/17 Stillman College, Frankfort, KY 7 pm
9/24 Kentucky Wesleyan, Owensboro, KY, 7 pm CST
10/1 Albany State (Circle City Classic), Indianapolis, IN  2:30 pm 
10/8 Fort Valley State (Homecoming), Frankfort, KY 1:30 pm
10/22 Tuskegee, Frankfort, KY 1 pm
10/29 Lane College, Jackson, TN  2 pm CST
11/5 Morehouse, Frankfort, KY 1 pm

By KSU Sports Information
Visit: KSU Thorobreds

NCCU Football Adds Kicker, QB to 2011 Recruiting Class

DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University has added a place-kicker and a quarterback to its 2011 football recruiting class, bringing the total number of signees to 28 under new Eagles head coach Henry Frazier III.

The additions are Oleg Parent, a 6-0, 170-pound place-kicker from Lake Forest, Calif., and Terry Williams, a 6-5, 205-pound quarterback from Elizabeth City, N.C.

Parent, who was born in St. Petersburg, Russia and came to the United States four years ago, was a place-kicker and punter at Trabuco Hills High School. He kicked seven field goals and 29 extra-points for the Mustangs as a senior, while also blasting 35 of his 50 kickoffs for touchbacks, to earn all-county second team honors. As a punter, he averaged 42 yards per boot, including a long of 73 yards.



Williams, a two-sport standout who led Northeastern High School to its first state 2-AA football championship game in 2010, set single-season school passing records with 2,473 yards and 23 touchdowns through the air as a senior. He garnered all-conference honors as the Eagles posted 13 consecutive victories to finish the campaign 13-3. On the basketball court, Williams averaged 18.9 points and 9.0 rebounds for Northeastern in 2010-11 to repeat as a first-team all-conference pick after being tagged as conference player of the year as a junior on the hardwood.

For a complete listing of NCCU’s 2011 football recruiting class, CLICK HERE.

By Kyle Serba, Associate A.D. for Media Relations
VISIT: NCCU EaglePride

FAMU's Scott preaches his sermon

LLOYD, FL — After he'd been on the pulpit at Mount Zion AME Church for about 10 minutes, sweat began to roll down Padric Scott's face.

"Let God step in and show out," he urged the congregation that gathered last Sunday to hear him preach his trial sermon at the small church located about 20 miles east of Tallahassee.

Scott, a defensive tackle on the Florida A&M football team, kept his listeners spell-bound. His father, Edward, a prominent Tallahassee dentist who also is the church's minister, sat at his left and hardly batted an eye. Coach Joe Taylor, sitting at his left, seemed captivated. "We make a big deal out of it, especially when...


Videographer: hhorns2002; Continuing the Legacy: 1996 FAMU Marching 100 - "Knocks Me Off My Feet"

FAMU players set for the spring game

Players hoping to be starters or at least secure a spot on the three-deep depth chart for the Florida A&M football team will get their job interviews today in the annual Orange and Green game at Bragg Stadium.

The questions will come in the form of plays from coach Joe Taylor and his staff. The players will have to respond by executing on the field. "I've told them that all of them will be evaluated and we'd have it on film," Taylor said.

The attraction, of course, will be the quarterback matchup between designated starter Austin Trainor and Memphis transfer Tyler Bass. They will go head-to-head in the first quarter, with Trainor starting for the Green team, while Bass will be the one under center for the Orange team.

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HU Lacrosse Buries A Tough Loss On The Road

HIGH POINT, N.C. – After a tough series of road matches, the Howard lacrosse team fell to High Point, marking their fourth consecutive National Lacrosse Conference loss. Although the Lady Bison (3-8, 0-4 NLC) scored only one goal in the match, the team has one more chance left to gain a win in their six-game road campaign before returning to the nation’s capital on April 9 against fellow NLC opponent Jacksonville.

Cynithia Smalls was the only member of the Bison to post a score in the 19-1 defeat. This match marked the first game all season that last year’s NLC Player of the Year Desiree Cox left the field without at least one goal. Cox managed to be a part of the Howard’s lone scoring play however, as she was credited with the assist to Smalls.

Smalls’ goal came in the first half with 16:27 left on the clock. Prior to her score, High Point had tallied six goals within the opening 12 minutes. Following Howard’s goal, the Panthers went on a 7-0 run to lead the Lady Bison, 13-1 by halftime.

Goalkeeper Amber Meeks tabbed six saves for the Lady Bison in the first half.

Howard was unable to outpace the Panthers in shots as HPU posted 31 compared to HU’s ten. Recording the most shots for the Bison was Cox with five. The Panthers also held the advantage in groundballs over Howard (25-18). Leading HU with the most groundballs was Courtland Lackey with four.

The Lady Bison were kept out of the net in the second half and were unable to slow down High Point’s offensive momentum as they went on to score six additional goals by the close of the game.

The Howard lacrosse team will cruise into their sixth straight match on the road against Davidson at 1 p.m. and will look to gain their first win away from Greene Stadium this season. For more updates on the Howard lacrosse team, visit Howard-Bison.com.

Tiffany White, Sports Information Assistant
Howard University

Texas Southern University parts ways with football coach Cole

TSU Interim Head Coach Kevin Ramsey
Click Here for Bio

Texas Southern University football coach Johnnie Cole was fired Friday afternoon in advance of an NCAA report that is expected to detail major violations committed by the program.

Defensive coordinator Kevin Ramsey was elevated to interim head coach, and a permanent replacement will be named after the 2011 season, athletic director Charles McClelland said in a release obtained by the Chronicle.

TSU coach Johnnie Cole out as report of major violations expected

HOUSTON — Texas Southern University, expecting a report detailing major NCAA violations, says head coach Johnnie Cole will not be leading the Tigers next season. 

Athletics Director Charles McClelland said Friday he appreciated the coach's service, however, "we have agreed that Coach Cole's separation from the program is best for all parties."  The move is effective immediately.  McClelland said the school anticipates "major NCAA violations toward our football program ...

TSU: Johnnie Cole no longer head football coach

HOUSTON – TSU on Friday said Johnnie Cole is no longer their head football coach, ahead of what they expect will be “major NCAA violations” toward their football program.

TSU Director of Athletics Dr. Charles McClelland said Defensive Coordinator Kevin Ramsey will serve as interim head coach while they search for Cole’s permanent replacement.

"We want to thank Coach Cole for his years of service at Texas Southern, however at this time, we have agreed that Coach Cole’s separation from the program is best for all parties," McClelland said. "We will utilize the next nine months to thoroughly search for a head football coach; one that will ensure that the needs of our students are met, and engage the alumni, employees and the entire TSU community."

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Bahamas star Russell doing it all for Jackson State Tigers

Jackson, MS - Desmond Russell arrived in Jackson from his homeland of the Bahamas in August 2009, toward the end of Mississippi's sweltering summer. In his first trip to the Deep South, a couple of things surprised the Jackson State pitcher.

One: "It was kind of cold. It will be cold one moment, and it will be hot right away." Two: "There's no conch."

Born and raised on a tropical island, Russell had to get accustomed to Mississippi's sporadic temperature drops - even in the summer - and its lack of the popular Bahamian sea snail dish. But, Russell seems to be fitting in quite nicely here.

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