Div. II Saint Augustine's Eliminates Men's Golf, Women's Tennis

RALEIGH, North Carolina  --  Saint Augustine's University has discontinued men's golf and women's tennis, the University's department of athletics announced on Tuesday, June 25, 2013.

"Both women's tennis and men's golf are great sports but we had to make a tough decision," Athletic Director and legendary Track & Field Coach George Williams said. "We are no different than any other institution facing difficult choices due to the economic downturn. We are looking for both sports to return in the near future, however."

Because of the academic and athletic impact involved with the change, Saint Augustine's University is committed to assisting all student-athletes whose programs are being eliminated. The University will assist any student-athlete who decides to stay and complete his or her academic degree by offering financial assistance for which they qualify for the 2013-14 academic year.

"I assure you that the student-athletes affected are our first concern," Williams added. "The department of athletics is working closely with the University and the CIAA to ensure that the student-athletes are the top priority."

Saint Augustine's University now offers 13 collegiate sports in its athletic

program. The men's sports are baseball, basketball, cross country, football, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field. The women's sports are basketball, bowling, cross country, softball, volleyball, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field. Both women's tennis and men's golf will be offered on the intramural level.

COURTESY SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF SPORTS INFORMATION

Former Southern pitcher De Leon signs, sent to rookie league

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -- A little more than a month ago, Jose De Leon was working to help Southern University reach the postseason as a junior pitcher for the Jaguars.

Now he’s enjoying his first taste of professional baseball with the Los Angeles Dodgers’ rookie-league affiliate in the Arizona League.



De Leon, selected by Los Angeles in the 24th round of the MLB draft, signed with the Dodgers last week and reported directly to the Dodgers’ spring training facility in Glendale, Ariz.

He expects to make his debut in the Arizona League sometime this week.

“I’m just waiting for the chance,” said De Leon, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound right-hander. “I’m looking forward to the chance they give me. I will just follow instructions and do what they tell me to. I’m their property now.”

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B-CU product Davis hoping to have greater impact with Jaguars

JACKSONVILLE, Florida  --  Ryan Davis did not have a flashy rookie campaign last season with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

He did manage to make the Jags as an undrafted rookie out of Bethune-Cookman, but was active for just two games -- a Week 5 loss to Chicago in which he saw significant time, but failed to record a stat, and a Week 7 loss to Oakland.

But following Jags minicamp, which ended June 13, Davis said he is determined to be better during his sophomore campaign.

“I think I've done very well out there this year,” he said. “They have a new system that we are implementing, and I love it.

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Former JSU Runner, Michael Tinsley Sets 2013 World Record; SAU's Batman Jackson Takes Third

DES MOINES, Iowa — Former SWAC standout and Jackson State Alum Michael Tinsley set the world’s fastest time of 2013 in the 400m hurdles final. It all took place from Des Moines, Iowa and Drake Stadium on Day 3 of the 2013 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championship.

Tinsley finished first with a time of 47.96 seconds and was joined by Kerron Clement (48.06) and Bershawn "Batman" Jackson's (48.09). Last summer during the London Olympic Games, Tinsley won a silver medal in the very same event. "The race was just so fast today. The gun went off, and all I remember is that we were there, coming down the homestretch,"

Tinsley said. "I feel like a champ. I feel like a million bucks." In 2006, Tinsley became the first JSU track athlete to win an NCAA Division I title at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Saint Augustine's University graduate Bershawn "Batman" Jackson is also headed to Moscow after finishing third in the men's 400 meter hurdles.  Kerron Clement (University of Florida) claimed second in 48.06.  Jackson ran 48.09 seconds to advance to the 2013 IAAF World Championships, which will be held in Moscow, Russia, from August 10-18. All three hurdlers will represent the USA in the World Championships.

A Raleigh, N.C., resident, Jackson is a four-time U.S. outdoor champion in the 400 hurdles. He has qualified for the World Championships every time since 2003. He won the 400 hurdles world title in 2005 and earned an Olympic bronze medal in the event in 2008.

Jackson, coached by St. Aug legend George Williams, ran his best time of the year to make the U.S. team. During his college career, Jackson was a NCAA Division II 400 hurdles champion for the Falcons. He graduated from St. Aug in 2010.

COURTESY SWAC.org and SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Bob Gabordi: Marching 100's future can be brighter, stronger

Rebranding a campus gem

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- I took a class in group behavior in college because my friend said it would be an easy A. I got a B. So obviously I’ve never really understood the dynamics of why people engage in “group think” or need to prove they deserve to belong.

Isn’t that really what hazing is about, gaining acceptance, proving you can be a member of the team, that you are willing to endure physical pain, risking public humiliation or even injury?

Except for the rare individual with enormous self-esteem, don’t we all wonder if we are really good enough to fit in, whether it is in sports, a band, or even our jobs?



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SCSU football starts rebuilding for next season

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina  -- Opening day for South Carolina State football is 68 days away against Coastal Carolina at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.

Unofficially, the season starts Tuesday when as many as 50 players begin summer workouts on campus.

Under the eyes of returning strength and conditioning coach John Williams, the Bulldogs will participate in various exercise and weightlifting activities and hold 7-on-7 passing drills among themselves over the next five weeks leading to the start of preseason camp on Aug. 5.



“I’m excited about having him back,” S.C. State head football coach Buddy Pough said about Williams’ return. “I’m excited about having his maturity around our program ... and I think that he’ll be a big part of what we do here in the coming year.”

For the fifth consecutive year, fund-raising efforts through the “Lift-A-Bulldog” campaign made it possible for players to stay in Orangeburg this summer. Donations covering 1-3 players at $1,000 each were instrumental in not enabling the workouts to take place, but enabling the players to enroll in classes during the Summer II session.

The 2013 season cannot ...

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Xavier University student inspired by Xavier grad to lose weight

NEW ORLEANS -- A Xavier University student was inspired to change his life by a Xavier graduate who first told his story on Weight Loss Wednesday.

But the two young men never met until Medical Watch arranged a surprise meeting.

Two years ago people were amazed by this 20-year-old whiz kid. Darrin Cook was running his own internet company, graduated from Xavier early and finally accomplished a tough goal, going from 400 to 225 pounds, on his way to his 185 pound goal.

"I remember we went to swim with the dolphins and I had this life vest that was about just say (size) five times and even though it was this large, it was still skin tight and I was like, 'Darrin, this is enough, you know. No more lying to yourself,'" said Cook back in May 2011.

Local radio talk shows and even network news interviewed him. That's when KJ Hill, now a freshman at Xavier, reached out to him for support.

"One day I wanted to go somewhere and I'd been wearing, like, these stretchy shorts and hadn't been wearing jeans or pants for a long time. And one day, I tried to get up and put them on and couldn't wear them," remembers Kaleb Joseph "KJ" Hill.

Darrin never got KJ's message, but KJ worked to lose 110 pounds off of his 360 pound frame. He walked around a gym parking lot, asking to clean the gym in exchange for membership that he could not afford.

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