Friday, September 30, 2011

Savannah State Names New Athletic Director

SAVANNAH, GA. -- Sterling Steward, Jr. has been announced as the new Athletic Director at Savannah State University.

Steward worked at Mississippi Valley state, Kentucky State, Eastern Oregon and Xavier of  Louisiana and Alabama State before coming to Savannah State.



Steward has been a Senior Consultant for Athletics Administration at Mississippi Valley State University since April. Before that, he was Alabama State's Interim Athletic Director from September 2009 until June 2010.

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ASU VS. KSU EARNS HSRN "GAME OF THE WEEK" HONORS


Albany, Georgia - Because Saturday's game between Albany State and Kentucky State is the HSRN Game of the Week, it can be heard live on the internet and satellite radio.

"We encourage our fans who want to hear the action of the Golden Rams game against the KSU Thorobreds to listen to the game on HSRN. The broadcasters will provide live action, play-by-play of the game," said Richard H. Williams, ASU's interim athletics director.

Fans can listen to the live broadcast on Sirius XM Satellite Radio Network, Channel 137, and XM Radio. Fans may also visit www.hsrn.com and click the "Listen Live" link on the HSRN home page.



Other internet resources for the HSRN broadcast are www.HBCUConnect.com, www.HBCUDigest.com, www.TuneIn.com, www.Blacksportsonline.com, www.BSTM.com and www.Urbaiamag.com.

Other radio network coverage includes WOKS 1340 AM out of Columbus, WAGF 1320 AM out of Dothan, Ala., and WEUP 1700 AM out of Huntsville, Ala. Coverage for the game kicks off at 1:30 p.m. with the pre-game show.

Color analyst Mike Walker will join play-by-play announcer Lamont Germany in the booth, with LeCounte Conaway providing sideline coverage. The game will kick off at 2:30 p.m.




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Helmet cam debuts at FAMU practice

Coach Joe Taylor
Tallahassee, FL - From a distance the little silver gadget strapped to the helmets of quarterbacks Austin Trainor and Damien Fleming looked weird. It almost seemed like a distraction.

But both said the device, which is actually a helmet camera, can only make them better at their job from under center. Coach Joe Taylor said he approved its use for practices because it serves as a third eye that lets him and his staff see exactly what the quarterbacks see.

"I think it's going to have a pretty good amount of upside; it gives you a perspective from the quarterback's eyes," Trainor said. "We can't tell coach one thing and he sees another thing. It should help us in our development as quarterbacks; nothing but positives from it."

That's exactly what the team's videographer ...

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With Budd, Bowie State Hopes to Bloom

OgheneMaro Erhie
Bowie, MD - An overcast sky, with a few drops of rain, was the scene on Tuesday afternoon as the Bowie State football team held practice in preparation for another road game on Saturday.

The dreary weather on the back side of campus, just off Laurel-Bowie Road, was hopefully not an omen for the Bulldogs, who are coming off their first loss of the season and will play the second of six straight road games this coming weekend at Virginia State in Petersburg.

Bowie State, 3-1 overall and 2-1 in the CIAA, may be at a crossroads. The Bulldogs lost last Saturday, 32-29, at Virginia Union in a CIAA contest and Virginia State will be the second of four league games in a row away from Bowie.

"From here on out we have to win," said starting right tackle OgheneMaro Erhie, a 296-pound junior from Laurel High. "We need to play better on defense." The normally stingy Bowie State defense gave up 523 yards of total offense to Virginia Union, including 354 through the air at Hovey Field in Richmond.

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SSU followers show support during stadium dedication

Howard (1-3, 0-2 MEAC) at Savannah State (1-3, 1-0 MEAC)
Where: T.A. Wright Stadium, Savannah
When: Saturday at 7 p.m.
TV/radio: No TV/WHCJ 90.3 FM



Savannah, Georgia - Orange and blue balloons decorated the gate leading to the playing surface of Savannah State’s T. A. Wright Stadium. Bands serenaded, dignitaries bowed, cheerleaders cheered and a crowd of 500 on a sunny Thursday afternoon displayed the unity student government association vice president Jesse Fenton suggested when he said: “one mission, one vision, one Savannah State.”

It was a day to show your blue and orange colors as officials cut ribbons to dedicate the $6 million renovation of the Tigers’ football stadium. SSU plays its first game in the spiffed up stadium Saturday night at 7 against Howard University.

“It’s so exciting to break our home in with the community,” said Tigers senior quarterback A.J. DeFilippis. “You know, it wasn’t a day I expected to come. But it’s come and we’re embracing it.”

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Morehouse College dominates Clark Atlanta

Atlanta, GA - Morehouse College football still rules its neighborhood. The Maroon Tigers beat Clark Atlanta 30-2 Thursday night at Morehouse's B. T. Harvey Stadium. Morehouse earned its third consecutive victory and ninth in the last 12 meetings against its West End border rival.

Morehouse (4-1, 2-0 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) kept pace with Albany State at the top of the East division. Clark Atlanta (2-3, 1-1), which leads the all-time series 48-33-2, fell behind 13-0 and never recovered.

“You had historical implications and also to keep us in the race for the conference championship,” Morehouse coach Rich Freeman said. “It was a big win for us. The guys know the magnitude. We are trying to make generational change. We are not just looking at this season.”

The game set up as a clash between Clark Atlanta's stout defense against Morehouse's prolific offense. Morehouse entered the game leading the SIAC in scoring and yards while Clark Atlanta was No. 1 in points allowed and third in yards surrendered.

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Jackson State pummels Texas Southern, 58-13

Jackson, MS - Casey Therriault threw for 300 yards and three touchdowns tonight, leading Jackson State to a 58-13 thrashing of Texas Southern in a rare Thursday night SWAC game at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.

JSU’s Tigers (4-1, 1-1 SWAC) bounced back from last week’s 21-14 loss to Alabama State — and a six-interception game, the worst Therriault’s career — in a big way, scoring 37 points in the second quarter to take a 37-7 halftime lead. It was the most points scored in a quarter by JSU in at least 30 years, said school officials.

JSU rolled up 401 total yards and scored eight touchdowns. Texas Southern (2-2), was penalized 16 times for 134 yards.

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Notebook: Rebounding well - very well

Jackson State quarterback Casey Therriault threw six interceptions last Saturday in a loss at Alabama State. Six - the most of his career. He had eight in the last two games entering Thursday's 58-13 victory over Texas Southern - the first time he's had back-to-back games with multiple interceptions.

On Thursday, he had one. "After you have the worst game in your career," Therriault said, "you want to come back and play sound football." Therriault completed 15 of 27 passes, for 300 yards, three touchdowns and that single pick.

It all came against the No. 1-ranked defense in the Football Championship Subdivision and helps him forget about the last two weeks and that game at Texas Southern a year ago. JSU lost 21-18 in windy Houston last October as Therriault was held to his fewest yards (256) and worst completion percentage (37) in 2010.



VIDEO

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Football preview: Grambling State vs. Prairie View A&M at Cotton Bowl in Dallas on Saturday

Dallas, Texas - Doug Williams, former Grambling State University quarterback and Grambling’s head football coach from 1998-2003, just had to come back as head football coach to where he considers home.

“What made me come back?” Williams told a press conference audience on Monday. “It’s just one word: Grambling.”

Williams, along with Prairie View A&M University Panthers head coach Heishma Northern, on Monday were part of the Kickoff Press Conference for the State Fair Classic, one of Black College Football’s most prestigious annual games. The two teams square off Saturday, October 1 at 6 p.m. at the Cotton Bowl at Fair Park.



The game regularly attracts between 50,000 and 60,000 fans. Traditionally held on the opening weekend of the State Fair of Texas, officials determined that the event brings in close to $10 million of economic infusion into North Texas each year.

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Thursday, September 29, 2011

TSU's pass defense ready for Jackson State

Gametime: Thursday, 6:30 p.m.CT/ 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium
Television: ESPNU
Radio: WHLH-95.5 FM in Jackson
Jackson, MS - Texas Southern freshman cornerback Tray Walker and his secondary mates were prepared for a challenge from Alcorn State quarterback Brandon Bridge on Saturday.

Bridge, nicknamed "Air Canada" by some Alcorn State fans, tried to hit an early home run with three towering passes on the game's opening series. "We were expecting the deep balls, but not consecutively like that," Walker said.

All three bombs fell incomplete, and Bridge completed only five of 21 passes for 56 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. Backup Darius Smith wasn't much better, finishing 4-for-12 for 43 yards, zero touchdowns and an interception as TSU held on for a 14-7 victory.

TSU has the Football Championship Subdivision's stingiest ...

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NSU ready for defending MEAC champs



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Alcorn travels to Alabama State needing win

Lorman, MS - Alabama State controls its destiny in the Eastern Division championship race. The Hornets (3-1, 3-0 SWAC) entertain Alcorn State on Saturday at 7 p.m. in a game that could determine who reaches the SWAC championship game.

If Alcorn (1-3, 1-3) loses, the Braves would be all but eliminated from the SWAC championship game picture. Alabama State would build a huge cushion in the Division standings.

Alabama State quarterback Greg Jenkins played two seasons at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, helping the Bulldogs win a MACJC state championship. He transferred from Troy University. He threw for over 140 yards against Jackson State.

S.C. State mens basketball picks up commitments

Orangeburg, S.C. - The South Carolina State mens basketball team picked up a pair of commitments from the Lowcountry over the weekend. Baptist Hill guard Shaquille Mitchell and Timberland post player Daryl Palmer both committed to play for the Bulldogs, according to their AAU coach Antoine Sanders.

Mitchell is a 6-4 guard who was selected first-team All-Lowcountry by The Post and Courier last year. Entering his fifth year as a starter for the Bobcats, he averaged 18.9 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.7 steals and 4.7 assists a season ago.

Palmer, who is 6-6, was a second-team All-Lowcountry selection by The Post and Courier, averaging 10 points per game.

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Former Dothan player leads Stillman College defense

Dothan, AL - Former Dothan High standout Jarell Thomas is hungry to finish his college career with a bang. He figures the team he plays for – Stillman College - is primed for some big things as well.

“We have players that really want it and we have a coach (new head coach Teddy Keaton) we don’t mind fighting for,” Thomas said. “We are determined and don’t want to accept failure. We’re very hungry.”

Thomas, a senior linebacker, leads Stillman College with 44 tackles (18 solo, 26 assists) through the first four games of the season.



Stillman, which is located in Tuscaloosa and competes in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) on the Division II level, is off to a strong start at 3-1, 2-0 in conference play, after a win at Tuskegee last Saturday.

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Eugene Richardson: Outstanding basketball player and coach

MOULTRIE, GA — Eugene Richardson had an outstanding career playing basketball at Moultrie High, Bethune-Cookman College and professionally in Europe. But he became a successful high school coach almost by accident.

After playing in Finland, Holland and Belgium for seven years, Richardson returned to Florida determined to do what he had wanted do since he was a student at Bethune-Cookman several years before. Richardson wanted to use his degree in physical education and become a teacher.

And it was while teaching at Everglades Middle School in 1990 that he was asked to take over the boys basketball team there. In three years as the head coach at Everglades, the school won three middle school championships.

But when he was asked to become the head coach at Coconut Creek High School in 1995, he hesitated and asked his wife Mae about it.

“You’re always gone anyway,” Richardson remembers his wife saying. “You might as well.”  And so began one of Florida’s finest high school boys basketball coaching careers.

Bowie State: A running back’s long road

Bowie, MD - Ramono Flowers is young man among even younger men on the Bowie State University football team. The 26-year old redshirt junior tailback has had an inspiring journey to his place in the Bulldogs’ backfield.

“When I think of Ramono, I think of perseverance,” Bowie State coach Damon Wilson said. “He’s a guy who has persevered a lot to get where he is.”

After graduating from Largo High School in 2003, Flowers accepted a full scholarship to play at Central Michigan University. By the end of his redshirt freshman season for the Chippewas under coach Brian Kelly (now the coach at Notre Dame) and running backs coach Butch Jones (now the coach at Cincinnati), Flowers had some tough decisions to make.



“I had a child on the way, so I wanted to come home and work,” Flowers said. His son, Ramono Flowers Jr. is now 6.

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WSSU Rams coach not sure what to expect when his team trails

Winston Salem, NC - Coach Connell Maynor of Winston-Salem State knows a lot about his football team, except for one small detail. He isn't sure how the Rams will respond once they fall behind.

Winston-Salem State has been rolling through opponents and hasn't trailed in any of its four games. The Rams, ranked No. 21 in the AFCA Division II poll, will play Johnson C. Smith on Saturday at Bowman Gray Stadium. It's not a concern to Maynor that the Rams, who have outscored their opponents 200-77, haven't been behind.

"I haven't even thought about that," Maynor said. "I have noticed that when we are up by a touchdown or two, the defense can lay back a little bit and they can afford to play a little more conservative."

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Bounce TV to televise Bowie State at Virginia Union Football Tonight!!














Wednesday, September 28th
@ 8PM ET/5PM PT


This is a re-broadcast of the Sept. 24th CIAA game played in Richmond, Virginia.   Check your TV network directory for the channel for BounceTV.   For more info: 


Coming Up on October 8th
Fayetteville State University

Saturday, October 8th
@ 6P ET / 3P PT

HBCUs Game Day Faces







Reeling Delaware State Hornets try to get it together again

DOVER, DE -- Delaware State's football team has been humiliated the past two weeks in crushing losses to Delaware and South Carolina State, losing by a combined score of 114-0. So the Hornets called a team meeting Monday, minus the coaching staff, and took a hard look at themselves in the mirror. They weren't too thrilled with what they saw.

Delaware State (2-2 overall, 0-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) hopes the airing of grievances proves productive when it travels to play Florida A&M (2-2, 0-1) in Tallahassee, Fla., on Saturday at 6 p.m.

"We definitely had a heart-to-heart meeting [Monday], just the players only, and a lot came out and [Tuesday] is where it's going to start. This practice right now is going to be a lot faster and a lot more intense. We're going to get ready for FAMU," said Brandon Harvey, the Hornets' senior middle linebacker. "Everything came together [in the meeting]. We were rallying basically, more than anything. We came together, and that was the most important thing."




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Norfolk coach says MEAC trying to catch up to S.C. State

Coach Pete Adrian
Norfolk, VA - If head coach Buddy Pough is playing down his 22nd-ranked South Carolina State football team's credentials, his opposition Saturday afternoon is doing the complete opposite.

Norfolk State head football coach Pete Adrian had nothing but praise for the Bulldogs during Tuesday's weekly Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference teleconference, while insisting his team faces an uphill battle at Dick Price Stadium.

"South Carolina State's the three-time defending champions and they're playing very well," Adrian said. "They have a lot of depth on both sides of the football. They've got just about two of everything that we're seeing. They play with great passion. They always play really hard and everybody in the conference is trying to catch them. I don't know if they'll ever get caught or not, but it's a typical South Carolina State team. They're going to hit you in the mouth and smile at you and play hard and see how you respond to it."

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Former S.C. State/Central State's Orlando Brown dies at age 40

Brown played for legendary Coach Willie Jeffries at South Carolina State University 

Baltimore, MD - Orlando Brown, 40, a mammoth offensive tackle who sued the National Football League in 1999 after he was struck in the eye by an errant flag thrown by an official, was found dead Sept. 23 at his home in Baltimore.

Rescue workers were called to Mr. Brown’s home when he was found unresponsive. Determination of the cause of death is pending an investigation by the Maryland medical examiner.

Mr. Brown, who grew up in Northeast Washington, was a bruising 6-foot-7, 360-pound behemoth who played 10 seasons in the NFL, despite missing three years because of his eye injury. He earned a reputation as one of the toughest and most aggressive players in the league.

During a game in Cleveland on Dec. 19, 1999, referee Jeff Triplette threw his flag while calling a penalty on another player. The flag, weighted with a small bag of metal pellets, passed through Mr. Brown’s face mask and struck him in the right eye, causing immediate partial blindness.

WSSU women's hoop team ready to go

Winston Salem, NC - Losing just one starter in center Vontisha Woods has coach Steve Joyner Jr. very encouraged about this women’s basketball season at WSSU. But then again Joyner, who learned from his father, is always optimistic.

The Rams were 16-11 last season in Joyner’s first at WSSU. With four transfers and six freshmen added to his roster Joyner is hoping that the chemistry comes early. The Rams also lost key reserve Rene Rector from last season.

“We have a tough schedule playing some Division I teams early,” Joyner said. “If we can get through that stretch and get into the CIAA would should be OK.” The Rams will begin practice Oct. 15 and will play at Davidson on Nov. 5 in an exhibition game.



The core of the Rams, guard Courtney Medley, Taneisha White, Jasmine Newkirk and Jordhan Peterson, along with Taylar Wells gives Joyner plenty of experience. If Medley is more consistent I think she has a chance to be player of the year in the conference.

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JCSU Golden Bulls show a little gloss

Charlotte, NC - It's no secret that the Johnson C. Smith football program has had trouble gaining traction. Coach Steve Aycock is intent on giving his team solid footing. The Golden Bulls (2-2, 1-0 CIAA) will be homecoming opponents again when they play the undefeated Winston-Salem State Rams at 1:30 Saturday at Bowman Gray Stadium.

Aycock and his team won't shy away from the challenge.

"We are used to being homecoming bait," said Aycock, a former Golden Bulls assistant now in his third season as the head coach. "Next week, we are Shaw's homecoming game, so it's nothing new to us."

What is new is that the Bulls are starting to turn the corner. They already have two victories, matching their win total of last season (2-8). They were 3-7 in 2009, Aycock's first season.


JCSU vs. Davidson half-time performance.

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Savannah State Tigers excited about big week ahead

Savannah, GA - First-year coach Steve Davenport wanted to give Savannah State football fans something to get excited about. So Davenport and the Tigers delivered the ultimate elixir — a 33-30 win over North Carolina Central in their first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game.

It was just the positive statement SSU hoped to produce before coming home to display beautifully renovated T.A. Wright Stadium to an expected huge throng for the home opener against Howard University on Saturday night.



The game culminates several days of festivities. An official dedication of the stadium begins Thursday afternoon followed by the school’s athletic hall of fame induction ceremony on Friday night. Excitement for the team started early Sunday morning. Davenport said about 500 supporters and students greeted team buses at 3:30 a.m. after returning home from Durham, N.C.

“It really gave me an eye-opening of how starved these kids and the community are to be successful,” Davenport said.

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MEAC upholds replay reversal in Hampton vs. Bethune-Cookman

NORFOLK, VA -- The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Commissioner Dennis Thomas has issued a statement regarding the final play of the Bethune-Cookman University vs. Hampton University football game played on Thursday, September 22, 2011 in Daytona Beach, Fla. The game was televised live on ESPNU.



"In addition to reviewing the video with the MEAC's Coordinator of Football Officials Rosie Amato, I felt the need to procure external analysis of the play in question and requested three seasoned and nationally respected officials including Rogers Redding, CFO National Coordinator of Football Officials and NCAA Football Rules Committee Secretary-Rules Editor, Doug Rhoads, Coordinator of Football Officials for the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), and Dr. Gerald Austin, Coordinator of Football Officials of Conference USA, to independently review the play in question. Upon their review it was concluded unanimously that the ruling to reverse the on field call to an incomplete catch was accurate therefore invalidating the final Hampton touchdown.

The analysis of the video evidence concluded that the airborne receiver did not maintain control of the ball after hitting the ground, and by rule did not fulfill all the elements of the process of completing the catch. The rule support for this reversal is Approved Ruling 7-3-6-XII and 7-3-6-XIII found on page FI-35 of the 2011-12 NCAA Football Rules and Interpretations manual."

Courtesy MEAC Media Relations