FAMU Begins National Search for a New Director of Bands

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M University (FAMU) has begun its national search for a new Director of Bands.

The university started the process today by posting an advertisement on its website, soliciting candidates for the position. The job description will also be posted in the Chronicle of Higher Education and Diverse Issues in Higher Education. The university’s goal is to hire a new band director before the end of the fall 2012 semester, said Larry Robinson, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. The new Director of Bands will play a lead role in implementing new policies and procedures that are critical to the future of the Marching “100,” which has been suspended for the 2012-13 academic year.

To head the nationwide search, Robinson appointed Rodner Wright, dean of the School of Architecture as chairman of the search committee, which will consist of 13 members and include faculty, staff, students and alumni.

“We want an individual with outstanding experience in band management, the proven ability to educate and inspire students to excel in the class room and in the traditions of FAMU’s renown performance style, and the capacity to lead and mentor faculty, staff and other colleagues,” said Robinson. “We desire someone with unrelenting commitment to our core values, particularly those related to anti-hazing. The ideal candidate would have the ability to promote the values of respect and dignity among all members of the Marching “100.”



The new director will report to the chairman of the FAMU Music Department. That is a change from the previous director, who also served as department chairman. Robinson explained that would add an extra layer of supervision. Qualifications include a degree in music and a minimum of five years experience directing bands at the collegiate level. It will be a full-time, tenure-track position and will be either an associate or full professor position, based on the person’s experience and expertise.

The new director will oversee all aspects of the marching and pep bands. Specific duties and responsibilities include overseeing all activities of band student organizations and ensembles; providing creative direction; recruiting students for membership; teaching the marching band courses and other courses as needed; planning and directing the summer high school band camp; fund raising; planning and executing the band's travel to athletics events and other events that have been approved by the University and functioning as the liaison between the Athletics Department, the Division of Student Affairs and the Department of Music.



The director will work closely with the Music Department Compliance Officer, a newly created position. Together, they will ensure that staff and members of the Marching and Pep Bands are made aware of and comply with the University's policies and procedures regarding anti-hazing, academic requirements, rehearsal hours and travel.

Queens' Norfolk State product Kyle O'Quinn heads to Orlando Magic as 49th overall pick in 2012 NBA draft

Center who lead Norfolk State Spartans past No. 2 Missouri in historic NCAA Tournament victory looks to make big impact at the next level

QUEENS, New York -- Kyle O’Quinn became the darling of the NCAA Tournament’s first weekend by leading No. 15-seeded Norfolk State to an upset win over No. 2 Missouri.

It was a great story for the 6-10 Queens product, whose only scholarship offer out of Campus Magnet High was from the Spartans. And now the story has another great chapter after he was selected by the Orlando Magic in the second round of the NBA draft Thursday night.



The 6-10 center’s selection (No. 49) rounded out a strong night for the borough of Queens, which had three players taken. St. John’s Maurice Harkless went at No. 15 to Philadelphia. Doron Lamb, shooting guard from national champion Kentucky, was selected in the second round by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 42nd pick.

Iona point guard Scott Machado, a fourth Queens product, did not see his dream realized. After leading the nation with 9.9 assists per game and piloting the Gaels to the NCAA Tournament, he went undrafted. Machado, who also averaged 13.6 points and won the Haggerty Award as the metro area’s top player last season, likely will end up in some team’s camp as a free agent.



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NSU's Kyle O'Quinn to Orlando Magic: 2nd Round, Pick 49

ORLANDO, Florida - Kyle O'Quinn isn't necessarily a household name, unless you're a fan of Missouri or Norfolk State basketball.

O'Quinn played a major role in Norfolk State's upset of the No. 2 Missouri Tigers this past March, and that tournament performance has garnered him some well-deserved interest. At 6'10'' and 241 pounds, O'Quinn is a raw talent who can help solidify his team's frontcourt while also managing to spread the floor with his perimeter shooting abilities.

What O'Quinn Brings to the Team

O'Quinn is the type of player who can make an immediate impact coming off the bench with his above-average rebounding skills and his physical presence in the paint.

In the past two seasons at Norfolk State, O'Quinn has combined averages of 16.2 points and 10.7 rebounds per game.  O'Quinn isn't going to have that kind of impact immediately against NBA talent, but there's no doubt that with time and the right coaching, he'll be able to mature into that kind of a player. He certainly has the work ethic and physical demeanor to do just that.

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MSU, Mississippi Valley State Cancel 2013 Game

ITTA BENA, Mississippi -- Mississippi State's 2013 football game against Mississippi Valley State has been canceled due to MVSU's failure to meet NCAA-mandated financial aid guidelines.

The teams were scheduled to meet in the season opener on Aug. 31, 2013, in Starkville. MSU athletics director Scott Stricklin said he has a "pretty good idea what we're doing to replace them but aren't ready to announce."

The game had to be canceled because playing Valley would not count toward bowl eligibility for MSU. Normally, Division I-A teams can have one game versus a I-AA foe count toward bowl eligibility. But for that to happen, the I-AA program must average 90 percent of the permissible maximum number of grants-in-aid in football over a rolling two-year period. Valley does not meet the requirement.

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CAU: Dutchtown’s Tanner back to old form

MCDONOUGH, Georgia -- Kelvin Tanner only swung once his entire senior season of baseball at Dutchtown High School. Now he swings a lot.

At Dutchtown, he was on the shelf on the disabled list for the entirety of the 2010 season. His one at-bat was a tribute from coach Michael Breedlove, a surprise pinch-hitting appearance on Senior Night with strict guidelines — if Tanner made contact, he had to jog cautiously to first base to save his ACL injury from flaring up.

Nothing is holding back Tanner now. Completely healthy, the left-handed hitting first baseman and rising junior at Clark Atlanta has terrorized Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference pitching.

He’s coming off a first-team all-SIAC season as a sophomore, in which he hit .355 with 13 doubles, one home run and 36 RBIs. Which only served to validate his Freshman of the Year performance the previous season.

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Former Florida A&M Swimmer Dies In Afghanistan

Photo Courtesy Florida A&M University Athletics Department

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The FAMU family mourns the loss of former middle/long distance swimmer Steven Stevens II. Stevens, who was a swimmer for two years at FAMU before joining the Marines, was killed in battle in Afghanistan from shrapnel from a rocket-propelled grenade.

Private First Class Stevens is survived by his wife Monique and his three-month-old son Kairo, who was born just eight days after his deployment. Stevens never had the opportunity to see his son in person.

Stevens grew up in northwest Detroit and attended Detroit Technology High School.  His wife  Monique is from Pensacola, Florida.

Derek Horne, FAMU director of Athletics, expressed the sorrow of the Rattler nation in learning of the news.

"We are saddened to hear of the untimely sacrifice made by former Rattler student-athlete PFC Steven Stevens II. FAMU Athletics and the university as a whole became aware of his demise on today. Because of Stevens' competitive spirit and athleticism, we know that he was the perfect fit for our U.S. Marines and we are very proud of him. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Monique, son Kairo and his entire family. The swimming records he earned while he was here may one day be broken, but the respect and admiration earned for making the ultimate sacrifice for his country will never subside. The Rattler nation salutes a fallen Rattler," Horne said.

Stevens came to FAMU on a swimming scholarship under Ian Lee. Lee would train Stevens and place him as a middle distance swimmer, as well as designate him the lead-off leg on some of the relay races.

His talent shined brightly in the Northeast Swimming Conference championship of 2007. Overall the Rattlers took third place in the meet. In the 200-yard medley, he swam a 29.44 split to lead off the Rattlers. In the 400-yard medley, Stevens swam a lead leg of 1:00.40 to take second place.

Individually, Stevens took fifth in the 400-yard IM, with a time of 5:22.99. He also took fifth in the 200-yard backtroke and seventh in the 500-yard freestyle.

He holds three FAMU swimming records. He ranks fourth in time for the 400-yard Individual Medley (4:56.18 - 2007), fourth as a member of the 400-yard medley (Stevens,Lowe, El-Amin,Barnett - 3:44.00 - 2007) and sixth in the 200-yard backstroke (2:12.81 - 2007)

Douglass Carrington was the assistant swimming coach during Stevens' tenure at FAMU, before becoming the head coach in 2008. "It was bad to hear the news. Steven was so young. He was a pretty bright kid, and one of our talented athletes. He was fun to be around and this is one of those things that's tough to talk about. We were tough on him to make the team better. When he first came he was unsure of his path, but he soon settled in and began to perform in the pool. The whole military life seemed uncharacteristic, because he seemed gentler than a soldier," Carrington said.

Stevens was a good swimmer, but always had a heart for art. His desire to travel the world prompted him to leave FAMU after two years. He would enlist in the U.S. Marines.

Stevens enlisted in the Marine Corps on June 1, 2009. He was awarded the Purple Heart Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the NATO Medal-ISAF Afghanistan. This was Stevens' first tour in Afghanistan.

Stevens was assigned to the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California. He died while conducting combat operations in the Helmand province in Afghanistan.

Funeral services for Pfc. Steven Stevens II are scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at Hope United Methodist Church, 26275 Northwestern Hwy., in Southfield. Viewings will be 4-8 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday at the church, with family hour at 10 a.m.

The James H. Cole Home for Funerals in Detroit is handling other arrangements.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
VISIT: FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY
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Paine Men's Basketball Coach to hold Basketball Camp

AUGUSTA, Georgia - Paine College Head Men's Basketball Coach, Jimmy Link will host the Inaugural Jimmy Link Basketball Camp. The camp is for youth ages 6-15, starting July 9- 12 at Riverview Park, North Augusta, SC. Sessions begin at 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. each day.

The purpose of the camp is to teach and develop basketball skills. This camp will highlight individual skill development and organized team play. Participants can aspire to increase shooting percentage, obtain more assists, improve defense techniques and gain confidence in their game.

“The coaches and I are committed to providing personalized and qualified instruction,” Link said. “This camp will provide a safe, welcoming environment where youth can learn the fundamentals of the game, enhance their skills, gain confidence and most importantly have fun!”

Each camp participant will receive a camp T-shirt and are eligible for contest prizes. Registration is now open for all sessions. To download and print a camp brochure, visit www.paineathletics.com.

For more information contact, Jimmy Link at (706) 945-1361 or jlink@paine.edu.

COURTESY PAINE COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION