Arkansas Pine Bluff Golden Lions Well Represented in Collegiate Summer Leagues

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas  --  The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff baseball team is well represented in summer collegiate baseball leagues as 19 past, current, and future members are suited-up for various summer teams across the country.

Two current Golden Lions started their summer off with the Falmouth Commodores in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League: Isias Alcantar, the 2013 SWAC Player of the Year, and Jim Ploeger. Both have since moved on to the Far West League and Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League, respectively. Three players are competing in the Alaskan Baseball League as Andrew Buehler and Mikey Ramirez represent the Alaska Goldpanners and Mike Wieland is playing for the Peninsula Oilers.

See below as it relates to additional Golden Lions and their whereabouts this summer.

2013-2014 Golden Lions in Summer Collegiate Baseball Leagues

Alaska Baseball League
Alaska Goldpanners: Andrew Buehler and Mikey Ramirez
Peninsula Oilers: Mike Wieland

Far West League
San Francisco Seals: Isias Alcantar, Tyler Oertle, and Humberto Zavala
Top Speed: Cody De Mera

Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League
Westhampton Aviators: Jim Ploeger and Kyle Schwartz

Midwest Collegiate Baseball League
Northwest Indiana Oilmen: Rashawn Tillman

M.I.N.K. Collegiate Baseball League
St. Joseph Mustangs: Redmond Floyd, Stanten Jones, and Dixon Marble

New York Collegiate League
Geneva Twins: Kirby Campbell, Josh Cassidy, and Tommy Haas

Ohio Valley Summer Collegiate Baseball League
Dubois County Bombers: Andre Davis

Westhchester Baseball Association:
New Rochell Robins: Fabian Chirino and Vladimir Gomez

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PINE BLUFF SPORTS INFORMATION

Julian Stafford, MVSU Delta Devils have matured

 ITTA BENA, Mississippi -- Julian Stafford has Sept. 1 circled on his calendar.

The 5-foot-9, 185-pound redshirt sophomore expects to be lined up at wide receiver for Mississippi Valley State when the Delta Devils open the football season by taking on Florida A&M University in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney. The Memphis, Tenn., native is coming off a stellar season where he caught 52 passes for 800 yards and four touchdowns -- an impressive feat when you consider he had 57 yards as a freshman.

"Once he gets going, a player of his caliber is hard to slow down," says Coach Karl Morgan, who recalled the game against Grambling State last October, when Stafford amassed 262 all-purpose yards and two kick return touchdowns.



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Return of Florida A&M Marching 100 help football ticket sales

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TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  FAMU football has gotten its 12th man back with the announcement last week that the Marching 100 band has been reinstated.

But while head football coach Earl Holmes said he is glad to have the return of the band because it should serves as a motivator for his players, FAMU athletic department could stand to benefit even more financially. Athletic administrators have said repeatedly that the band is the brand that sells.

“The plus for everybody is the band is a talent. A part of the university program that everybody enjoys,” said interim athletic director Michael Smith.

“It’s another marketing tool, another recruiting tool for the university. We welcome the band’s return and all the opportunities that it brings because it’s a part of the university’s fabric and its culture and it’s success, not just in athletics.

Just how vital the band is to FAMU athletic has been evident at ...

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SHARE/E-MAIL FAMU 2013 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE TO FRIENDS

FLORIDA A&M 2013 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE (.html)

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DATE OPPONENT LOCATION MEAC EVENT TIME

9/01 @Mississippi Vally State, Orlando, FL, (MEAC/SWAC Challenge) 11:45AM

9/07 Tennessee State, Tallahassee, FL, (Hall of Fame Weekend), 2:00 PM
9/14  Samford U., Tallahassee, FL (Youth Day)&, 2:00 PM

9/21 @Ohio State, Columbus, Ohio, Ohio Stadium, TBA
9/28  OPEN
10/05 @*Morgan State, Baltimore, MD, Hughes Stadium, 1:00 PM
10/12 @*Savannah State, Savannah, GA, Ted Wright Stadium, 6:00 PM
10/19    *Howard U., Tallahassee, FL, (FAMU Homecoming 2013), 2:00 PM 
10/26     *North Carolina A&T, Tallahassee, FL, (Parent's Weekend), 2:00 PM

11/02  @*Norfolk State, Norfolk, VA, Dick Price Stadium, (NSU homecoming) 2:00 PM
11/09  @*South Carolina State, Orangeburg, SC, Oliver C. Dawson Stadium, 1:30 PM
11/16      *Delaware State, Tallahassee, FL, 2:00 PM
11/23   @*Bethune-Cookman, Orlando, FL (Florida Classic), TBA

& The Samford game will be part of a two-game series between the two programs. Florida A&M will travel to Seibert Stadium, Birmingham, Alabama for a game on Sept. 12, 2015.

*MEAC Game
BOLD: Home Game
GREEN: In-State Florida Classics 

Season Ticket Brochure and Order Form

MEAC/SWAC Challenge Weekend
SEPT. 1, 2013, ORLANDO, FLORIDA
Florida A&M Rattlers vs. Mississippi Valley Delta Devils

Rattler fans! Be sure to partake in the ancillary activities surrounding the 2013 MEAC/ SWAC Challenge Presented by Disney.  Accompany your FAMU Football season opener purchase with tickets to the Pep Ralley hosted at Downtown Disney, Band Showcase at Disney's Epcot or any other Official MEAC/SWAC Challenge weekend list of events.  The 2013 MEAC/ SWAC Challenge game tickets are currently on sale.  Visit www.MEACSWACCHALLENGE.com for more details. 

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COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

JCSU Football Releases the Final 2013 Schedule

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina  –  The Johnson C. Smith University Department of Athletics has released their 10-game football schedule for the 2013 season. JCSU concluded last season with a record of 6-4 overall and 5-2 in the CIAA; their second consecutive winning season since the 1972-73 seasons.

The Golden Bulls will change up their annual routine of playing the Commemorative Classic at the end of the regular season and switch the game to the opener. JCSU opens the year on Saturday, September 7th against Livingstone College at Charlotte Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. in this CIAA divisional clash. Johnson C. Smith is 4-0 since branding this contest as the Commemorative Classic in 2009; including a 57-6 routing to finish the 2012 year.

The following week, JCSU will stay in Charlotte but move to their home stadium of the Irwin Belk Complex. The Golden Bulls will face Bowie State University on Saturday, September 14th at 2:00 p.m. in the annual Eddie C. McGirt Classic. This will be the 23rd meeting between these two teams in a series that dates back to 1981. The Bulldogs won the last meeting 14-13 in Charlotte during the 2006 season. JCSU holds a narrow 12-10 advantage in this matchup. This contest will not count towards either team's conference standings.

JCSU will play a third consecutive week in Charlotte and a second game in the Irwin Belk Complex. The Golden Bulls will take on the Wildcats of nearby Davidson College on Saturday, September 21st at 2:00 p.m.  This will be the fourth all-time between JCSU and Davidson. Johnson C. Smith won the first meeting 18-15 in Memorial Stadium during the 1989 season. Davidson avenged the loss the following season (1990) with a 17-7 victory on the Wildcats' home field. JCSU lost the tiebreaker 35-7 during the 2011 season in Davidson. The annual Festi-Bull celebration will take place during pre-game from 12 noon until 1:30 p.m.

The Golden Bulls' cross divisional games will be against Virginia State in Petersburg, VA on September 28th and then Lincoln (PA) in Charlotte at the Irwin Belk Complex on October 5th. JCSU has edged the Trojans by a touchdown in the last two meetings; both at home. The Lions won a shoot-out last year (55-53) on their home field for one of the two CIAA losses for JCSU.

Divisional play will start against the defending two-time CIAA Champions Winston-Salem State on Saturday, October 12th at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, NC at 1:30 p.m. The Rams will be hosting the Golden Bulls as their homecoming opponent. JCSU will return to Charlotte for back to back divisional home games versus Fayetteville State (October 19th) and Shaw (October 26th).

Johnson C. Smith will host Homecoming 2013 on October 26th against the Bears of Shaw University at 1:00 p.m. on McGirt Field at the Irwin Belk Complex. JCSU has topped Shaw in their last two meetings, including a 35-20 win last season as the Bears' homecoming opponent.

The regular season will come to a close after a November road schedule of Saint Augustine's University and Central State University. JCSU will play the Falcons on Saturday, November 2nd at 1:30 p.m. in Raleigh, NC and then travel to Wilberforce, OH to challenge the Marauders of CSU on November 9th at 1:30 p.m.
The 2013 CIAA Football Championship will take place on November 16th at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, NC.

2013 JCSU FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

9/7    Livingstone College$ (Commemorative Classic), Charlotte Memorial Stadium   1PM
9/14  Bowie State (McGirt Classic), Irwin Belk Complex, Charlotte, 2 PM
9/21  Davidson College, Irwin Belk Complex, Charlotte, 2 PM
9/28  @Virginia State$, Petersburg, VA, 3 PM
10/5   The Lincoln University$,  Irwin Belk Complex, Charlotte, 2 PM
10/12 @Winston-Salem State$, Bowman-Gray Stadium, Winston-Salem, NC 1:30 PM
10/19 Fayetteville State$, Irwin Belk Complex, Charlotte, 2 PM
10/26 Shaw University$ (Homecoming) Irwin Belk Complex, Charlotte, 1 PM
11/2   @Saint Augustine's University$, Raleigh, NC, 1:30 PM
11/9   @Central State University, Wilberforce, OH,  1:30 PM
11/16 @CIAA Football Championship#, Bowman-Gray Stadium, Winston-Salem, NC

BOLD:  Home Games
$ CIAA Conference Game
# Conference Championship  Game, Teams To Be Determined

COURTESY JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

New Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Logo Launched

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana --  The NCAA's Branding and Fan Experience Group has recently launched a new logo for the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).

The new logo is intended to raise awareness of FCS football, the level of Division I football in which the Ohio Valley Conference (Tennessee State), Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) competes amongst other traditional powers.

The SWAC does not participate in the FCS playoffs and holds its own football championship game, like NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) conferences. The SWAC football championship game will be held at Reliant Stadium (Houston, Texas) on Saturday, December 7, 2013, and will include the Battle of the Bands competition with all ten of the conference’s member institutions participating.  The contest will begin immediately following the football championship game at Reliant Stadium and admission is included with purchase of a game ticket. 

The FCS new logo is part of the new "Every Down. Every Day." promotional campaign that will kick off during the 2013 season.

This 2013 season marks the first of an expanded 24-team playoff bracket, up from 20 teams a year ago. The first round will feature 16 teams in eight matchups with the winners advancing to the second round to play eight teams who have received a bye. This year the FCS playoffs will begin on Saturday, November 30 and conclude with the National Championship game on Saturday, January 4 in Frisco, Texas.



COURTESY NCAA.com and SWAC. org

Judge: No deal in limiting sentence of FAMU hazing defendant Jessie Baskin

Jessie Baskin is facing 21 years
prison sentence, if convicted of
all charges in Champion death.
 

ORLANDO, Florida  --  The Orange County judge presiding over the FAMU hazing cases was unwilling Tuesday to cap at three years a possible prison sentence for an ex-band member charged with felony hazing and manslaughter in the death of Marching 100 drum major Robert Champion.

Circuit Judge Marc Lubet said he wanted to hear from Champion's parents, Pamela and Robert Champion, before weighing a request to limit punishment facing Jessie Baskin, 22, of Miami, whom prosecutors have categorized as a "beater" in the fatal hazing that occurred Nov. 19, 2011, in Orlando.

Baskin, who has pleaded not guilty, could be sentenced to 21 years in prison if convicted of all charges and sentenced to the maximum for each offense.

Baskin, identified by Champion's fellow drum majors as ...

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PGA Minority Championship Highlight Show To Air July 3rd On the Golf Channel

JESSICA PEATROSS
Women's Golf Team
CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITY COUGARS

CHICAGO, Illinois  --  Last May 10-12 the Chicago State University women's golf team participated in the 2013 PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship presented by Brown Capital Management. The event was held in Port St. Lucie, Fla. at the PGA Golf Club's Ryder Course.  On July 3 at 8:00 p.m. CT/9:00 p.m. ET, the Golf Channel will air a highlight show of the tournament.

The Cougars finished third with a three-round total of 935 (318-308-309).

The show will also feature footage from course and the tournament's other events. Senior Jessica Peatross (Lansing, Mich./Holt) received the $1,000 Joe Stewart/Earnie Ellison Scholarship at the pre-tournament banquet.

The show will also re-air Tuesday, July 9 at 1 p.m. CT/2 p.m. ET and Tuesday, July 23 at 1 p.m. CT/ 2:00 p.m. ET.

The 2013 PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship field featured more than 200 participants, consisting of four team divisions — NCAA Men’s Division I, II and NAIA as well as a Women’s Division.

In addition to the team competition, the PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship featured a men's and women's Individual Invitational that is open to collegiate golfers who are African-American, Hispanic-American, Native or Alaskan American, Asian or Pacific Island American.

COURTESY CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS