Coppin State transfer chooses Siena

#1 PATRICK COLE MAKES DRIVE ON TEXAS

LOUDONVILLE, New York --  Coppin State transfer Patrick Cole, a 6-foot-5 guard from Newark, N.J., committed to Siena College during his visit to the campus.

Cole will sit out next season in accordance with NCAA rules and will have three years of eligibility starting with the 2014-15 season.

Cole’s commitment comes even though Siena appeared to already have all of its 13 scholarships taken for next season. It suggests that redshirt sophomore forward Trenity Burdine won’t return after being suspended twice last season and having academic problems.

Jason Rich, Siena’s assistant athletic director for communications, said he couldn’t confirm whether any current players are departing.

Cole is familiar with new Siena coach Jimmy Patsos because they both spent the past season in Baltimore, where Cole played Coppin State and Patsos was the coach at Loyola University. Cole had seven points in a 67-51 loss to Loyola this past season.

“I picked Siena because Coach Patsos is very ...

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USM Report on Coppin State: More Unkept Promises?

Coppin State University Physical Education Complex

BALTIMORE, Maryland  --  The recently released University System of Maryland report on Coppin State University has generated mixed reaction among Coppin supporters and other observers of Historically Black Colleges across the country.  The most generous of individuals reacting to the report give the University System of Maryland and the state of Maryland the benefit of the doubt as to their purpose in issuing the document. They simply say “It’s about time,” obviously referring to many years of benign neglect of the North Avenue campus by the state and the University System of Maryland.

Critics who have watched more closely the politics surrounding the Coppin campus are less forgiving and more skeptical. They question not only the necessity for the report, but also its objectivity, content and timing. They are particularly sensitive to attempts to blame the Coppin administration, faculty and students for the failures of policymakers and others responsible for the academic program approval, the awarding of operating funds, and the funding of facilities. The USM report on Coppin is, for these critics, a self-serving “report of convenience” designed more to change the narrative on the failures of the University System of Maryland and the state than to demonstrate a genuine interest in Coppin.

There appears to be a good reason for skepticism.  Of Coppin’s many needs, it has never suffered from a shortage of reports and studies. Several have been issued over the last three decades with the best examples being a 1981 study on the status of Maryland’s HBCUs; the 2001 Toll Report on the revitalization of Coppin State College; and the 2008 HBI study issued in conjunction with a special state higher education funding commission report. Each of these documents speaks objectively to the critical needs of Coppin and, by implication, to the lack of state investment in the campus. None blamed the administration, the faculty or even the students for any underperformance. Apparently, the authors of these reports realized that even the most skillful president would find it difficult, if not impossible, to effectively and efficiently manage an institution without the required resources. Note that the earlier reports were done under the watchful eye of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights and were developed by independent groups.

 VIEW CSU Physical Education Complex Slideshow
 
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Coppin State University Physical Education Complex

 

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MEAC/SWAC CHALLENGE: Charlie Neal, The Voice of Black College Sports, To Be Recognized Labor Day Weekend

Charlie Neal

ORLANDO, Florida  --  Over the past 30-plus years, Charlie Neal has become the voice of black college sports. The Philadelphia native brings a keen insight to Historically Black College/University athletics—mainly because he has seen it up close.

With his signature baritone, Neal—a 2013 MEAC/SWAC Challenge Legend—first hit the national scene in 1980, when he started doing play-by-play for the upstart Black Entertainment Network (BET). In 2005, Neal brought his talents and experience to ESPN, primarily serving as play-by-play announcer for HBCU football and basketball telecasts on ESPNU.

“Covering the games, of course, I knew everybody,” says Neal. “Jerry Rice, Steve McNair, Avery Johnson…. Basketball or football, I was involved with all these people.

“Eddie Robinson, for example, was always very kind and accessible and courteous. He carried a briefcase on the sidelines at every game. I always used to make fun of him with that briefcase. He would say that he had a ham sandwich in there in case he got hungry during the game. I don’t know if it was true or not, but that was our joke.”

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Florida A&M Holmes makes his sales pitch

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  Earl Holmes is raising the stakes when it comes to how much reach his football team will have in his first season as head coach at FAMU.

On Tuesday afternoon at the North Monroe Conference Center, he told a group of business owners if they make an investment in FAMU athletics by advertising at Bragg Stadium, they will realize dividends. That, he said, will be possible because of how many fans he is convinced will show up for the five games that the Rattlers play at home.



Without providing an exact number, Holmes said ticket sales are well above where they were at this point last year. The Rattlers had the second-highest paid attendance in the MEAC and 16th among all FCS programs, averaging just over 14,000, in 2012.

“When you’re talking about building a bridge and building relationships, it’s about ...

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Jackson State avoids APR sanctions

JACKSON, Mississippi  --  No Jackson State athletic program faces a postseason ban, despite two sports falling below the 900 APR four-year benchmark.

The Jackson State men’s basketball (898) and baseball (899) programs both fell below the NCAA’s academic progress report benchmark, but weren’t subject to a postseason ban because of a two-year APR average above 930.

As a whole, however, 94 percent of Jackson State’s athletic programs had single-year scores of 930 or better. The school’s football program had a 53-point single-year increase from 918 last year to 971.

JSU men’s basketball avoided any major penalties, but not all of its Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) brethren were as lucky. Four of the 10 men’s basketball SWAC teams will be ineligible for the NCAA Tournament in 2013-14, barring a successful waiver appeal.

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XU adds South Carolina standout and another Reuther

Emily Reuther

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana has added Destiny Jackson of Gaston, S.C., and Emily Reuther of Metairie, La., to its women's volleyball roster for the 2013 season. Jackson signed an athletic scholarship with XU, and Reuther received an academic scholarship. They are the first signees of Hannah Lawing, who was promoted to head coach in December.
     
Jackson, who is 5-feet-4, was a Coaches Association for Women's Sports Class AAA All-State selection in 2012 while competing for Airport High School in West Columbia, S.C. She was a two-year starter and helped the Lady Eagles reach the state semifinals in 2012.
    

Destiny Jackson

Reuther, 5-2, helped St. Mary's Dominican High School in New Orleans reach the Division I (Class 5A) state semifinals in 2011 and 2012. As a senior she led Dominican with 53 aces was second with 203 digs. As a junior she ranked second on her team with 37 aces and 189 digs.
    
Reuther's sister Taylor is an XU outside hitter and was a third-team Capital One Academic All-American as a sophomore in 2012.
    
Xavier was 22-8 in 2012, won Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament championships and qualified for the NAIA National Championship. The 2013 season will begin in late August.

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

 

Ten UMES Baseball Players Earn MEAC All-Academic Honors

   NORFOLK, Virginia  --  The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference has announced that ten UMES student-athletes have been recognized on the league's 2013 Baseball All-Academic Team.

Dustin Aigner (Melfa, Va.), Jordan Bone (Pittston, Pa.), Stephen Bull (Millsboro, Del.), Nick Cooper (Delmar, Del.), Thomas Gray (Delmar, Del.), Tim Gray (Dover, Del.), Joshua James (Milford, Del.), Brandon Schott (Warren, Pa.), Zach Townsend (Salisbury, Md.) and Tyler Witte (Westminster, Md.) all were honored with a place on the MEAC Baseball All-Academic Team.

Bull, Schott and Witte earned MEAC All-Academic honors for the second consecutive season.

To qualify, student-athletes must be of at least sophomore standing athletically and academically, hold a 3.0 or better cumulative grade point average and be enrolled at the MEAC institution at least one full academic year.

"I congratulate our baseball student-athletes who have maintained a 3.0 or better grade point average during this academic school year," said Commissioner Dennis E. Thomas in the MEAC press release. "In addition to recognizing the student-athletes achievements, I also applaud the athletic academic support staffs, coaching staffs and all persons who contributed to the academic success of these student-athletes."

 In all, 91 MEAC baseball student-athletes were named to the All-Academic Team.

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE SPORTS INFORMATION

Alabama State has 4 teams facing postseason bans due to academics

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Alabama State's football, men's basketball, baseball and women's volleyball teams face Academic Progress Rate postseason bans for 2013-14 pending waiver requests by the university.

The NCAA's annual APR release today shows those programs are ineligible for the postseason. In a statement, Alabama State Interim President William H. Harris said the university is "optimistic" for favorable wavier-relief outcomes for the upcoming seasons.

In addition, Alabama State received practice reduction penalties in baseball and softball along with the four sports facing postseason bans. Eighteen Division I teams face postseason bans for low academic progress scores.

Teams with postseason bans are those that score below a 900 APR in rolling four-year data. The APR awards two points each term to athletes who meet eligibility standards and remain at their school. The latest scores came from the 2008-09 to 2011-12 academic years.

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READ RELATED

Alabama State Statement On NCAA APR Release

‘Very frustrating’: Golden Lions, other teams deal with prospects of ban

PINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS  -- Arkansas Pine Bluff point guard Tevin Hammond didn’t sign up to miss two years of postseason basketball action, but that’s the very thing he and his teammates are facing, pending a review of the team’s Academic Progress Rate data by the NCAA.

“It’s very frustrating for our seniors and everything,” said Hammond, who will be a junior next season. “Just the hard work we put into it this past year and for it to be taken away, and then to come back this season and lose it again, it’s just frustrating.”

But there is hope for the Golden Lions.

If the NCAA’s ongoing review shows that the team has reached the NCAA’s benchmark of a 900 four-year APR with corrected data used to figure the scores, the Golden Lions will be eligible for the SWAC and national tournaments in the 2013-14 season.

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NCAA APR again hits schools with lesser resources

"If you can't graduate half your student-athletes, you shouldn't be
 worried about playing in championships or tournaments,"
  said NCAA President Mark Emmert.
 "There's more important things for you to be focused on."
(Courtesy NCAA.org)

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana  --  Eighteen Division I teams will miss the postseason, and another 18 in men's basketball and nine other college sports will trade practice time for remedial classroom sessions under NCAA academic progress reports released Tuesday.

Poor Academic Progress Rate scores mean postseason bans in the 2013-14 academic year for teams from 10 schools: Alabama State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Florida A&M, Florida International, Grambling State, Mississippi Valley State, New Orleans, Norfolk State, Savannah State and Southern. For Southern, its track team is ineligible for the postseason.

That compares to 15 teams ineligible for the 2012-13 postseason.

Five teams received Level 3 APR penalties, which can include financial aid reductions and multi-year postseason bans: the men's basketball teams at Grambling, Mississippi Valley, New Orleans and Louisiana-Monroe and Chicago State's women's volleyball team.

Most of the penalized schools have significantly more limited resources than top NCAA programs, including 11 historically black schools. Four of those banned are men's basketball squads from the 10-team Southwestern Athletic Conference.

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NSU track ineligible for 2013-14 postseason

NORFOLK, Virginia  --  Norfolk State's men's indoor and outdoor track teams, which have dominated the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in recent years, will be ineligible for the 2013-14 postseason after findings revealed in the NCAA's annual academic progress report released Tuesday.

The volleyball and women's indoor and outdoor track teams were hit with four-hour reductions in weekly practice time in light of the report, which identifies and penalizes academically lagging programs.

The postseason bans are the first for any NSU teams, athletic director Marty Miller said. They did not follow a warning or a lesser penalty from the NCAA, something Miller said he found "very puzzling."

"The thing about it that's so disappointing about the track program is that this is not typical for our programs," he said, asserting that the school fared well overall in the report. "We have not ever been in this situation before."

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University of the District of Columbia Hires Michael Riley as Men's Basketball Head Coach

 MICHAEL RILEY
HEAD MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH
UDC FIREBIRDS
(Courtesy UDC Athletics)
 

WASHINGTON D.C.  --  University of the District of Columbia Interim President, Dr. James E. Lyons, Sr. and Director of Athletics, Patricia Thomas, announced today that Michael Riley has been hired to lead the University of the District of Columbia Men's Basketball program.

"Mike Riley is an outstanding choice to lead our Men's Basketball program," said Patricia Thomas. "He has exceptional credentials and experience as a coach and administrator. Most importantly, though, he is a person of extremely high character and values. He is a tremendous leader of men. I have no doubt that he will take the University of the District of Columbia Men's Basketball program to new heights, and our student-athletes will benefit tremendously on the court, in the classroom, and in life by having him at the helm." 
 

Riley has a distinguished coaching resume which includes more than 20 years as an assistant coach at Georgetown University. He was also an assistant coach on the 1988 Olympic basketball team that earned the bronze medal. Riley came to the University of the District of Columbia in 2009 and has served as the Associate Director of Athletics for Internal Operations during that time. 

 

"I am ecstatic to be able to take over as the new Head Men's Basketball Coach at the University of the District of Columbia," said Riley. "The Firebirds have a long and rich tradition.  As the University continues to move in a positive direction, I look forward to leading this program as one piece of the successful future of the University. We will recruit young men that will work hard and intelligently in the classroom and on the basketball court. We will be positive citizens on campus and in the community.  We will represent the Firebird family well in all that we do. It is an honor and a privilege to be selected as the Men's Basketball Coach at the University of the District of Columbia."

 

Riley is a Washington, DC native, having graduated from Cardozo High School, where he was a standout guard on the men's basketball team. Riley earned team Defensive Player of the Year honors while at Cardozo and was also selected Most Valuable Player during his senior year. Riley was inducted into the Cardozo High School Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011.

 

After attending Cardozo High School, Riley served in the U.S. Navy on the USS Holland stationed in the Mediterranean. 

 

Riley went on to graduate from Georgetown University with a Bachelor's of Arts Degree in Sociology. While at Georgetown, Riley was a member of the Hoyas Men's Basketball Team where he was named the Defensive Player of the Year.

 

Riley went on to serve as an assistant basketball coach at Georgetown University from 1983 to 2004.  While at Georgetown, Riley coached the Hoyas to six Big East Conference Championships, four Big East Tournament Championships, two Final Fours, and the 1984 National Championship.  He also served as the academic coordinator during his tenure at Georgetown. 

 

In addition to his accomplishments at Cardozo and Georgetown, Riley also served as Athletic Director at St. Augustine Catholic School.  From 1980 to 1982, he was an Assistant Headmaster, Economics teacher, and junior varsity basketball coach at Gonzaga College High School. 

 

The University of the District of Columbia is an NCAA Division II member institution, competing in the East Coast Conference. The University of the District of Columbia sponsors 10 intercollegiate athletic programs including: men's and women's basketball, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's tennis, women's cross country, men's soccer, and women's indoor and outdoor track.

 

As the only urban land-grant institution in the United States, the University of the District of Columbia (www.udc.edu) supports a broad mission of education, research and community service across all member colleges and schools, which include the Community College, College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business and Public Administration, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and David A. Clarke School of Law. 

 

The University of the District of Columbia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action institution. Minorities, women, veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For a full version of the University's EO Policy Statement, please visit: http://www.udc.edu/equal_opportunity.

 

The University of the District of Columbia is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education - 3624 Market Street - Philadelphia, PA 19104 - (267)284-5000.

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ATHLETICS

Kidd set to leave North Carolina Central

DURHAM, North Carolina  — This time, a bigger bird is leaving the Eagles’ nest.  Stanton Kidd, the third-leading scorer in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference this past season, no longer is a member of N.C. Central’s basketball team. He wants to transfer to a basketball program with a higher profile, and NCCU has granted his release.

“Stanton Kidd is one of my favorite people,” NCCU coach LeVelle Moton said. “I feel blessed to have coached an outstanding basketball player, but more importantly, an even better person. Stanton was such an integral part of our team this past season, and it will be disappointing to see him go.

“He is a super kid with amazing parents and was on schedule to graduate in May. However, this is the business of college basketball, and Stanton, along with his family, decided that he needed to play at a program that will give him national notoriety to pursue his NBA dreams.”

If Kidd goes to another Division I program, NCAA rules would force him to miss the upcoming season.

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SWAC: NCAA Releases Academic Progress Rate Report

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama  --  Fifteen athletic programs within seven member institutions of the Southwestern Athletic Conference have been penalized based on its NCAA Division I Academic Progress Rate (APR) data for the 2011-2012 academic year. The NCAA made the announcement today through an online post with links to the four-year APR data.

 

SWAC member institutions and programs penalized with postseason ineligibility include: Alabama State University (Baseball, Men's Basketball, Football, Volleyball) - Grambling State University (Men's Basketball) - Mississippi Valley State University (Baseball, Football, Men's Basketball) - Southern University (Men's Outdoor and Indoor Track & Field) - University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (Men's Basketball). 

Alabama A&M University men's golf, Alabama State softball, Alcorn State University men's basketball and Arkansas-Pine Bluff men's golf were each handed a level-one penalty but maintained its postseason eligibility. 

“The Southwestern Athletic Conference remains committed to assisting our member institutions in meeting academic progress and the metric for a successful Academic Progress Rate,” said SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp. “The SWAC will continue to work closely with the NCAA, President Mark Emmert, Committee on Academic Performance (CAP) chair Walter Harrison and the Limited Resource Institutions advisory group. We are also proud of our student-athletes who have achieved academic success by graduating and performing at the highest level during competition.” 

Along with the postseason ban, the programs received a level-one penalty which includes practice reduction.  

Alabama State (Football and Men's Basketball), Grambling State (Men's Basketball), Mississippi Valley State (Men's Basketball), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Men's Basketball), Southern (Men's Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field) also received a level-two penalty - in season and out of season restrictions. In addition to the reduction of four practice time replaced with academic activities, level-two penalty includes the elimination of non-championship season or spring football. Teams without a non-championship season face a reduced number of contests.  

MVSU and GSU men's basketball teams were also tagged with a level-three penalty which includes various restrictions. This can include financial aid reductions, additional practice and contest restrictions; and potential multiyear bans on postseason competitions. 

ASU, UAPB, and MVSU have filed penalty waivers which are currently under review.

Beginning with 2012-13 championships, teams must earn a minimum 900 four-year APR or a 930 average over the most recent two years to be eligible to participate.  

SWAC APR leaders for 2011-2012 include:

Alabama A&M	Football	939
	Women's Basketball	990
Alabama State	Women's Cross Country	990
	Women's Indoor Track	970
	Women's Outdoor Track	970
Alcorn State	Women's Soccer	991
Grambling State	Baseball	960
	Softball	971
	Women's Bowling	991
Jackson State	Men's Golf	991
	Men's Tennis	988
	Women's Golf	989
	Women's Tennis	100
	Women's Volleyball	973
Mississippi Valley State	Men's Cross Country	992
	Men's Indoor Track	988
	Men's Outdoor Track	988
	Softball	971
Prairie View A&M	Men's Basketball	944

 

Jackson State women's tennis received the NCAA Public Recognition Award scoring 1,000 which is the highest any team can achieve.  

The APR was implemented in 2005 to hold athletic programs accountable for their athletes working toward earning a degree. Points are awarded for retention and graduation of scholarship athletes.

 

COURTESY SWAC.org  

The Rest of the Story: APR figures continue to show one clear loser: cash-poor schools

EXCERPT:

The SWAC is getting crushed.

I’d like to tell you no one anticipated the third point, but that wouldn’t be true. It was a primary concern in my APR column from August 2011, when the new rules went into place and a combined 18 of the 21 SWAC and MEAC schools would have been deemed ineligible had there not be a transition period for the new system.

The problem with the way the APR system works is it’s systemically biased against cash-poor programs that don’t have the academic support staff and facilities to match bigger-conference programs. The issue is exacerbated by the way some schools have operated their programs, using the nonconference season as a cash-generating national beatdown tour. The players are away from campus a lot during the season, which doesn’t help.

Obviously, there’s a bigger-picture question of whether HBCUs (and other small programs) should be allowed to operate this way to fund their athletic departments, but since no one’s stepped in to stop it, NCAA rules have to be able to account for all different types of Division I programs, not just those with money and conference power.

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Four Florida A&M Athletic Teams Face NCAA Sanctions

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  The Florida A&M University (FAMU) Department of Athletics announced that four programs will operate under penalty of the NCAA during the 2013-2014 academic school year as a result of the programs’ Academic Progress Rate (APR).

According to the APR protocols established by the NCAA, FAMU’s volleyball team has fallen to Penalty Phase II status. Men’s basketball and men’s indoor/outdoor track and field have been placed on Penalty Phase I status.

VIDEO:    Four FAMU Athletic Teams Face NCAA Sanctions

The Lady Rattler volleyball team’s Penalty Phase II means that along with reduced practice times, the program is currently not eligible for postseason play. For the teams being placed on Penalty Phase I status, their practice time will be reduced and they must allocate four additional hours to mandatory study hall, life skills classes and/or time management exercises.

The penalties are based on ...

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Florida A&M University fires athletic director Horne

Division I Academics: Limited-resource, HBCU schools improve

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana  --  One of the most notable trends in the Academic Performance Program data over the past two years has been the dramatic increase in Academic Progress Rates posted by limited-resource schools and Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Although APRs at limited-resource schools and HBCUs have traditionally lagged behind other Division I institutions, recent data indicate a positive change. Limited-resource schools have raised their rates 11 points in that time period while the performance of HBCUs has climbed 15 points. While additional improvement is sought, many of those working on the issue are pleased with the uptick.

“I’m optimistic,” said NCAA Executive Vice President Bernard Franklin. “Over time, these institutions will continue to flourish and meet the needs of their student-athletes.”

Franklin, who leads several programs designed to assist limited-resource schools and HBCUs with their academic challenges, credited presidential leadership and overall institutional commitment for the progress.

Dennis Thomas, commissioner of the HBCU Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, agreed.

“The presidents and chancellors made and activated a commitment to academic success,” Thomas said. He listed more dedicated resources to academic support, the encouragement of different recruiting practices and academic support integrated within the university as a whole as some of the most effective best practices championed by presidents.

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Shaw Bears Releases 2013-2014 Basketball Schedule

RALEIGH, North Carolina  --  Shaw University today released its 2013-2014 men's basketball schedule, which features ten home dates, as well as an appearance at a tournament at Barton and a trip to Florida over the holiday break.

 

"This schedule gives us regional challenges with a trip to Indiana (PA) and a home-and-home with Charleston (WV).  Our trip to Florida will test us on a national level before starting what should be a competitive CIAA season," said Shaw men's basketball head coach Cleo Hill, Jr.

 

The Bears open the season on November 8 and 9 with an appearance at the Barton College Tournament where they will face Mount Olive on the 8th and Barton on the 9th.

 

Shaw opens its home season on November 18 with the first game of the home-and-home with Charleston.  They will travel to Charleston for a rematch on December 14.  On the 23rd, Georgia Regents (formerly Augusta State) travels to Shaw to begin a home-and-home which will be completed when the Bears travel to Augusta, GA for the second contest on December 12.

 

CIAA play begins on January 2, when the Bears host Elizabeth City State in the first game of a three-game homestand.  Shaw hosts Chowan on the 4th and Virginia State two days after that.

 

The Bears will then take to the road for four games in 16 days, including trips to Virginia Union, Bowie State,  Lincoln (PA) and Livingstone.

 

Winston-Salem State visits C.C. Spaulding on January 22 while the Bears will host cross-town rival Saint Augustine's on February 15.

 

All Shaw home games will be played at C.C. Spaulding Gymnasium.  Non-conference matchups will begin at 7:00 p.m., while CIAA contests will begin at 8:00 p.m. on weeknights and 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays.   A combined season ticket package with both football and basketball goes on sale June 15, while basketball-only season tickets will go on sale August 16.

SHAW UNIVERSITY BEARS 2013-14 MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE (.pdf)

Date	Opponent		Time
Nov. 8	vs. Mount Olive @ Barton College Tournament		TBA
Nov. 9	at Barton		TBA
	Barton College Tournament
Nov. 18	Charleston (W.V.)		7:00 PM
Nov. 23	Georgia Regents		4:00 PM
Nov. 30	vs. TBA @ Indiana, PA		TBA
	IRMC Classic
Dec. 1	vs. TBA @ Indiana, PA		TBA
	IRMC Classic
Dec. 12	at Georgia Regents		7:30 PM
Dec. 14	at Charleston (W.V.)		TBA
Dec. 20	at Florida Southern		TBA
Dec. 22	at Saint Leo		TBA
Jan. 2	Elizabeth City State *		8:00 PM
Jan. 4	Chowan *		4:00 PM
Jan. 6	Virginia State *		8:00 PM
Jan. 9	at Virginia Union *		7:30 PM
Jan. 11	at Bowie State *		7:30 PM
Jan. 13	at Lincoln (Pa.) *		7:30 PM
Jan. 18	at Livingstone *		7:30 PM
Jan. 22	Winston-Salem State *		8:00 PM
Jan. 25	at Saint Augustine's *		7:30 PM
Jan. 29	at Fayetteville State *		7:30 PM
Feb. 1	Johnson C. Smith *		4:00 PM
Feb. 8	Livingstone *		4:00 PM
Feb. 12	at Winston-Salem State *		7:30 PM
Feb. 15	Saint Augustine's *		4:00 PM
Feb. 19	Fayetteville State *		8:00 PM
Feb. 22	at Johnson C. Smith *

 

COURTESY SHAW UNIVERSITY BEARS SPORTS INFORMATION

Charlotte tourism boosters: CIAA impact declined in 2013

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina  --  Economic impact from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association’s basketball tournament declined by 6 percent in 2013, according to figures compiled by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority. Despite the dip, the $47 million spent on hotel rooms, restaurant meals, game tickets and related parties remains the largest annual tourism event in the city.

In 2012, the conference of 12 historically black colleges and universities generated $50 million in local spending during its week-long run at Time Warner Cable Arena. This year marked the eighth consecutive year Charlotte has hosted the CIAA’s men’s and women’s tournaments.

“The numbers came in higher than we thought they would,” said Tom Murray, CEO of the visitors authority. “Last year was the 100th anniversary of the conference. We expected a bigger drop (this year).”

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Arizona Cardinals undrafted rookie Padric Scott (FAMU) is a renaissance man

(Courtesy FAMU Athletics)

PHOENIX, Arizona  --  Last week I posted a speculative article about the final possible 53 players making the team. And one of the guys that I gave no love to -- that comments pointed out that I should have -- was Padric Scott, the unrestricted DL free agent from the MEAC. And since I wanted to see how it feels to be a writer that actually researches before he composes, I spent hours upon minutes in dragging up some two interviews with the athlete. (One that has been on ROTB's FanShots for over a month. Jess, you need to find a way to give that section more prominence.)

And from what I read, I'm impressed not only with what he could bring to the field, but what he does off the field. He appears to be a well rounded, grounded young man.

For instance, did you know that he graduated from FAMU cum laude with a degree in Molecular Cell Biology? All the while fighting the "dumb jock" stereotype?

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Atlanta-based college sports conference eyes Birmingham for major games, taking place of departing SWAC

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Weeks after one college sports conference announced its exit from Birmingham another seeks to take its place.

Officials with the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference are in talks with Birmingham leaders to bring its football, basketball and golf championship events to the city. Those events are currently held in Atlanta, but with contracts expiring, the SIAC is eyeing Birmingham as its new venue.

The SIAC seeks city concessions totaling more than $100,000 and use of city sporting facilities. The three-year football contract would begin this year while basketball would begin in 2014.

"Birmingham is a town that has always struck me as a place that wants to support college championship events," SIAC Commissioner Gregory Moore said in an interview with AL.com/The Birmingham News. "Perhaps an opportunity may be created for us."

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Bethune-Cookman's Jarkevis Fields Added to CFPA Award Watch List

CHARLOTTE,  North Carolina –  Bethune-Cookman senior linebacker Jarkevis Fields has been named to the watch list for the 2013 College Football Performance Award FCS Linebacker Award.

College Football Performance Awards, the largest awards organization in D-I college football, recently announced its watch list for the 2013 CFPA Linebacker Award, and 35 linebackers earned spots on the list. The preliminary watch list highlights returning performers, vying for the top individual linebacker award in the Football Championship Subdivision.

#1 JARKEVIS FIELDS
(Courtesy B-CU Athletics)

Fields, a 6-0, 230-pound senior from Sanford, Fla. (Seminole High School), returns to the Wildcats as the leading tackler from the 2012 campaign. He ended the season with 103 tackles (sixth-best in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference), six tackles for losses and a sack. He also dropped back and broke up four passes, while helping the B-CU defense finish third nationally in passes intercepted.

"Congratulations to Jarkevis Fields on earning a spot on the 2013 CFPA Linebacker Award Watch List," said CFPA Executive Director Brad Smith. "Fields gives Bethune-Cookman strength at linebacker for the 2013 season."

Fields was named to the First Team All-MEAC squad in 2012, as well as receiving the Army Strong Leadership Award at the Florida Blue Florida Classic. He was also the recipient of the MEAC/SWAC Challenge Walter Payton Achievement Award, in addition to being a preseason HBCU All-America selection by BoxToRow.

Former Bethune-Cookman star Ryan Davis earned the CFPA National Defensive Performer of the Year Award.

The Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman begin the season Sunday, Sept. 1, traveling to Tennessee State in Nashville, Tenn. A time for kickoff will be announced at a later date.

B-CU Wildcats 2013 Football Schedule

COURTESY BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Appeals court to review ruling in FAMU hazing lawsuit

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida --  FAMU wants an appeals court to reverse a judge's decision allowing a civil case filed in the deadly hazing of drum major Robert Champion to continue.

The Fifth District Court of Appeal in Daytona Beach has agreed to review last month's ruling by Circuit Judge Walter Komanski, who refused to throw out a lawsuit filed by the drum major's parents against Florida A&M University.

FAMU lawyers say the school should be immune from the parents' lawsuit because Champion voluntarily participated in the hazing, an illegal assembly under state law. Pamela and Robert Champion say the school allowed a deep-seated culture of hazing to fester within the band, and that led to their son's death.

Champion, 26, died Nov. 19, 2011, from blows he absorbed during a hazing on a bus parked at ...

PDF: FAMU petition for writ of certiorari

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CIAA football title game will be at Bowman Gray

BOWMAN GRAY STADIUM
WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA
"HOME OF THE 2013 CIAA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME"

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  --  This year’s CIAA championship football game will be played at Bowman Gray Stadium, with kickoff set for 1 p.m. on Nov. 16.

The game, matching winners of the Northern and Southern divisions, was last played at Bowman Gray in 2002.

CIAA officials announced Monday that the league’s Football Championship Committee unanimously selected WSSU as the host.

 

WSSU, the two-time defending CIAA champion, finished 14-1 last season and reached the NCAA Division II championship game.

 

“I think it’s great for Winston-Salem and great for the city and for Bowman Gray Stadium,” Coach Connell Maynor of the Rams said. “When I was an assistant at Fayetteville State, we played in the CIAA title game in 2002 at Bowman Gray, and they did a great job with the game, so I’m happy about it.”

 

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Coppin State again targeted for transformation

Coppin State University Physical Education Complex (256,000 S.F.)
Completed January 2010
 Construction Cost: $95.1 Million 

Coppin State graduates 60 percent of its student-athletes in four-years; transfer students at 40 percent in four-years; and new freshmen at 15 percent over four years.

BALTIMORE, Maryland  --  When Tasha Wilkie helped out in the math department as an undergrad at Coppin State University, she dealt with some students who came in without basic skills. They didn't know their multiplication tables or how to work with fractions.

"We have students who've taken courses like three times" before they passed, said Wilkie, who graduated in 2011 and is now working toward a doctorate in biology at Ohio State University. There, she realized she also was ill-equipped for some classes by her studies at Coppin.

But this commencement season, Wilkie and others remain Coppin boosters. Even though Coppin boasts one of the worst graduation rates in the nation — only 15 percent of first-time, full-time freshmen graduate within six years — they say Coppin is a much-needed institution that could be turned around.

"It's kind of like a diamond in the rough," said Egypt Buie, who graduated with a bachelor of science degree in interdisciplinary studies. The New York-native said the campus was more nurturing than others she experienced.

Over the past dozen years, the university, known for producing much-needed nurses and teachers for the city's workforce, has received additional funds to make up for decades of under-funding at historically black colleges. It has added 20 new academic degrees, overhauled its facilities in Northwest Baltimore and increased the faculty by nearly half.

SOARING LIKE AN EAGLE:  Report of the Coppin State University Special Review Committee (.pdf)

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