Stillman wins SIAC title at Ozark's Eagle Stadium

MOST OUTSTANDING COACH
DONNY CRAWFORD
STILLMAN COLLEGE

OZARK, Alabama - On Saturday night, Stillman baseball coach Donny Crawford had planned to pitch someone other than Josh Cagle in Sunday’s Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament championship game.

Problem is, he had to break the news to Cagle – who had pitched a complete game on Thursday in Stillman’s first-round 3-2 victory over Benedict at Eagle Stadium.

“He kind of looked at me and said, ‘I want the ball,’” Crawford said.

So Crawford gave it to him. Again. And the left-hander gutted out a 7-2 victory over Paine College that extended the Tigers’ SIAC winning streak to 39 games and captured their fifth conference tournament title in the last six years.

“I had to find a way to get outs,” said Cagle (8-4), who gave up eight hits, while walking two and striking out three. “I didn’t have my best stuff today. I just had to battle through it and fight. … I did the same thing last year.”

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2012 SIAC BASEBALL CHAMPIONS
STILLMAN COLLEGE TIGERS
(PHOTO COURTESY STILLMAN COLLEGE ATHLETICS)
ROSTER

2012 SIAC Baseball All-Tournament Team

Corbin Williams, Albany State University
Eddie Mathis, Albany State University
Brett Bullard, Claflin University
Justin Bartley, Miles College
Darren Stokes, Paine College
Zachary Drummond, Paine College
Tyler Padgett, Paine College
Tyler Vails, Stillman College
Kameron McCreless, Stillman College
Dion Bryant, Stillman College

Tournament MVP: Josh Cagle, Stillman College

Most Outstanding Coach: Donny Crawford, Stillman College

Third Place: Albany State University

Runner-Up: Paine College

Southern University Jaguars roll, 14-4; streak now at 12

JACKSON, Mississippi — Quintavious Drains struck out the first three Southern batters he faced Saturday at Braddy Field. Soon enough, however, the Jaguars got to him. And soon enough, Drains faltered against a hot Southern team that keeps hitting and winning.

The Jaguars erupted for five runs in the fifth inning off of Drains, turning a close game into a 14-4 wipeout to secure their 12th consecutive victory.

“Drains did very well to start off the game,” SU coach Roger Cador said. “Then we were able to really start chipping away, chipping away. Our guys were so focused.” It certainly seemed that way. On a sunny spring afternoon, Southern piled up 19 hits and got home runs from Taylor Roy, B.J. Rowry and Cameron McGriff.


Southern University Human Jukebox Marching Band & Dancing Dolls

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2012 NFL HBCU Free Agent Signees

BALTIMORE, Maryland - NFL head coaches and general managers are reeling in the desired number of undrafted players so that they will have 90 players in offseason camp.  In the race for talent, it makes you wonder why HBCU players only route to the NFL is through free agency contracts.

Only one player was drafted (Baltimore Ravens) from an HBCU program -- Christian Thompson, Safety, South Carolina State University.

Here are the free agency signees from HBCU institutions based on Tweets from the athletes, their universities and their agents:


Alabama A&M University Maroon and White Marching Band


1. Brian Tymes, WR, Florida A&M, San Francisco 49'ers
2. Ryan Davis, LB, Bethune-Cookman, Jacksonville Jaguars
3. Jean Fanor, Safety, Bethune-Cookman, Kansas City Chiefs
4. Nicholas Cooper, RB, Winston-Salem State, Green Bay Packers
5. Donovan Robinson, LB, Jackson State , New York Jets
6. Donovan Richard, LB, South Carolina State, Jacksonville Jaguars
7. Micah Pellerin, Cornerback, Hampton U., Indianapolis Colts
8. Adrian Hamilton, DE, Prairie View A&M, Dallas Cowboys
9. Lamont Bryant, TE, Morgan State, Baltimore Ravens
10. Rico Council, LB, Tennessee State, Atlanta Falcons
11. Casey Therriault, QB, Jackson State, Atlanta Falcons
12. Demario Pippen, RB, Tuskegee, Denver Broncos
13. LaQuinton "Smoke" Evans,WR, Southern U., Tennessee Titans
14. Mario Louis, WR, Grambling State, Houston Texans
15. Marquette King, P, Fort Valley State, Oakland Raiders
16. James Dekle, G, Prairie View A&M, Arizona Cardinals
17. Kevin Elliott, WR, Florida A&M, Jacksonville Jaguars
18. Delano Johnson, DE/LB, Bowie State, Houston Texans
19. Jared Green, WR, Southern U., Carolina Panthers
20. Paul Cox, WR, Mississippi Valley, San Diego Chargers
21. Dominique Ellis, DB, South Carolina State, Kansas City Chiefs

Updated 3:58 p.m. EDT, 4/29/12.


Jackson State University Sonic Boom of the South Marching Band, "All I Do Is Win," DJ Khaled.

beepbeep

Undrafted B-CU's Davis Quickly Signed By Jaguars; Fanor To KC

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- Ryan Davis' disappointment of going undrafted lasted about ten minutes. No sooner than the 2012 NFL finished, Davis was fielding several free agent offers before signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars Saturday night.

"It was unfortunate that I didn't get drafted, but I'm happy with the way things worked out," Davis said from his home in Tampa. "I'm looking forward to going to Jacksonville and contribute."

The signing capped off a frenzied day of phone calls and an emotional gauntlet for the 2011 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Defensive Player Of The Year.

It appeared that Davis may be going as early as the fifth round, but that faded. Several teams called him throughout the day and indicated interest as well.

After the seventh round concluded, the free agent flurry began and every phone number associated with Davis was inundated before he reached an agreement with Jacksonville, a decision he described as "the best fit."

"I went through happy, sad, mad, nervous ... all of that," Davis admitted. "But now it's over. I have a home right now and I can get back to what I love. All the paper work is done and all the workouts are done."

Davis will join former B-CU standout Rashean Mathis on the Jaguars' roster.Davis will be considered a "top tier free agent," giving him the same considerations as a draft pick.

Also on Saturday, Jean Fanor signed a free agent deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.

“I’m trying to soak it all in,” said the former B-CU defensive back. “I’m humbled and grateful to be in this position. I’m going to keep my head down and keep grinding.”

Fanor, who had an impressive performance at B-CU’s Pro Day, said the Chiefs appreciate his work ethic.

“They liked that I play the game fast and play the game hard,” Fanor said. “They want to give me an opportunity to play at the next level.”

Several former Wildcats have gone on to NFL success via the free agent route. Eric Weems, now with the Chicago Bears, went undrafted but signed with the Atlanta and earned a Pro Bowl berth as a special teams player. NFL Hall of Famer Larry Little was first signed as a free agent by the San Diego Chargers before being traded to the Miami Dolphins.

Several former Wildcats have gone on to NFL success via the free agent route. Eric Weems, now with the Chicago Bears, went undrafted but signed with the Atlanta and earned a Pro Bowl berth as a special teams player. NFL Hall of Famer Larry Little was first signed as a free agent by the San Diego Chargers before being traded to the Miami Dolphins.


COURTESY Dan Ryan BETHUNE-COOKMAN ATHLETICS.COM

Xavier sweeps NAIA unaffiliated group championships

NORCROSS, Georgia — Xavier University of Louisiana's men's tennis team defeated Cumberland 5-0 Saturday to win an NAIA unaffiliated group tournament for the second straight year. Xavier also won the women's championship by upsetting defending champion Martin Methodist 5-2.

XU's men set a school record with their seventh consecutive conference/group tournament championship.

Both the Gold Rush (17-7), ranked eighth, and the unranked Gold Nuggets (7-21) earned automatic bids to the NAIA National Championships at Mobile, Ala., next month. The Rush qualified for the fourth straight year, and the Nuggets qualified for the sixth time in eight seasons.

Cumberland's 16th-ranked men (17-2) and Martin Methodist's 17th-ranked women (11-4) await possible at-large bids to nationals. Tournament pairings will be announced May 8.

Loic Didavi clinched Xavier's men's title with a 6-3, 6-3 victory against Na'im Azhar at No. 1 singles. Seniors Steffen Giles-Osborn and Sean Richarson defeated Devin Crotzer and Na'im Azhar 8-6 at No. 2 doubles, and both XU seniors finished unbeaten in four years of conference and group tournaments. Giles-Osborn is 15-0, and Richardson is 12-0.

Xavier also got doubles victories from Didavi and Zach Taylor and Viktor Svoboda and Corey Huggins. Taylor gave the Rush a 4-0 advantage when he beat Evan Sanna 6-1, 6-2 at No. 2 singles.

"Our men came out on a mission to play well and not let up on anyone," XU coach Alan Green said. "We have to keep that attitude going in the national tournament."

Amber Brown beat Maria Charrys 6-3, 6-1 at No. 3 singles to clinch for the Nuggets. Charrys clinched a 5-4 victory against XU on March 9 by beating Brown in three sets.

"I just wanted to go out there and get revenge for last time," Brown said. "I told myself that I wasn't going to lose to her. I knew that I needed to win for my team to get to nationals."

It was the second time Saturday that the Nuggets lost the first two doubles matches, then won five in a row. Kourtney Howell and Nicole DeLoach beat Charrys and Jeanna Stanford 8-5 at No. 2 doubles, then Amanda Materre, Howell and Jordyn Goody won in singles to set up Brown's clinching victory."

"I could not be prouder of the Nuggets," Green said. "We may not have the prettiest overall record, but we're definitely one of the top 24 teams."

In the semifinals the XU men beat Bethel (Tenn.) 5-0, and the women overcame a 2-0 deficit to win 5-2 against Milligan, which eliminated the Nuggets in the 2011 semifinals.

Xavier's seven teams combined for nine conference/group championships in 2011-12, and all seven teams qualified for national tournaments. The nine titles and seven tourney bids are XU records for one academic year.

NAIA Unaffiliated Group Tournament MEN Racquet Club of the South, Norcross, Ga. First Round — Friday, April 27 #8 Milligan 5, #9 Bluefield 0 Quarterfinals — Friday, April 27 #4 Bethel (Tenn.) 5, #5 Tennessee Wesleyan 3 #6 SCAD Atlanta 5, #3 Martin Methodist 2 #1 Xavier 6, Milligan 0 #2 Cumberland 5, #7 Reinhardt 0 Semifinals — Saturday, April 28 #1 Xavier 5, #4 Bethel (Tenn.) 0 #2 Cumberland 5, #6 SCAD Atlanta 0 Championship — Saturday, April 28 #1 Xavier 5, #2 Cumberland 0

NAIA Unaffiliated Group Tournament WOMEN Racquet Club of the South, Norcross, Ga. First Round — Friday, April 27 #7 Bethel 6, #10 Reinhardt 3 #8 Columbia (S.C.) 5, #9 Bluefield 0 Quarterfinals — Friday, April 27 #3 Milligan 5, #6 Tennessee Wesleyan 0 #5 Cumberland 6, #4 SCAD Atlanta 0 #1 Martin Methodist 6, #8 Columbia (S.C.) 0 #2 Xavier 5, #7 Bethel (Tenn.) 0 Semifinals — Saturday, April 28 #1 Martin Methodist 5, #5 Cumberland 0 #2 Xavier 5, #3 Milligan 2 Championship — Saturday, April 28 #2 Xavier 5, #1 Martin Methodist 2

Results: Men Women

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

McNeill, Watkins are top athletes at ECSU

ELIZABETH CITY, North Carolina - There was a buzz in the room when football coach Waverly Tillar announced the team’s offensive MVP during the annual Elizabeth City State Sports Banquet on Thursday. The buzz was not about who won, but who did not.

Record-setting junior running back and reigning Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Offensive Player of the Year Daronte McNeill was passed over for senior quarterback Creven Powell. But McNeill had bigger awards in his future,

To cap the evening, McNeill and bowler Shanice Watkins were named ECSU’s Male and Female Athletes of the Year. “I was a little surprised to win this award,” McNeill said. “This will definitely make me work harder for the next season.”

McNeill, who has set 14 combined school and CIAA records in his three seasons at ECSU, was not deterred when he did not get Offensive MVP.

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WSSU's Cooper lands free-agent deal with Green Bay Packers

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina - Running back Nic Cooper of Winston-Salem State has signed a free-agent contract with the Green Bay Packers.

Cooper, who went undrafted after leaving WSSU with one season of eligibility left, is from Clinton and is 6-feet and 240 pounds. He rushed for 3,430 yards in his career at WSSU, the fourth-best mark in school history.

“I’m excited,” Cooper said by telephone on Sunday morning. Cooper got the call from the Packers on Saturday night after the conclusion of the three-day long NFL Draft. “I’ll leave for Green Bay on May 10th and be ready for rookie camp and to get acclimated to everything,” Cooper said. “I have to admit I didn’t sleep much (Saturday night) and I’m still kind of coming to terms with all of this.”



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