JSU Tigers' Mitchell hopes long wait ends this year comeback

JACKSON, Mississippi - On Tuesday, the Jackson State football team finished its second practice of the day like it did the first, by sprinting the width of the field and back.

For that evening session, Tigers coach Rick Comegy added a new wrinkle - sprint down and then bear crawl your way back. With a sweltering mid-day sun beating down on them, JSU players labored on, calling on every ounce of mental and physical strength they had to take the next step.

Darius Mitchell, the Tigers barrel-chested 6-foot-3, 320-pound offensive lineman out of Atlanta, Ga., didn't have it so tough. He simply walked the rubber track that encircles the Tigers' practice field.

But in Mitchell's case, it isn't really as simple as it seems.

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Intensity, pace increase at Grambling practices

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- Mother nature forced Grambling to cancel practice Wednesday night, but she hasn't stopped coach Doug Williams from getting a better look at his team already this week.

The Tigers donned pads for the first time Monday, rested Tuesday and returned to practice Wednesday morning before having to call off their evening plans.

More contact and an increasing schedule, which includes sessions Thursday night and Friday morning and night, has quickly raised the intensity level, Williams said.

"There's no doubt when the pads come on you see ...

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Orlando Magic sign Queens product Kyle O'Quinn of Norfolk State, their second round pick

NEW YORK, New York -- It is one of the great rags-to-riches New York stories. Four years ago Kyle O’Quinn was graduating from Campus Magnet High in Queens with only one scholarship offer.

On Wednesday night he signed a three-year, $2.5 million contract to play for the Orlando Magic of the NBA. “He couldn’t be more excited,” said Alberto Ebanks, his agent. “This is him fulfilling his dream, a dream a lot of people probably never envisioned.”

O’Quinn’s scholarship offer was from Norfolk State and he made the most out of it.



As a senior this season he was the MEAC’s Player of the Year and carried his team to a conference title and an NCAA Tournament berth. The Spartans were the talk of the tournament’s first weekend after, as a No. 15 seed, they stunned No. 2 Missouri.

O’Quinn had 26 points and 14 rebounds in the game and made news when he left the court screaming “we even messed up my bracket!”


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Michigan State will play Tuskegee to commemorate historic game

EAST LANSING, Michigan — The last time Michigan State played a basketball game at Jenison Field House, it was as part of the 1989 National Invitation Tournament.

More than 20 years later, the Spartan men's basketball team will make a return to the venerable, historic, 72-year old Jenison Field House, now with the Spartans as a hot-ticket, elite national power, and capable of creating national news when Michigan State plays host to Tuskegee University at Jenison on Dec. 15 in commemoration of an important event in American sports history.

The game will honor the 50th anniversary of the 1963 NCAA Tournament game played at Jenison Field House between Mississippi State and Loyola of Chicago.

Mississippi State's team, in the face of racism, against the orders of the governor of the state of Mississippi and Mississippi's state police, snuck out of Starkville, Miss., with an all-white squad in order to play Loyola, which started four African-Americans.

That game, now remembered as the "Game of Change," is regarded as a landmark in race relations.


Loyola wins 1963 NCAA basketball title...it is historically significant in that, 3 years before Texas Western, Loyola started 4 black players and Cincinnati 3 (the 1st championship in which the majority of the starters were black). Loyola's starting 5 played the entire game.

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Mike German gives Tennessee State University rare QB stability

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- The start of Tennessee State football practice had a different feel in the offensive backfield Monday than the previous three seasons.

The Tigers had an established quarterback running the show for the first time since 2008 with Mike German at the helm.



The sophomore from Pompano Beach, Fla., replaced Jeremy Perry for the last eight games last year and completed 140 of 250 passes for 1,899 yards with 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The Tigers won four games German started.

“It’s a big difference being the established starter on the first day of camp because I can work more on my chemistry with the other players on offense and on my techniques without fighting every day for the job,” German said. “I can get better as a quarterback and a leader instead of worrying about who’s breathing down my neck or who I’m trying to beat out.”

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No redshirt planned for FAMU's Lee Williams

TALLAHASSEE, Florida - Coming from a small Tallahassee school that doesn’t have a reputation for being a football power, Lee Williams’ signing with FAMU wasn’t viewed as much more than the historic moment that it was in the spring.

With a 5-foot-10, 180-pound frame and with Williams known more for his accolades in track and field, it seemed certain that the first Marauder to sign a college football scholarship would be asked to redshirt. But FAMU coach Joe Taylor has decided not to wait, instead having offensive coordinator Lawrence Kershaw draw up some packages just for Williams.

“I know it’s a big jump just coming from high school,” Williams said Tuesday. “It’s a tough process but ...



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UAPB Golden Lions wrap up day 3 on positive note

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas -- Two of the key factors the Golden Lion coaching staff wants to focus on are retention and application of the playbook.

With veterans stepping up and showing leadership to the incoming freshmen, the learning curve that is usually an issue with the start of fall camp has been reduced to the liking of head coach Monte Coleman.

 Even with the normal conditions that could plague preseason camp (heat, injuries), for the first day in shoulder pads, the coaching staff is pleased with the conditioning of the overall team.

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Shaw To Hold Pigskin Preview Thursday, August 9

RALEIGH, North Carolina - The Shaw University Athletic Department will hold its first Shaw Pigskin Preview on August 9 at the Courtyard Marriott - Crabtree Valley. The event will begin at noon with a question and answer session beginning at 12:15 p.m.

First-year head coach Robert Massey, selected assistant coaches and players will be on hand to greet fans as well as field questions.

The event is free and open to the public. The Courtyard Marriott - Crabtree Valley is located at 3908 Arrow Drive near the Crabtree Valley Mall.

NOTE: This is a location and time change from an event announced in late June.

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Southern University looks at backup running backs

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana - The emergence of a reliable third running back behind Sylvester Nzekwe and Jerry Joseph is a priority for the Southern offense this fall.  Should Nzekwe or Joseph (or both) go down with an injury, the Jaguars want to know the ball will be in good hands. On Tuesday, they got to see that exact situation unfold.

Nzekwe (ankle) and Joseph (knee) were held out of practice with minor injuries and instead did conditioning work. They’re expected back on Wednesday, the team’s first day in full pads, but their time on the sideline meant a valuable chance for someone to grab hold of the No. 3 spot.

The reps were split up between redshirt junior Darrius Coleman, freshman Lenard Tillery and former sprinter Terrance Clayton. Coleman, a 5-foot-9, 207-pound former defensive back, has 30 pounds on Tillery and more than 50 on Clayton, making him the best fit physically.



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UAPB: Another 100 on Horizon?

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas -- Arkansas-Pine Bluff linebacker Jer-ryan Harris was limited to seven games last season dealing with a hamstring injury. His sophomore season wouldn’t be anything like the year before, when he led the SWAC with 129 tackles.

While it took him a few months to recover from the injury, it look him longer to recover mentally.

“It was really weighing on me at first,” Harris said. “But after having support from my teammates, I was really able to come back mentally.”

After practice Monday, Harris flashed a wide smile on his face when he was asked how healthy he is. “I’m 100 percent,” he said with glee.



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Alabama State Hornets go through first two-a-day practice

MONTOGMERY, Alabama -- Alabama State University hit the practice field twice today for their first two-a-day practice of the preseason. The team's first practice was at 9 a.m., followed by an evening session that started at 7 p.m.  The last few practice sessions have not gone exactly the way the ASU coaching staff had envisioned, but head coach Reggie Barlow has seen some things that the team has done well.

"I will say as a whole, this team's mindset has been positive," Barlow said. "They have embraced the work, even after three or four days where we were not good, I think the mindset has been pleasant for the majority of the guys."

"I am real pleased with the way Greg Jenkins is directing the offense. He has been real positive, real upbeat, and he has been doing a lot of positive things on the field and I am real happy about that," he said.



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WSSU's Maynor says he's forgotten last season

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -  Coach Connell Maynor says he hasn't dwelled much on how last season ended for Winston-Salem State. The Rams were in position to clinch a berth in the Division II football championship game but lost 21-14 to Wayne State in the semifinals at Bowman Gray Stadium.

It was a tough end to a dream season.

"We can't worry about what happened last year," said Maynor, whose team will open practice for the new season Thursday. "I didn't think too much about what happened, because in this business, you have to keep looking ahead, and that's what we've done."

Maynor said when he did look at the film of the loss to Wayne State, he saw that the Rams didn't make big plays when they needed them.

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ASU signs former D-I QB from FAU, officially opens practice with sand dune run

ALBANY, Georgia - Welcome to Albany State football, David Kooi. The senior transfer from Florida Atlantic, who got his first dose of Rams football Monday morning with a 6 a.m. climb up the sand dunes near campus, will be the third quarterback fighting for the starting spot this season.

Kooi officially joins transfers Keenan Grissett (Gardner-Webb) and Rodney Castlin (Arizona Western College). Now, the trio has less than a month to win the spot before the Sept. 1 season opener against North Greenville.  ASU coach Mike White hopes it doesn’t take that long.

“I hope that in a couple of weeks we will be able to name (the starter),” White said. “Before we get to our first game, I’m hoping we will be able to say who is our man. It won’t go as I would like if we don’t name somebody by game week.”

White and his fellow coaches were ...



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Olympics 2012: JSU's Michael Tinsley takes silver in men's 400m hurdles

LONDON  -  One of the toughest races on Monday at the Olympics Stadium in London has a surprise outcome in favor of the United States. USA was well represented when Michael Tinsley crossed the finish line second in the Men’s 400 meter hurdles surprising everyone. In what was a tough race, Felix Sanchez brought home the Dominican Republic gold, but that was almost expected when he crossed the finish line at 47.63.

It was Michael Tinsley’s strongest moment on the field and gave the audience a shocker as most didn’t think the United States athlete had a chance. However as Tinsley proved, never underestimate the underdog.

View slideshow:Men's 400m hurdles final at London Olympics

HU's Kellie Wells wins bronze in 100-meter hurdles

LONDON - Kellie Wells gained the redemption she's been seeking for four years. It took her only 12.48 seconds to get it.

After having to be carried off the track in 2008 after suffering a hamstring injury at the trials, Wells rebounded in 2012 to earn Olympic bronze, claiming third in the 100-meter hurdles Tuesday in 12.48 seconds.

Australia's Sally Pearson, who was the favorite entering Tuesday's final, claiming the gold medal with a wire-to-wire win in 12.35 seconds, an Olympic record.  American Dawn Harper, who won gold in the event in 2008, earned silver in 12.37 seconds. U.S. teammate Lolo Jones placed fourth in 12.58.

"I had a long wait for this but it was definitely worth every day of it," Wells said. "I've had my great moments; I've had some tough times, too. It's made me a better athlete and a better person. An Olympic medal caps it all."



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Chavous Joins Football Staff at Saint Augustine's University

COACH TIM CHAVOUS

RALEIGH, North Carolina  -  The Saint Augustine's University department of athletics has announced the hiring of Tim Chavous as assistant football coach on Tuesday, August 7, 2012.

Chavous replaces long-time assistant Matthew Montgomery, who left the program to become a teacher and counselor in his home state of South Carolina. Chavous will coach the running backs, and offensive coordinator Jermaine Gales will handle the quarterbacks in place of Montgomery.

Head Coach Michael Costa is confident he has the right man to revive the running game. In 2011, the Falcons led the CIAA and ranked 33rd in NCAA Division II in passing offense (264.2 ypg), but finished 10th in the CIAA in rushing offense (61.4 ypg). Two years ago, the Falcons were fifth in rushing (152.64) in the CIAA and tailback Walter Sanders was named CIAA offensive player of the year.

“We are very fortunate to get Tim on short notice,” Costa said. “He has vast knowledge and experience working with running backs. He will also assist us with academic advising.”

Chavous was an assistant offensive coordinator and running backs coach at Saint Paul's College from 2005 to 2011. While at Saint Paul's, Chavous was head baseball coach, admissions recruiter and director of student activities. During his tenure at Saint Paul's, Chavous coached one All-CIAA rookie football player and one 1,000-yard rusher.

Chavous was running backs coach at Virginia State University from 2003 to 2004. He was a coach and camp coordinator at the University of Virginia during the summers of 2002, 2003 and 2004.

Chavous was a standout college running back at Bethune-Cookman University where he was a member of the 2001 MEAC championship team. He played two years at Pasadena (Calif.) City College for two years before transferring to Bethune-Cookman. Chavous graduated from Bethune-Cookman with a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education and recreation in 2002. He earned a master's degree in education and physical education in 2012 at his alma mater.


While Costa is glad to have Chavous on board, he will miss Montgomery, who was the longest tenured football assistant at Saint Augustine's University. Montgomery coached 10 seasons as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He was the only full-time assistant coach left from the original staff when the Falcons re-instituted football in 2002.

“Matt has been with me from the beginning,” Costa said. “He played an integral role in the growth of our football program.”

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B-CU makes note of anti-hazing policy to first-year band members

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida - Moving her hips from side to side with nine other first-year band trumpet students, Erica Jones yelled out "Let's Go, Wildcats" and then raised her horn to her mouth and began playing.

The 18-year-old freshman from Miami was in her first day of practice Monday for the Bethune-Cookman University marching band with about 100 other freshmen or first-year band students, up about 5 percent from last year.



National attention to hazing and the death last year of a Florida A&M University drum major has put a "negative image" on bands, especially at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), according to B-CU director of bands Donovan Wells. But it didn't deter new students from applying.

"Image wise (hazing and the death at FAMU) has had a huge impact on us and every HBCU band because of the old adage we all have been painted with the same brush," Wells said. "But when you get down to the day-to-day operations and the product on the field -- all of that will be status quo."



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Grambling embracing high expectations

GRAMBLING, Louisiana — Grambing's not trying to duplicate its 2011 SWAC championship performance. The Tigers are trying to pick up where they left off. Big difference.

No one in black and gold wants to relive the 1-4 start. Everyone wants to keep clicking the way they were during a redemptive seven-game win streak that reclaimed the crown.

"What I try to convey to those guys is, 'Last year we started rough, but we ended well,'" coach Doug Williams said. "The most important thing is to continue where we ended.

"If we can continue to play the kind of football we played down the stretch, this could be a pretty good year for us if we can understand where we are, and I think we've got the leaders to convey that to the younger guys and pull it out of 'em. And I think we've got guys that are gonna push each other because of what they accomplished last year."



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Former B-CU standout signs with NFL Baltimore Ravens

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida - Former Bethune-Cookman standout linebacker Stevie Baggs Jr. is back in the NFL. Baggs, 30, a pass-rush specialist, has signed with the Baltimore Ravens, the team announced.

Baggs is a Canadian Football League veteran who has played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Edmonton Eskimos and Saskatchewan Roughriders. He was a CFL All-Star with the Roughriders in 2009.

The Tiger-Cats cut Baggs in March after a reported contract dispute. He had made 50 tackles and five sacks in 18 games in 2011.

The 6-foot-1, 241-pound defender has been in NFL camps before with the Detroit Lions (2004-05) and Arizona Cardinals (2010).



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Female MEAC official to make NFL history Thursday

SAN DIEGO, California - Shannon Eastin will become the first female to officiate an NFL game when she works as a line judge for the Green Bay at San Diego preseason match Thursday night.

The regular NFL officials have been locked out by the league.

Eastin is a college referee who has worked in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, in which Norfolk State and Hampton compete. She is one of the replacement officials hired by the NFL and has 16 years of experience.

A resident of Tempe, Arizona, Eastin also has won six national judo championships. She was the youngest judo athlete ever to train at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, doing so when she was 11.

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Female ref to work NFL preseason game

GREEN BAY, Wisconsin — For the first time in league history, a female referee will officiate an NFL game Thursday night.  Shannon Eastin, a referee from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, will wear the officiating stripes when the Green Bay Packers travel to San Diego to play the Chargers for each team's preseason opener.

When that news hit the Packers' locker room Monday afternoon, the players were surprised but supportive that a female would be given such an opportunity.

"Female, male, dog, cat, as long as they're calling the right calls and they know what they're doing out there, it really doesn't matter," tight end Jermichael Finley told FOXSportsWisconsin.com in an exclusive interview. "It's a person. She'll see the same things as a man. She knows how to blow the whistle the same way.  "It's going to be something weird to see, but you deal with it and just roll."

With the league and NFL Referees Association currently in contract negotiations, the NFL has been training replacements since June.

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