Southern's 'Doc' Williams receives LATA President's Award

Courtesy John Oubre and Southern University Athletics

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Longtime Southern University athletic trainer Carl 'Doc' Williams received the Louisiana Athletic Trainers Association's President's Award in recognition of his lifetime of service to Southern University as the school's head athletic trainer.

LATA vice president Ray Castle presented Williams the award in the SU athletic training room inside the A.W. Mumford Fieldhouse on Thursday.

Click here to watch the video.

"It's always an honor to get an award, wherever it comes from, because it means that those people have an admiration for what you've done and what you do," Williams said. "And that's the most important thing."

"As a trainer), you try an please the people you come into contact with, the people around you, and you try to help whenever you can and that's always been my mode of living."

Along with his many years of service with the SU athletic department, Williams served on the athletic training staff of the Dallas Cowboys and was active member of several national trainers associations.

The President's Award also recognized Williams as one of the integral figures who helped passed Louisiana legislation which recognized athletic trainers as allied healthcare professionals in the state.

This year, House Bill 691 was the first major revision in the athletic training practice act initially passed in 1985. The 2014 law, signed by Gov. Bobby Jindal under ACT 418, move the 1985 law from certification to licensure of athletic trainers.

"I began to really appreciate how much more work and time which the members of LATA had to dedicate in the early 1980's," Gerard White, president of the Louisiana Athletic Trainers' Association.

"Those key members were never acknowledged for what had to be a very time consuming endeavor to get the first athletic training practice act passed in 1985. So, with the recent passage of a revised athletic training practice act, the honors some key athletic trainers who played a pivotal role in getting the first law passed.

"Members, like Carl Williams, were the forefathers for the athletic training profession and serve as a positive role model and mentor for the rest of us."

Others also recognized with the 2014 LATA President's Award were: Mayfield Armstrong ATC, Michael Brunet MD, David Drez MD, David Giardina ATC, Bob Goodwin ATC, Jim Murphy ATC, PT, Troy Prevot PA-C, ATC, and Rep. Chris Broadwater (Legislator of the Year).

The Louisiana Athletic Trainers' Association (LATA)is a not-for-profit organization of health care professionals dedicated to the safety in sports completion and the profession of athletic training within the State of Louisiana.

COURTESY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Gold Rush announce signing of three student-athletes

From left:  XU assistant coach Alfred Williams, signees Troy Salvant,
Josh Freeman and Jacques Johnson and head coach Dannton Jackson.

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana announced Friday the signing of three student-athletes for men's basketball: Troy Salvant of Marrero, La., Josh Freeman of Chicago and Jacques Johnson of Ridgeland, Miss.
    
Salvant will be a freshman with the Gold Rush in 2014-15. Freeman and Johnson will be juniors.
    
Salvant is 25 years old and spent the past seven years in the Army, including 12 months during the Iraq war, and reached the rank of sergeant. A 6-foot-1 shooting guard, Salvant averaged 19.5 points per game as a senior at L.W. Higgins High School, where he graduated in 2007 and led the Hurricanes to the Class 5A state playoffs.
    
Former XU standout Wanto Joseph played against Salvant in high school. He recommended Salvant to XU head coach Dannton Jackson.
    
Freeman, a 5-10 point guard, is a transfer from Chicago's Kennedy-King College, a two-year school where he averaged 9.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game this past season. Freeman made 36.4 percent of his 3-pointers and 80.4 percent of his free throws. As a senior at Harold L. Richards High School in Oak Lawn, Ill., Freeman averaged 14 points per game and was all-conference.
    
Johnson, a 6-3 small forward, is a transfer from East Central Community College in Decatur, Miss. Johnson averaged 15.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game this past season and was selected second-team all-state in the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges. He was an MACJC all-star and was chosen East Central's MVP. As a senior at Provine High School in Jackson, Miss., Johnson averaged nine points per game.
    
Xavier's Gold Rush were 23-9 this past season, won the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season championship for the third consecutive year and qualified for the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship for the fourth straight season. Xavier ranked 16th in the coaches postseason poll.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
https://twitter.com/xulagold
https://www.facebook.com/xulagold 

NCCU Football To Open Season at ECU on ESPNEWS

 GREENVILLE, North Carolina – North Carolina Central University's season-opening football game at East Carolina University on Aug. 30 will be broadcast live to a national television audience on ESPNews with a kickoff time of 8:00 p.m., the American Athletic Conference announced on Thursday (June 19) afternoon.

When the two teams meet inside Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in Greenville, N.C., it will be first gridiron match-up between NCCU and ECU.

East Carolina, which will play its inaugural campaign in the AAC this fall under fifth-year head coach Ruffin McNeill, was 10-3 in 2013 and successfully completed the program's seventh postseason appearance in the last eight years with a 37-20 win over Ohio in the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl.

The Eagles, who are under the direction of first-year head coach Jerry Mack, opened last season at ACC Coastal Division champion Duke University and made three appearances on ESPN networks in 2013 (ESPN3 at Duke on Aug. 31, ESPNU vs. S.C. State on Oct. 10, ESPNews vs. Bethune-Cookman on Nov. 2).

For more information about NCCU football, visit www.NCCUEaglePride.com or download the NCCU Sports Network app.

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

NCAA meeting with Southern set for June 25

 INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana  -- Southern will get its day in court June 25.

That’s when eight representatives of the university will appear before the NCAA Committee on Academic Performance in Indianapolis as the Jaguars attempt to have an NCAA postseason ban lifted.

All Southern teams have been ineligible for NCAA postseason play since December as a result of inadequate reporting of student-athletes’ Academic Progress Rates. The university has been working for more than six months to satisfy NCAA requests for complete and accurate APR data.

Two NCAA representatives visited the campus in April to evaluate changes Southern has made to its record-keeping and submission to avoid future shortcomings.

An NCAA spokesperson said the hearing will involve a discussion of “the data issues at Southern and how the school will move forward with accurate and timely data submission in the future.”

CONTINUE READING

Former SU, Astros player Pittman dies at 60

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  --  Former Southern baseball player Joe “Shoes” Pittman, who played for three Major League teams, died last week. He was 60.

Pittman, who was an infielder with the Jaguars from 1973-75, was a native of Houston and played with and was later a scout for the Houston Astros.

“We are saddened to learn of the passing of Joe Pittman, who was a member of the Astros organization for many years as a player, scout and minor league instructor,” the Astros said in a statement.

“To those that played with him, Joe was known as a fun and enthusiastic individual that brought energy to the ball club.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to Joe’s family and many friends throughout the game and beyond.”

CONTINUE READING

Joseph Wayne Pittman (Shoes)
 January 1, 1954 – June 12, 2014

Astros statement on the passing of Joe Pittman
 

The Astros released the following statement on June 14, 2014 regarding the recent passing of former player, scout and Houston native Joe Pittman. He was 60 years old:

 

"We are saddened to learn of the passing of Joe Pittman, who was a member of the Astros organization for many years as a player,

scout and minor league instructor. To those that played with him, Joe was known as a fun and enthusiastic individual that brought energy to the ballclub. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Joe's family and many friends throughout the game and beyond."

 

An infielder, Pittman, who had the nickname "Shoes", was drafted by the Astros in 1975 and played for the Major League club for two seasons (1981-82). He also played in the Major Leagues for San Diego (1982) and San Francisco (1984). He later served as a scout for the Astros from 1988-2003, which included a stint as a minor league instructor in 1996.

Press Release  -- Houston Astros

Shaquille Duncan has been dismissed from the Morgan State basketball team

BALTIMORE, Maryland  --   Shaquille Duncan is no longer a member of the Morgan State men's basketball team.

Duncan, a junior of the Bears team last season, has been dismissed from the team today by head coach Todd Bozeman.

COURTESY MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

UAPB Lady Lions inks Barnes and Corby for 2014 season

COURTESY UAPB ATHLETICS

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas  --   The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Volleyball Team adds two-more newcomers for the upcoming 2014 season in outside hitters/middle blockers Valiyah Barnes and Lauren Corby.

Barnes, was a four-year letter winner in volleyball and a three-year starter at Simeon Career Academy High School in Chicago, Ill.  Last season, she was a First Team All-Conference selection and was a Second Team All-Conference selection in 2012 as she led her team to second place finish in conference play in 2012.   In addition, Barnes played club volleyball for the Powerhouse Volleyball Club.

Corby comes to UAPB from Edwardsville High School in Dorsey, Ill, where she was a four-year letter winner and a four-year starter for EHS.  Last season, Corby led her team to a conference championship, regional championship and to a second place finish in sectional play.  During her junior season of play, Corby was named the Team's Most Valuable Player.  Also, Corby was a member of the High Performance Club Volleyball Team.

With the addition of Barnes and Corby, this brings the Lady Lions grand total to five newcomers for the upcoming season.

Kayla Dowdell, a 5-10,  outside hitter from Jonesboro, Ga., led Miami Dade College to a 21-7 overall record and an a perfect 8-0 in Southern Conference play, earning them a bid for the FCSAA State Tournament, last season.   She finished the season with 174 kills in 373 total attacks with 57 errors for a .314 hitting percentage, averaging 2.07 kills per set.  Also, she recorded 81 digs and four service aces on the season.

Jade Sanlin, a 5-8 liberio/outside hitter from Fairview Heights, Ill., was a four-year letter winner in volleyball at Atlthoff Catholic High School where she reaped First Team All-South Honors and earned Belleville New Democrat 3A-4A All-Area Honorable Mentions.  As a member of the High Performance STL Club Team, Sanlin finished the season third on the team in digs with 349 and was a two-time USAV High Performance SA3 Pipeland program selectee.

Rounding out the cast of 2014 signees is Jahkishm Soto, a 5-10 outside hitter/middle blocker from Rockdale County High School in Conyers, Ga.   This four-year letter winner was a two-year starter for the Lady Bulldogs as she earned Second Team 8AAAAAA All-Area honors.  In addition, she led the Lady Bulldogs to a third place finish in the 8AAAAAA Regionals.

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PINE BLUFF ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS