Albany State’s Larry Bullock is leading the charge

ALBANY, Georgia — It was the shot discussed around the city.

Down by two against Georgia College with less than five seconds left, the Albany State Rams got the ball into senior Larry Bullock’s hands and he knocked down a corner three to win the game.

“It’s a shot that I’ve always dreamed of hitting,” Bullock said thinking back to that November game. “I don’t think words can describe that shot because that can be a once-in-a-lifetime situation that you’ll have. I just thank the Lord for that shot. He blessed me, he gave me the strength and will, and also my team for believing in me as well. ”

That particular play is indicative of Bullock’s role on the team this year — the person everyone can count on to make things happen when the team needs it the most.

Former ASU head coach Chris Cameron described Bullock as the glue that held everything together last year. He said the then junior was willing to give up his own agenda for the good of the team.

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Southern’s facilities upgrades are moving slowly

A.W. MUMFORD STADIUM
COURTESY: SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND A&M COLLEGE ATHLETICS 

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- The Southern football team’s first practice of preseason camp was moved to the Seymour gymnasium because of thunderstorms.

It was a signal of the nomadic nature that awaited the Jaguars throughout the season.

Coach Dawson Odums tried to work inside of A.W. Mumford Stadium to avoid the uneven surface on the adjacent practice field, but there’s only so much wear and tear that’s tolerable on a surface that not only is the site of Southern’s home football games, but also hosts its soccer games and Southern Lab’s football games.

So it was quickly back to the practice field.

When daylight saving time ended in early November, it became too dark for the Jaguars to hold their late-afternoon practices on the practice field, which doesn’t have lights. So Southern packed up and traveled a few miles to Doug Williams Stadium at the Louisiana Leadership Academy. The lights and field turf there provided a very good practice facility, but traveling to and from campus for a few weeks was a burden.

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Navy Let Lead Slip Away in Loss at Maryland Eastern Shore

PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland -- Maryland Eastern Shore (5-7) erased a 13-point deficit and outscored Navy 19-2 over the final 8:50 for a 53-46 win over Navy (3-8) on Saturday at the Hytche Athletic Center.

Navy held a 44-34 lead with 8:54 left in the second half, and had previously led 40-27 with 11:33 remaining, but the Hawks ramped up the defensive pressure and limiting Navy to just two free throws in the final 8:50 of the contest in the come-from-behind win.

"We did everything we could do to put ourselves in a bad situation in this game," said head coach Ed DeChellis. "We got ourselves a nice lead, but then we had some crucial turnovers, we made silly plays and we couldn't make any shots. They got into us defensively and we didn't handle the pressure well."

Senior guard Brandon Venturini led Navy with 13 points and five assists.

Maryland Eastern Shore was paced by 17 points from Devin Martin and 15 points from Michael Myers.

The first half saw 11 lead changes and Navy made a run when Venturini's second 3-pointer of the first half put Navy ahead, 16-15. Maryland Eastern Shore answered right back with a 3-pointer from Devin Martin but the Mids were then able to close the half on an 11-4 run.

The spurt began when Venturini buried another 3-pointer and then converted a fast-break layup. Sophomore Edward Alade made a layup and then junior guard Tilman Dunbar found sophomore James Hemphill for a layup. Freshman Shawn Anderson grabbed an offensive board and went back up to put Navy ahead by five at the break at 27-22.

Freshman Daniel Noe knocked down a 3-pointer and Alade scored inside as Navy went up 10 to open the second half at 32-22. Junior Will Kelly had a block on the defensive end and then ran the court and was rewarded with a fastbreak layup as Navy pushed its lead to 11 at 36-25. Dunbar scored on a fast-break layup off a dish from Venturini and then Navy caught UMES sleeping when Venturini broke free off a halfcourt inbounds pass to put the Mids up 13 at 40-27.

Navy eventually extended its lead to 44-34 after a Dunbar layup, but the Hawks went on a 12-0 run over the next four minutes to retake the lead at 46-44. Anderson would eventually break Navy's drought with two free throws, but UMES would get a second-chance layup by Dominique Elliot and a pull-up jumper from Travis Trim, along with three free throws to hold on for the 53-46 final.

Navy was 0-5 from the floor with five turnovers over the final 8:50 of the contest.

Maryland Eastern Shore shot 51 percent from the floor while Navy shot 38 percent. The Hawks were 7-of-15 on 3-pointers, while Navy was just 4-of-19. Navy outrebounded Maryland Eastern Shore, 28-23.

"This was a game we could have won," said DeChellis. "We had a big lead, but we let it slip away."

Navy will have nine days off before returning to action at home on Monday, December 22 against Towson for its final non-conference game of the season.

Box Score

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Ram Ramblings: Boulware makes bold move within his coaching staff

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- I’ll admit that I didn’t think I would be writing about football in mid-December since the Rams’ season ended Nov. 15 in the loss to Virginia State in the CIAA championship game.

It was a bit of a shock when I found out Coach Kienus Boulware had decided to part ways with one of his co-defensive coordinators, Daren Hart. There were plenty of rumblings after the championship game loss that Boulware and Hart had some disagreements, but I’ve been around long enough to know that coaches don’t always get along.

I remember being at a couple of practices in recent years when Boulware and Connell Maynor, who was the head coach and offensive coordinator, would get into some verbal bashing during scrimmages. But at the end of those heated practices they would usually make peace.

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NSU | Gaston's early showing impresses teammates

NORFOLK, Virginia -- It's early, but Norfolk State's players are talking about who should win a postseason award.

Not surprisingly, he's one of their own.

Junior forward RaShid Gaston enters today's 2 p.m. game at Mount St. Mary's looking to extend a streak of five straight double-doubles, the latest of which propelled the Spartans (6-4, 2-0 MEAC) to an 88-69 league Monday win over Coppin State.

The 6-foot-9, 240-pound Gaston is second in the MEAC with 15.5 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, and his 65-percent field-goal shooting leads the league.

Gaston, combined with junior shooting guard Jeff Short, whose 17.3 points per game top the league, provide NSU with a unique 1-2 punch.

"If the season was to end right now," Short said, "I think he's the (MEAC) Player of the Year."

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Late 3-point play gives XU Rush a 52-51 victory at Mobile

MOBILE, Alabama -- Sophomore Wesley Pluviose-Philip's 3-point play with 19 seconds remaining Saturday lifted NAIA No. 22 Xavier University of Louisiana to a 52-51 men's basketball victory against Mobile.

The Gold Rush (9-4) snapped a two-game losing streak and completed a two-game season sweep of the Rams (4-5).

Pluviose-Philip was fouled by Piers Carroll as he scored on a pass from Morris Wright. Pluviose-Philip then made the decisive free throw. Mobile missed a 2-pointer and committed a turnover in its two ensuing possessions.

Xavier, winning on the road for the third time in four games this season, outscored Mobile 6-1 in the final two minutes after Dominique Suggs' 3-pointer gave Mobile a 50-46 lead.

Sydney Coleman scored 14 points and Pluviose-Philip 10 for the Gold Rush. Pluviose-Philip reached double figures for the second time this season and the third time at Xavier. Jarvis Thibodeaux's eight rebounds and Wright's five assists were game highs.

Suggs scored 12 points, all in the second half, and Kenny Davison had 11 for the Rams, who have lost five of their last six games. Daouda Soumaoro, seeking his fourth consecutive double-double, had two points and six rebounds in 16 minutes.

Coleman did not start for the first time in nine games, but he scored 11 points to lead Xavier to a 28-20 halftime advantage. Then Mobile rallied by making six second-half 3-pointers, three by Suggs.

Mobile outshot Xavier 35.6 to 31.1 percent from the floor and outrebounded the Gold Rush 40-30. Xavier made 19-of-31 free throws, and Mobile made 12-of-24. The Gold Rush committed 15 turnovers but gained a season-best 22, 15 in the first half.

Xavier will play Faulkner at 7 p.m. Monday at XU's Convocation Center in the second game of a doubleheader. The women of Xavier and Faulkner will meet at 5 p.m.

NOTES: Xavier has won 11 straight against Mobile and 14 of the last 15 . . . It was the first time since Nov. 27, 2010, that the Gold Rush won with 24 or fewer second-half points . . . Xavier has won 21 of its last 30 games on opponents' courts dating to February 2012.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

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Morand Named SAU Permanent Head Football Coach

RALEIGH, North Carolina -- The Saint Augustine's University Department of Athletics has elevated Interim Head Football Coach Michael Morand to Permanent Head Football Coach on Friday, December 12, 2014. Morand is the second football coach at the University since the football program restarted in 2002.
 
"We are very pleased to have Coach Michael Morand as the new football coach at Saint Augustine's University," SAU Athletic Director George Williams said. "He will bring a lot of stability to the program and University and continue to guide and lead our student-athletes in a very positive manner academically and athletically."
 
Morand took over the Falcons football team after the first game of the 2014 season. The Falcons finished third in the CIAA Southern Division after they were picked fifth in the preseason.  Their conference record tied for the sixth-best among 12 CIAA teams after they were predicted to be the ninth-best CIAA team in July 2014.
 
The Falcons produced three All-CIAA players under Morand's direction. Tailback Roderick Davenport was selected to the All-CIAA First Team while wide receiver/return specialist Claytin Lewis and offensive lineman Martize Smith were placed on the All-CIAA Second Team. In addition to the All-CIAA picks, seven Falcons were named to the All-CIAA Rookie Team including Lewis, who was selected CIAA Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Morand also earned two coaching accolades during the season. He was named CIAA Coach of the Week and USA College Football Division II National Coach of the Week.
 
"First of all, I would like to thank God for blessing me with this opportunity," Morand said. "I want to thank [Interim] President [Everett B.] Ward and Coach Williams for making my dream come true in naming me head football coach at this great university. I look forward to the football program building relationships with the administration, faculty, staff, students, alumni and community.

"The goals that I set forth are to have a 100 percent graduation rate, mold young men and build a championship environment."
 
Morand was selected for the NCAA Expert Coaches Forum in Orlando, Fla., in 2009. The Forum teaches upcoming coaches how to become effective Head Football Coaches. Morand also participated in an internship in 2009 with the NFL's Houston Texans, where he worked closely with then Offensive Coordinator Kyle Shanahan. The Texans ranked fourth in total offense and first in passing offense in the NFL that season.
 
In 2008, Morand was selected to attend the NCAA Coaches Academy in Indianapolis, Ind. The Academy was developed to train minorities for head coaching positions. He is also a member of the American Football Coaches Association, where he served on the AFCA committee for Professional Development.
 
Before coming to Saint Augustine's University, Morand worked in the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles training camp as a scouting assistant during the summer of 2014. In 2013, he was the Defensive Back Coach for the Omaha Beef of the Championship Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL), where he helped guide the team to the playoffs.
 
An Atlanta, Ga. native, Morand was the Defensive Quality Control Coach/Linebacker Coach in 2012 and the Offensive Quality Control/ Assistant Wide Receiver Coach in 2011 with the Omaha Nighthawks in the United Football League. He was the Co-Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks and Wide Receivers Coach at North Carolina A&T State University during the 2009-2010 season. He also served as the Director of Football Operations at A&T.

During his time at North Carolina A&T, Morand guided one of the top rushing attacks in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). Before arriving at A&T, Morand served as the Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks and Wide Receivers Coach at Virginia State University in 2007 and 2008.
 
Under his direction in the 2007 season, Virginia State ranked second in scoring offense, total offense, red zone offense, and passing efficiency; and first in fourth down conversions in the CIAA. In the 2008 season, Morand coached the top-ranked running back and top-ranked wide receiver in the CIAA. Both players were ranked in the top 10 of their respective categories in NCAA Division II. During his two years as Offensive Coordinator, Morand produced six All-CIAA players, one third-team Don Hansen All-American and one CIAA Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Prior to his stint at Virginia State, Morand served as Running Backs Coach at Wingate University from 2004-2006. During his tenure at Wingate, Morand helped guide the team to a 21-11 record and several national Top 25 rankings.
 
In 2003, Morand helped start the Barber-Scotia College football program. He was the Assistant Head Football Coach, Offensive Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator for the team. In 2002, Morand was the Quarterbacks and Wide Receivers Coach at Livingstone College in addition to serving as Recruiting Coordinator and Strength and Conditioning Coach. He coached two players to All-CIAA honors that season.

In 2001, Morand was at the University of West Georgia where he coached running back Nick Price, a Harlon Hill candidate. Morand also gained valuable experience coaching the complex West Coast Offense that season as the team compiled an 8-3 overall record.
 
Morand has coached four players who either played or are currently playing in the NFL and Canadian Football League (CFL). Offensive lineman Nathan Isles (North Carolina A&T) signed a free agent contract with the Seattle Seahawks and wide receiver Wallace Miles (North Carolina A&T) signed a free agent contract with Detroit Lions. Defensive lineman William Hayes (Barber-Scotia) signed a free agent contract with the Tennessee Titans and tight end Chris Conklin (Wingate) signed a free agent contract with Carolina Panthers.
 
During his collegiate playing days, Morand was the quarterback at Florida A&M University from 1996-1999. He was coached by the legendary Billy Joe, the fourth winningest NCAA Division I head football coach. With Morand at quarterback, Florida A&M won the MEAC Championship in 1996, the Co-MEAC Championship in 1998 and the Black College National Championship in 1998. The Rattlers participated in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs each year during Morand's career. 
 
In high school, Morand helped Southwest DeKalb High School win the Georgia State Championship and earn a No. 11 national ranking in the USA Today poll.
 
Morand received a Bachelor of Science Degree at Florida A&M University and a Master of Science in Specialization Sports Management at Nova Southeastern University.

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