BALTIMORE, Maryland - Ravens’ fans will forever remember the catch that never happened. In the 2011 AFC Championship game, Lee Evans would fail to secure the go ahead touchdown that would’ve sent Baltimore to its second Super Bowl. The play not only capped the end of the Ravens’ season, but the short career of Evans in Baltimore as well.
The Ravens would release Evans a few months later, leaving a huge void at the slot receiver position. Baltimore would fill that void with the signing of speedy wide receiver Jacoby Jones. And while drops plagued Jones as much as his predecessor, Jones was determined to make the most of his second chance.
Jones came into college with the intention of running track. In 2002, he enrolled in Southeastern Louisiana University with a track scholarship. But like many athletes with his speed, he was seen as a dangerous weapon on the football field. The following year, he transferred to Lane College.
At Lane College, Jones would succeed as one of the fasted receivers in college football. In his senior year, Jones was named the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Offensive Player of the Year. He would finish his career with 200 receptions, for 2,750 yards and 21 touchdowns. The Dragons would also use his speed on special teams as he ran in 4 touchdowns on kickoff returns.
The Houston Texans saw enough in Jones that they drafted him in the 3rd round of the 2007 NFL Draft. Though Jacoby Jones played Division II football in college, he showed he could still contribute early in his career. His most notable play came in his second year when he returned his first punt for a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins in 2009.
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Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Spring Hill College to join NCAA; SIAC holding spot for Badgers
MOBILE, Alabama -- Spring Hill College President Rev. Richard P. Salmi, S.J., announced today that Spring Hill College has accepted an invitation to join the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) and intends to apply for NCAA Division II membership in spring 2013.
Spring Hill has been a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) since 1959. The decision to switch national and conference affiliations comes after nearly two years of study and planning concerning the future of the Badger athletic program.
“We have enjoyed our relationship with the NAIA and SSAC (Southern States Athletic Conference)," said Salmi. “The SSAC is an excellent conference, and we have been pleased during our time as a member. However, we feel that strategically the NCAA is a better long-term fit for our goals and aspirations for the college and our athletic department.”
“Over the past year and a half, we have engaged in a comprehensive study of how best to ensure that our athletic program reaches its full potential and enjoys the same level of recognition and success that our academic programs have earned for more than 180 years,” said SHC Director of Athletics Jim Hall.
“We believe that being a member of the SIAC and the NCAA is a positive step in making that goal a reality.”
“The NCAA enjoys strong 'brand recognition' nationally and is regarded as being committed to competitive excellence, the welfare of student athletes and the support of its member institutions,” Hall said. “The NCAA also affords its members tremendous access to educational and professional development programs including postgraduate scholarships, athletic internships, conferences, symposiums and programs for women and minorities.”
One of the primary benefits cited in the study for moving to NCAA Division II is the opportunity to connect athletically with some of the best academic institutions in the country, including 26 of 28 Jesuit institutions nationwide. “Spring Hill has always been one of the highest ranked academic schools in the NAIA,” said Hall. “It is important that we continue our academic commitment to excellence as we build a highly regarded athletic program.”
“Spring Hill presently has more than 220 student athletes competing in 15 sports and we believe membership in the NCAA will make us an even more attractive college choice for outstanding student athletes from across the United States who, as studies suggest, are more likely to want to enroll at an NCAA campus,” said Hall.
SIAC commissioner Greg Moore formally communicated the conference’s acceptance of Spring Hill’s application after the SIAC president’s meeting on Aug. 20, 2012.
“We are pleased about the prospect of Spring Hill College becoming a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference,” Moore said. “Not only is Spring Hill College an institution with strong academics and athletics, but they were also cited by Dr. King for its commitment to racial justice and equality in his 'Letter from a Birmingham Jail.'”
As a result of the SIAC’s invitation, Spring Hill College will submit its NCAA application prior to the Feb. 1, 2013 deadline and begin what it hopes to be a three-year process toward full membership in NCAA Division II. Spring Hill will continue to hold membership in the NAIA and the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) through the 2013-2014 academic year, but will play a full schedule against SIAC opponents beginning in 2014-2015.
Founded in 1913, SIAC membership spans the states of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina and Tennessee and is comprised of 13 historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) that compete in 13 sponsored sports. SIAC teams and its athletes are known for being staunch competitors and for excelling on the national level. The conference as a whole has claimed more than 50 team and individual national championships.
“We believe that being a member of the NCAA and the SIAC is in concert with Spring Hill’s academic goals and mission,” Hall said. “It helps the college fulfill its promise of forming leaders engaged in learning, faith, justice and service for life.”
It was announced on August 27, 2012, the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Council of Presidents unanimously approved the application of Central State University (Ohio) as an associate football member of the SIAC, effective July 1, 2013.
Basketball schedule is released for WSSU men
WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina - We interrupt the middle of football season for some basketball news.
There’s not a lot of news coming from the WSSU men’s basketball team other than the schedule is out and it’s a good one. And when I say a good one, I mean it’s a challenging one for coach Bobby Collins.
The Rams, 21-9 last season and the defending CIAA champions, will play an exhibition against Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. Then, the Rams will open the regular-season against Division I UNC Greensboro at Greensboro Coliseum on Nov. 12.
Collins had a good quote about playing their opener in Greensboro against a Division I school that’s not N.C. A&T or N.C. Central.
“Since our rivals A&T and Central don’t want to play us we are hoping to start a nice little rivalry with UNCG,” Collins said. “I think it’s a great way for us to open our schedule with Duke and then UNCG because it will prepare us for our tough competition in the CIAA.”
Last season the Rams earned the automatic berth to the Division II tournament thanks to winning the CIAA Tournament title. With just about all of his team back along with several talented newcomers Collins and the Rams will likely contend again.
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There’s not a lot of news coming from the WSSU men’s basketball team other than the schedule is out and it’s a good one. And when I say a good one, I mean it’s a challenging one for coach Bobby Collins.
The Rams, 21-9 last season and the defending CIAA champions, will play an exhibition against Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. Then, the Rams will open the regular-season against Division I UNC Greensboro at Greensboro Coliseum on Nov. 12.
Collins had a good quote about playing their opener in Greensboro against a Division I school that’s not N.C. A&T or N.C. Central.
“Since our rivals A&T and Central don’t want to play us we are hoping to start a nice little rivalry with UNCG,” Collins said. “I think it’s a great way for us to open our schedule with Duke and then UNCG because it will prepare us for our tough competition in the CIAA.”
Last season the Rams earned the automatic berth to the Division II tournament thanks to winning the CIAA Tournament title. With just about all of his team back along with several talented newcomers Collins and the Rams will likely contend again.
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Chowan Hawks grab historic victory
MURFREESBORO – Earthquake.If it hasn’t shaken things up, it’s at least a seismic shift – football-wise – in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA).
Your usual top dogs don’t live here anymore. Or at least now they’ve got some company.
Chowan’s 27-3 win Saturday at James G. Garrison Stadium over league opponent Fayetteville State - the first in the school’s gridiron history - left the Hawks’ overall record at 3-2 midway through a season for the first time since 1999.
It also put them into a tie for first place in the CIAA Northern division with Elizabeth City State at 2-0; and it marked the first time Chowan’s defense had not allowed an opponent a touchdown since 2005.
How tenacious was the Hawks-D? They allowed just a single field goal from an offense that came in averaging over 23 points per game.
Junior Jason Ampy had 13 tackles while Anthony Joffrion and T.J. Batchelor assisted with 10 each. Batchelor also added two sacks in the contest, upping his season total to nine.
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Alabama State golf team wins Black College Hall of Fame tournament
ATLANTA – The Alabama State men’s golf team shattered both team and individual records, coming from four strokes back to win the Black College Hall of Fame tournament.
The Hornets matched Saturday’s 10-under-par round with another 10-under 278 on Sunday and pulled away from first-day leader Savannah State and Tennessee State, whom they were tied with after the first day. ASU finished 15 strokes ahead of its nearest competitor.
The Hornets’ combined 20-under-par score shattered the former team record for 36 holes which was set two years ago at the James Shannon Invitational when ASU shot a two-day total of 1 over par.
Jose Rodriguez completed the tournament matching his Saturday score with another 6-under 66. He finished 12 under for the tournament and won the all-around individual championship.
Rodriguez’s 12 under was also an individual school record for 36 holes. Former ASU standout John Montgomery previously held the record with a 7-under-par finish at the James Shannon Invitational in 2010.
Branson Ferrier and Francis Berthaime both shot 69s on Sunday and both finished at 5 under par.
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Addison leads Bethune-Cookman to 38-26 win over Hampton
HAMPTON, Virginia - While quarterback Quentin Williams was making the first start of his college career, another redshirt freshman from the Tampa area had his coming-out party for Bethune-Cookman on Saturday night.Nick Addison intercepted two passes -- returning one 90 yards for a touchdown -- and B-CU forced seven Hampton turnovers as the Wildcats held off the Pirates for a 38-26 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference victory in Hampton, Va.
“Nick has been in place to make those kind of plays the last few weeks,'' B-CU coach Brian Jenkins said. “We told him if he sees it to pull the trigger. He did his job tonight and was able to make the play.''
B-CU, which ended a two-game losing streak, improved to 3-2, 2-0 in the MEAC. The Wildcats will host North Carolina A&T in their homecoming game at 4 p.m. Saturday.
The Pirates (0-4, 0-2) rolled up 536 yards on offense but could not overcome four interceptions and three lost fumbles.
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