TSU Tigers Picked Third at OVC Media Day

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- The Tennessee State football team was picked to finish third and six Tigers were named to the All-Preseason Team announced at the Ohio Valley Conference Media Day, Monday.

Big Blue garnered four first-place votes and 107 total points, which trailed only Jacksonville State (118), who TSU beat 31-15 on the road in 2012, and Eastern Illinois (108). All three teams made it past the First Round of the FCS Playoff a season ago.

Tennessee State has improved its win total in each of Rod Reed's first four seasons, reaching 10 overall wins and a second-place finish in the conference. The team was 6-2 in OVC play and earned an at-large bid to the FCS Playoffs, shutting out Butler 31-0 in the first round to snap the OVC's 19-game postseason losing streak.

Now in his fifth season as head coach Reed returns 58 players from last year's team including six offensive and six defensive starters. The defense should once again be solid after ranking sixth nationally in total defense (296.9 yards/game) and scoring defense (18.1 points/game) and ninth nationally in turnovers gained (31) last season.

That defensive unit is led by reigning OVC Defensive Player of the Year Anthony Bass who was also tabbed this year's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year; in 2013 Bass had 34 tackles, 14.5 tackles-for-loss, 10.0 sacks, four pass breakups, six quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, a blocked kick and a safety.

Also back is senior defensive back Daniel Fitzpatrick who was named the National Defensive Back of the Year by the FCS ADA a season ago. Fitzpatrick led all Division I players (FBS or FCS) with eight interceptions as a junior and is on the Preseason Buck Buchanan Award Watch List.

Middle linebacker Nick Thrasher returns for his senior season after amassing 110 tackles, the most for TSU since 2002. Thrasher now has 230 career tackles which puts him sixth in the school record books, and just 16 away from cracking the top-five.

The other defensive player to be named to the All-Preseason Team was cornerback De’Ante Saunders. Saunders was named to the OVC All-Newcomer Team following a year in which he intercepted four passes and even ran one back for a touchdown at UT Martin. The junior also made 39 tackles and broke-up a team-high nine passes.   

The offense will be led by senior quarterback Michael German who missed the beginning of last season but worked his way back in the lineup before the end of the season. In seven games German completed 60 percent of his passes for 1,168 yards and 13 touchdowns without throwing an interception.

Blocking for German will be fellow All-Preseason Team nominee, Robert Myers. Last season, Myers helped block for Tim Broughton who rushed for 1,146 yards (25th-most nationally) and six touchdowns. He also protected a quarterback duo that combined for 26 passes touchdowns and only four interceptions.

The Tigers will report for fall camp on Aug. 3 in preparation of the John Merritt Classic on Aug. 30.

2014 OVC Preseason Football Predicted Order of Finish
1. Jacksonville State (10 first-place votes) - 118 points
2. Eastern Illinois (4) - 110
3. Tennessee State (4) - 107
4. Eastern Kentucky - 82
5. UT Martin - 79
6. Murray State - 54
7. Tennessee Tech - 48
8. Southeast Missouri - 34
9. Austin Peay - 16

Note: 8 points awarded for a first-place vote, 7 for second, etc. - Coaches and SID's could not vote for their own teams

2014 Preseason All-OVC Football Team
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: DaMarcus James (RB), Jacksonville State
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Bass (DL), Tennessee State

OFFENSE
QB - Michael German, Tennessee State
QB - Eli Jenkins, Jacksonville State                     
RB - DaMarcus James, Jacksonville State
RB - Shepard Little, Eastern Illinois
WR - Adam Drake, Eastern Illinois
WR - Josh Barge, Jacksonville State
WR - Paul McRoberts, Southeast Missouri            
TE - Jeff LePak, Eastern Illinois
C - Max Holcombe, Jacksonville State
OG - Collin Seibert, Eastern Illinois
OG - Blake Burks, Jacksonville State
OT - Charles Sweeton, UT Martin
OT - Robert Myers, Tennessee State
 
DEFENSE
DL - Anthony Bass, Tennessee State
DL - Dino Fanti, Eastern Illinois                                           
DL - Caleb Lawrence, Jacksonville State
DL - Chris Landrum, Jacksonville State                                
LB - Nick Thrasher, Tennessee State                                                   
LB - Tony Bell, UT Martin                                                    
LB - Robert Haynes, Eastern Illinois
LB - Tra'Darius Goff, Tennessee Tech
DB - Daniel Fitzpatrick, Tennessee State
DB - Jourdan Wickliffe, Eastern Illinois                                
DB - Marty Jones, Tennessee Tech                                                    
DB - De'Ante Saunders, Tennessee State             
 
SPECIALISTS
K - Andrew Lloyd, Eastern Kentucky                                    
P - Hamish MacInnes, Jacksonville State                             
RS - Shepard Little, Eastern Illinois

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Chicago State Track and Field Adds Three for 2014-15

CHICAGO, Illinois -- The Chicago State University track and field program has made three additions for the 2014-15 campaign. TaQuoya Jones (Calumet Park, Ill./Dunbar High School (Fla.)) and Ashlynn Terry (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance High School) have joined the women's team. Local product Landis Houston (Chicago, Ill./De La Salle Institute) has agreed to join the Chicago State men's track and field team.
 
Jones earned 11 total varsity letters, including four in track and field at Dunbar High School in Fort Myers, Fla. She was a three-time all-area first team selection. As a junior and senior she was the Lee County Conference Champion in the 100 and 200 meters. As a senior she also took home the long jump and 4x100 meter relay titles. She was named MVP and earned district champion honors in the 100 meters, 4x100 relay and the long jump the same year. She was also a regional champion in the 100 meters. As a senior, her squad won the regional championship.
 
"TaQuoya is an exceptional student-athlete and is dedicated to getting positive results," Chicago State head coach Craig Collins said. "Her work ethic and concentration on self improvement is what I was looking for to push our young, but very talented team. I'm positive there will be a lot of school records with Jones' name attached in the near future."
 
Terry recorded her best times as a senior when she ran a 25.60 in the 200 meters and 58.00 in the 400 meters. As a junior she was part of the state 4x200 relay champion as well as taking fourth in the city in the 100 meters. Renaissance High School won the state championship her junior year. Academically, she was a four-year member of the honor roll. She ran for the Detroit Cheetah Track Club, setting records for the 100, 200 and 400 meters.
 
"Ashlynn is quite accomplished academically as well as athletically and knows what it takes to win," Collins said. "She will fit in perfectly with our young team. She has great range as a sprinter and brings to us the tough Detroit 'get the job done' mentality. We are very pleased that Ashlynn is a CSU Cougar and expect great things ahead."
 
Houston recorded his best triple jump performance as a senior when he earned a mark of 44'8". As a sophomore he helped his team win the sectional championship. Academically, he was a member of the honor roll, the National Honor Society and the National Society of High School Scholars. He ran for one season with the Saints Track Club.
 
"I am very pleased to welcome Landis to our Chicago State family," Collins said. "Landis has loads of potential in which he is still learning his events as a hurdler and horizontal jumper. He's an excellent student and his strength and his natural athletic ability is what stands out. I'm positive that in a short period of time Landis will show his ability and represent CSU and the Chicago track and field community well."
 
The Cougars open the 2014-15 season, their second in the Western Athletic Conference, in December.

COURTESY CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

ASU athletic director search about to enter 3rd year

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -Alabama State's search for an athletic director to replace ousted Stacy Danley is about to enter its third year, but university officials appear in no hurry to target a successor.

A university search committee was formed to find a replacement and actually brought in a group of finalists to interview for the position, but apparently made no decision. The search was opened again and again no replacement was named.

Now, with new president Gwendolyn Boyd on hand, another search is currently under way, either a third search or a continuation of the postponed second search. University officials refer all comments to the president and Boyd's only comment on the vacancy was, "We don't comment on personnel matters."

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Former ASU QB Tarvaris Jackson event elicits friendly visits

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- The Seattle Seahawks were up 43-8 with less than four minutes to play in this year's Super Bowl when former Alabama State quarterback Tarvaris Jackson ran onto the field to replace Russell Wilson.

Jackson's late-game appearance — he was on the field for two plays — didn't make headlines. But far away, in downtown Montgomery, his former coach, decked out in Seahawks gear and surrounded other Tarvaris Jackson supporters, watched with pride.

Jackson attended Sidney Lanier High School and played at ASU for three years. On Saturday, more than 280 kids attended his second annual free youth football camp, which was held at ASU's Hornet Stadium. Standing among old coaches and teammates, Jackson reflected on his Super Bowl appearance.

"I had already started celebrating in ...



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SIAC moves media day, championship game to Montgomery

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference will move its media day to the Capital City, part of a package deal that will include its football championship game as well.

The SIAC, which includes Tuskegee University, split into two divisions in 2011 and has staged all three media day kickoffs as well as championship games in Atlanta.

"We are extremely excited about this year's football media day that will be hosted by the city of Montgomery," said SIAC commissioner Greg Moore in a statement posted to the organization's Web page earlier this month. "The event format will be re-calibrated in an effort to better showcase our student-athletes, coaches and SIAC member schools. With the start of the college football season fast approaching, we are anticipating that the event will generate excitement among the fans and increase visibility for our outstanding SIAC football programs."

The media day will be held at the ...



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MEAC Football Press Luncheon Kicks Off July 25

NORFOLK, Virginia --  The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) will host the annual Football Press Luncheon, Friday, July 25 at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott Hotel (235 E. Main Street, Norfolk, VA 23510/ (757) 627-4200).  MEAC head football coaches and two student-athletes from each team will be on hand to offer an inside view on the upcoming 2014 football season. 

A limited number of tickets are available to the public for the press luncheon and can be purchased by calling Jane Vega at (757) 951-2055 or jvega@themeac.com.  Tickets are $30 per seat or $300 per table (10 persons) and must be purchased by 5:30 p.m. on Friday, July 18. 

Media members may obtain a credential for the luncheon and/or one-on-one interviews by completing an application found onwww.MEACSports.com.  One-on-one interviews will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. in the James I-III room.

The 2014 MEAC football season kicks off on Saturday, August 30 featuring nine MEAC institutions in non-conference action. 

North Carolina A&T will compete against Alabama A&M in the 10^th annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge also on Labor Day Weekend, Sunday, August 31.  Details and ticket information to be distributed at a later time. 

For more information about the MEAC, logo on to www.MEACsports.com.

Fobbs seems the right fit to revive Grambling football

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- New Grambling coach Broderick Fobbs refuses to talk about last season and all the turmoil and embarrassment that came with it.

"There is a team rule — we don't discuss what happened last year," Fobbs said at Friday's SWAC Media Day. "Last year is old news. We're basically focused on what's going on now and the future."

Why is that, Coach?

"In order to jump the next hurdle, you've got to move forward," Fobbs answered "You can't look backward."

Mum's the word.

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