LSU scuffles, Bregman injured in NCAA opening win over Jackson State

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  --  Murphy's Law was alive and well at Alex Box Stadium on Friday afternoon.

With weekend starting pitcher Cody Glenn suspended for at least the regional round of the NCAA Tournament, LSU entered their opening game of the Baton Rouge regional against Jackson State short on pitching.

The problem was compounded against the SWAC Champions when starter Ryan Eades struggled mightily, going just 2 1/3 innings. LSU head coach Paul Mainieri was forced to go to his bullpen very early.

To make matters worse, star freshman shortstop Alex Bregman and hard-hitting left-fielder Raph Rhymes collided on ...

BOX SCORE -- LSU 11, Jackson State 7

PHOTO GALLERY: Baton Rouge Regional

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NCCU’s Frazier among candidates for Prairie View A.D. job

DURHAM, North Carolina — N.C. Central football coach Henry Frazier III is among six finalists who could emerge as director of athletics at Prairie View A&M University in Texas, where he coached before coming to Durham.

Each finalist has been given a date to share his or her vision for Prairie View athletics at open forums with alumni, students, faculty, staff and the general public, and Frazier is scheduled to make his case during a June 6 return to the campus where he reversed the fortunes of what had been a miserable football program.

“I have had the good fortune of not just serving as a head football coach, but also the CEO of a two impressive multi-million dollar football programs,” Frazier said. “This combined with my experience and education as a doctoral candidate afford me many opportunities in higher education. I have high career aspirations and have drawn administrative interest many times in the past. While I am extremely happy leading the NCCU football program, this opportunity is of interest to me and I decided to pursue it. I feel honored to be thought of as a leader in higher education and to have the support of NCCU.”

No hard feelings, NCCU athletics director Ingrid Wicker-McCree said.

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Savannah State Tigers bring speed, ace into regional

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Junior pitcher Kyle McGowin has gotten a lot of attention this season for Savannah State. And with good reason, after compiling a 12-1 record with 1.33 ERA and 129 strikeouts.

But the Tigers (33-21), coming off their first-ever MEAC title, are more than just one player. Or one arm, to be more precise.

Coach Carlton Hardy’s team has 127 stolen bases this season to rank sixth nationally. And if they get on base against Florida State right-hander Scott Sitz today, expect the Tigers to try to put as much pressure on the Seminoles’ defense as possible.



“That’s kind of our offensive motto,” Hardy said. “Typical get-em-on, get-em-over, get-em in. And if we can get them over by a stolen base, we’ll do that.”

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GSU equipment manager retires after 33 years

RUSTON, Louisiana — Grambling dubs its best athletes as “Grambling Legends,” but football coach Doug Williams said that longtime equipment manager Chuck Dawson is “more than a legend.”

Dawson will retire July 1 after 33 years of service as Grambling’s only full time equipment manager, and friends celebrated his career Wednesday night with a surprise party at the National Guard Armory in Ruston.

“I don’t tackle or do anything like that,” Dawson told his party. “But I want to make sure that when we hit the field, we look good.

“Doug Williams loves his team and will do anything for his staff ... and you don’t mind going the extra mile.”

Dawson, 78, went the first of his many miles for Eddie Robinson. Dawson was exiting the Air Force when he said Robinson repeatedly asked him to become Grambling’s equipment manager even though Dawson had no experience.

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Saint Augustine's Jones Selected USTFCCCA DII National Men's Track Athlete of the Year

RALEIGH, North Carolina  --  Jermaine Jones of Saint Augustine's University was named Division II Outdoor National Men's Track Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Wednesday, May 29, 2013.

“I was speechless when I found out,” Jones said. “Then I started thanking God because he has been blessing me on the track these past months.”

The award capped an amazing few days for the Wilmington, N.C., native. Jones ran anchor leg on the winning 4x100 relay team which set the DII record twice at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Pueblo, Colo. The Falcons ran 39.01 during Thursday's preliminaries and followed up with a time of 38.91 in Saturday's finals. The 4x100 team, which includes Taffawee Johnson (Jr./St. Ann, Jamaica), Ramaan Ansley (Sr./Philadelphia, Pa.) and Burkheart Ellis, Jr. (Fr./Raleigh, N.C.), are the only relay squad in DII history to run under 39 seconds.

Jones also won the 200 dash and finished third in the 100 dash on Saturday in career-best times of 20.57 and 10.34, respectively. His running helped lead the Falcons to the NCAA DII men's outdoor crown over the weekend. Last Wednesday, Jones received his award for winning Atlantic Region Men's Track Athlete of the Year.

“We are proud of him,” said George Williams, the legendary St. Aug track & field head coach and athletic director who has led the Falcons to 33 NCAA DII men's and women's titles combined. “When you work hard, good things come your way.”

The CIAA Championships in April 2013 served as a prelude to the DII Championships for Jones, who was named CIAA Most Valuable Men's Track Performer after claiming both the 100 and 200 titles and running on the winning 4x100 relay team. Jones had a breakout season as a sophomore after showing promise as a freshman when he earned all-conference honors in the 100 dash. This year was Jones' first at the DII Championship meet.

“The key this year was working harder,” Jones said. “Listening to the coaches more and taking it more seriously. I thank God, my parents, the coaches and my whole team, both women and men. My teammates supported me a lot because there was a time when I didn't want to finish workouts but they got me through it. I wasn't expecting to get [the award], but Coach Williams kept telling me to keep working hard and everything will pay off.”

Jones is the third person from St. Aug chosen national USTFCCCA outdoor athlete of the year since the award's inception in 2006. Joe Kindred was named men's top field athlete in 2008 and 2009 and Kwonya Ferguson won the women's field athlete award in 2007.

A two-sport standout, Jones excelled in football the past three years as a wide receiver for the Falcons. He has 10 career touchdown receptions, mainly on deep passes.

“We are glad football let us have him the past two years,” Williams said. “It is great to have him.”

COURTESY SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Livingstone Hayes win national title

SALISBURY, North Carolina — At the 2013 NCAA Division II Outdoor National Championships history was made. Quanera Hayes became the first female Livingstonian to become a National Champion at the event held in Pueblo, Colorado.

Hayes was the winner of the 400 meters event running a personal best and school record of 51.54 seconds. The Meet was held at the Neta and Eddie DeRose Thunderbowl on the campus of Colorado

Hayes, who finished 5th in the same event last year, beat out the 2012 event champion Kayon Robinson of Adams State by .34 seconds. Just over an hour and 1/2 later she crossed the line in 4th in the 200 meters running 23.30 to capture her 6th all time NCAA All-American honor.

Hayes currently has the 3rd fastest time amongst all collegiate divisions.

State-Pueblo. Not only did she win her event, but her time was also good enough for a new facility record.

"This is a tremendous honor for Livingstone College Track and Field and is proof that Blue Bear Nation can compete with the best in the country," said LC Track & Field Coach Justin Davis.

 

 

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Anthony Evans earned his shot at FIU

MIAMI, Florida  --  Getting a head-coaching job is extremely difficult.

Moving upward in Division I from the MEAC and SWAC has been almost as hard as getting the first job.

Blame the ridiculous search firms that think they know the profession but don't. Point to athletic directors who are wowed by the brand name of an assistant.

But actually dig deeper and search for a head coach who has had to do a lot with a little and you'll see there are quality coaches in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities.



Florida International's new coach Anthony Evans had done wonders at Norfolk State. He won the league two years in a row, won the MEAC tournament title for the first time and had consecutive players of the year.

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