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DURHAM, North Carolina -- The Winston-Salem State University Rams football team is picked to win the CIAA Southern Division and to take home the 2015 CIAA Title, it was announced at the CIAA Football Media Day held at the Research Triangle Park Marriott in Durham on Thursday.
Winston-Salem State University finished the 2014 season with a 9-2 overall record, and for the first time in four seasons, missed out on the NCAA Division II playoffs.
Coach, Kienus Boulware, is now in his second season at the helm of the WSSU Rams, and after a solid recruiting season, looks to get the Rams back to the top tier of NCAA Division II football.
Three Rams were also selected to the preseason All-CIAA team, d
efensive lineman Michael Bloomfield , offensive lineman Jac'que Polite and punter/kicker William Johnson.
Hampton, Virginia -- The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) in conjunction with its Football Coaches Association has announced the 2015 Predicted Order of Finish and the preseason all-conference team. The announcement was made during the annual football media day held in Durham, North Carolina.
Winston-Salem State University has been selected the front runner for the upcoming season. The Rams finished 9-2 overall last season with a 7-0 conference record. The defending CIAA Champions Virginia State University, under first-year head coach Byron Thweatt, was selected to finish second. The Trojans advanced to the second round of the NCAA DII playoffs with a 10-3 overall record.
In addition to the predicted order, the Preseason All-CIAA was also announced during the event. 2014 CIAA Offensive Player of the Year Jalen Hendricks (Livingstone) will highlight the preseason team. Twelve of the honorees named were members of the 2014 All-CIAA Team.
The predicted order and preseason team was announced as follows:
1st - Winston-Salem State University
2nd - Virginia State University
3rd - Virginia Union University
4th - Fayetteville State University
5th - Bowie State University
6th - Elizabeth City State University
7th - Livingstone College
8th - Shaw University
9th - Chowan University
10th - Johnson C. Smith University
11th - Saint Augustine's University
12th - The Lincoln University
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The 2015 Pan American Games Women’s Volleyball competition is down the final rounds of play, and two of the talented performers in the pre-Olympic competition have ties to the FAMU Women’s Volleyball program – middle Ginna Lopez and libero Susan Egoavil for the Peruvian National team.
Thursday, both players played a key role in Peru’s 3-2 win over Canada in the seventh place game in the Games.
Lopez, a 6-3 junior honor student in FAMU’s School of Business and Industry, is a two-time All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference selection, and a preseason 2015 All-MEAC pick, scored 11 points, with five (5) kills and six (6) blocks in Thursday’s victory, including a critical kill in the fifth set that put Peru ahead, 14-13.
SUSAN EGOAVIL Peruvian National Team FAMU Women's Volleyball Alumna SUSAN'S TWITTER PAGE
Egoavil, a 2008 FAMU graduate, who recently completed her MBA, had 19 digs in Thursday’s finale, and has ranked among the top liberos in the Pan Am Games.
FAMU head coach Tony Trifonov was elated over the performances of the two players. “We are so proud to have those kids representing their countries on the world stage, and representing FAMU at the same time.
Washington, D.C. -- The MLB All Star Game is always going to be more about pageantry than the actual baseball game. For one three (or four, in this year's case) day stretch, the entire baseball world comes together in one city. While part of the reason that they do that is to showcase some of the most talented players in today's game, it's also an opportunity for baseball to celebrate its rich history. This season, MLB decided that their celebration of history was going to focus on each franchise's four most iconic players.... a Mount Rushmore of sorts.
At the All Star Game, the four players chosen to represent the Washington franchise were announced. Gary Carter, Andre Dawson, Vladimir Guerrero, and Tim Raines were honored. All four were Montreal Expos. While I would have liked to see Zimmerman on there to represent the current incarnation of the franchise, it's difficult to argue with any of the choices.
The Hawk was the Expos second Hall of Famer, despite his stated preference to go into the Hall donning a Chicago Cubs cap. Dawson was an eight time All Star. He also won eight Gold Gloves, four Silver Slugger Awards, and the 1987 MVP as a member of the Chicago Cubs. Despite winning the MVP when he was with the Cubs, Dawson's four best seasons (by far) in terms of fWAR came when he was still a member of the Expos (1980-83). He spent his first ten full seasons in Montreal, bashing 225 HR and stealing 252 bases in that time. As a Montreal Expo, Andre Dawson averaged a 20/20 season for a decade.
*While Dawson is a product of Southwest Miami High School and Florida A&M University, Tim Raines built a potential hall of fame skill-set 250 miles north in Sanford, Florida. Raines went straight from Seminole High School (drafted in the 5th Round of the 1977 MLB amateur draft) to the Montreal Expos. He made his major league debut in September 1979. Known as the "Rock," Raines was a 3-sports super-star in high school track, football and baseball. In football, the Rock averaged 10.5 yards per carry as a running back for the Sanford Seminoles.
*Tim also has a son (Timothy Raines, Jr.) that graduated from the same high school and played in the major leagues 2001-2004 for Baltimore, Washington, Arizona and Kansas City. Sanford Seminole High School has produced four MLB players with the 5'-8/160 Rock at the top of the heap. The connection to this story is the Rock, the Hawk and I share the same alma maters, and that I had the good fortune to see each play baseball long before MLB became a reality for them. In fact, the Hawk became a legend for knocking home runs across traffic on Wahnish Way on the FAMU campus. What a headache he created for all SIAC pitchers.
The Rock has a couple of shots left at the Hall of Fame, but he's not there yet. Raines was a seven time All Star, a one time Silver Slugger, the 1986 NL Batting Champ, and led the NL in Stolen Bases four times. With his ability to hit for average, his patience at the plate, and his speed, there's actually not a bad argument that Tim Raines was the second best leadoff man of all-time. Unfortunately, he played in the same era as the greatest leadoff man ever. Solely as an Expo, Raines ranks second to Gary Carter in all-time WAR by both Baseball Reference (48.9) and Fangraphs (49.3). His career WAR total (69.1 rWAR, 66.4 fWAR) by both sites ranks well ahead of former teammate and Hall of Famer Andre Dawson as well. Raines played his first ten full seasons with the Expos organization.
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- During last week’s 2015 Major League Baseball All-Star game in Cincinnati, former Southern University legend Lou Brock was announced as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals’ ‘Franchise Four.’
According to MLB.com, Franchise Four winners were selected from a list of eight nominees from each franchise as chosen by official MLB historian John Thorn plus representatives from the Elias Sports Bureau, MLB.com, MLB Network and the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
Brock joined fellow Cardinals Bob Gipson, Rogers Hornsby and Stan Musial during the pregame festivities as the Franchise Four from all 30 franchises. Three other foursome – Greatest Living Players, Greatest Negro League Players and Greatest Pioneers – were also honored.
Lou Brock delivers his speech after being inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985.
Brock attended high school in Mer Rouge and enjoyed a stellar three-year career as member of the Jaguar baseball program. As a junior, Brock helped lead a star-studded team to a NAIA National Championship in 1959.
Lou Brock signed with the Chicago Cubs as an amateur free agent in 1960 before making his big league debut on September 10, 1961. The Cubs traded Brock on June 15, 1964, to the Cardinals where the Arkansas native would help the St. Louis to three World Series appearances in the 60s.
Brock played 19 seasons in the majors before retiring with 3023 career hits, 149 home runs, 900 runs batted in, and 938 stolen bases. At the time of his retirement, Brock, a six time all-star, held the career record in stolen bases.
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COURTESY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
ORLANDO, Florida -- Lawyers for the family of Robert Champion want $8 million from Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University to settle the wrongful-death lawsuit in the fatal hazing of the former drum major..
University officials and FAMU's board of trustees were not immediately available to comment on the proposed settlement, obtained by the Orlando Sentinel through a public-records request Wednesday, But any payment greater than $300,000 would have to be approved by the Florida Legislature.
The university, Florida's only publicly funded, historically black college, has 30 days to accept or reject the offer.
Champion, 26, was beaten to death Nov. 19, 2011, by fellow members of the Marching 100 during a hazing ritual on a bus parked at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando after the pre-eminent ensemble performed at the Citrus Bowl as part of the Florida Classic weekend with Bethune-Cookman University.
The settlement offer, if accepted, would cover all damage claims arising from the drum major's death.
CONTINUE READING Note: The Chestnut Firm, also represented the family of former FAMU student-athlete Jonathan Ferrell (age 24) who was gunned down by 10 of 12 shots from Charlotte-Mecklenburg County (N.C.) police officer Randall Kerrick. The civil settlement of $2.25 million was the city's largest payout in 10 years. Kerrick's criminal trial is currently underway.
HAMMOND, Louisiana – Rick Fremin has been named the head softball coach at Southeastern Louisiana University, SLU Director of Athletics Jay Artigues announced on Wednesday.
Fremin's hire is subject to approval by the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors. The Belle Chasse, Louisiana native will be the seventh head coach in program history.
Fremin comes to Hammond after spending the previous five seasons at Jackson State. Artigues believes Fremin can lead the Lady Lions to success.
"My goal for all of our student-athletes is that when they walk across the stage to receive their diplomas that they do so with a Southland Conference championship ring on their fingers," Artigues said. "In the past couple of years, football, baseball, soccer and track have all won conference championships and we feel that Rick has the right experience, energy and work ethic to help our softball program reach that next level. We're very excited to have Rick join the Lion Nation."
Fremin is eager to get started with his new team.
"I'm excited about coming home," Fremin said. "Southeastern Louisiana is a dream job for me and my goal is to build our program into a regional and national power. It will be a lot of hard work and it won't happen overnight, but we're extremely excited about the challenge. My family and I are very thankful for the opportunity. We are excited to become a part of the Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond and Louisiana community."
Fremin has led JSU to the last three Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) East Division championships – the first three in school history. During his five years in Jackson, Fremin has led the Tigers to 137 victories, including a 67-16 record in league contests. In his first season at Jackson State, he led his team to the first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.
He was named the 2014 SWAC Coach of the Year and helped JSU set 70 school records during his five years at JSU. Fremin's squad led the nation with 163 stolen bases in 2012. During his tenure, Fremin's teams won games over Ole Miss, Arkansas, Houston and Texas Tech among others. Fremin was also a member of the NCAA Central Regional Advisory Committee from 2012-14.
Prior to his time at Jackson State, Fremin spent five seasons at Belhaven University, accumulating a 186-95 record. His 2010 squad made the program's first NAIA National Tournament appearance and finished the season ranked sixth in the final national poll. During his time with the Blazers, he coached eight NAIA All-Americans.
Fremin was an assistant coach at Millsaps in 2005, helping the Majors to a SCAC West Division championship. Fremin's teams have also consistently excelled in the classroom, being recognized by the NFCA with Academic All-American team honors on eight different occasions.
Fremin started his coaching career at his alma mater Belle Chasse High School, where he was named District 11-3A Coach of the Year twice after leading BCHS to district titles in each of his two seasons at the helm. The 1995 Belle Chasse graduate was a four-year letterman in football, baseball, and golf at BCHS.
A 2007 inductee in the Belhaven Sports Hall of Fame, Fremin was a three-year team captain and quarterback for the Blazers. Fremin earned his bachelor's degree in sport administration from Belhaven in 1999 and earned his master's in sports science from Jackson State in 2013.
Fremin and his wife, Alana, are the parents of two daughters, Brelan and Cambre.
Fremin replaces Pete Langlois, who vacated the position last month after accepting the role of Assistant to the Athletic Director for Facilities and Operations.
Fremin will host three "Meet and Greet" sessions in the area early next month with area high school coaches, travel ball coaches and alumni all invited. Fremin will be in the Northshore area on Aug. 3, Baton Rouge on Aug. 4 and New Orleans on Aug. 5. The "meet and greets" will be held from 7-8 p.m. with locations to be announced.
COURTESY SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
JACKSON, Mississippi -- Today brings another installment of The Clarion-Ledger's game-by-game breakdown of Jackson State's 2015 schedule.
Earlier this week we looked at JSU's opening game against Middle Tennessee State and the Southern Heritage Classic against Tennessee State.
This post examines the Tigers' SWAC opener against Southern.
This game, which will be played in Baton Rouge and broadcast live on ESPN 3, will be the last of three consecutive games away from home to begin the season for Jackson State.
It'll provide the chance for JSU to make a statement, too. Southern, which beat the Tigers last season and in the 2013 SWAC title game, has appeared in the conference title game two years in a row and will have another solid team this year.
LORMAN, Mississippi — In the bowels of the university’s Whitney Athletics Complex, the defense of Alcorn State’s Southwestern Athletic Conference football championship has already begun.
Players thundered through the empty ground floor corridors like runaway horses before disappearing into the weight room for an hourlong workout Wednesday afternoon. Afterward, they shifted to the practice fields — far away from the eyes of coaches who aren’t allowed to supervise — to throw the ball around and run plays as mid-afternoon temperatures approached 100 degrees. It’s still two weeks away from the official start of practice and about six from the season opener at Georgia Tech.
Success, though, does not come to those willing to rest on their laurels, and the Braves are not about to give up their crown without a fight. “We’re definitely trying to bring everything back,” said senior tight end Jordan Payne, who earlier this month was named to the STATS FCS All-America team.
“Pick up where we left off and keep everything going, not be too complacent. Keep pushing, keep striving, and realize that we are the ones that everybody’s gunning for. We’re going to get everybody’s A-game, so we’ve got to make sure we bring ours.”
NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- The Tennessee State football team was picked to finish fifth at the Ohio Valley Conference Media Day, Monday.
The Tigers received 66 total points, behind Jacksonville State (128), Eastern Illinois (107), Eastern Kentucky (106) and UT Martin (78). TSU is picked to finish ahead of Southeast Missouri (63), Tennessee Tech (45), Murray State (38) and Austin Peay (17).
Tennessee State completed its third consecutive non-losing campaign under Rod Reed. Now in his sixth season as head coach, Reed returns 58 players from last year's team including five offensive and three defensive starters. The Tigers will need to replace six members of a defense that ranked 11th nationally in total defense (306.5 yards/game).
Senior defensive end Gabe Terry was the lone Tiger to be named to the preseason All-OVC team. Terry registered 11.5 sacks and forced two fumbles as a junior. The Palm Beach, Fla. native earned Second Team All-OVC honors for his efforts.
Offensively, junior Ronald Butler and red-shirt freshman O’Shay Ackerman-Carter will look to handle the offense behind center. Butler was named Second Team All-OVC as a freshman and looks to repeat his success, while Ackerman-Carter hopes to see time after an impressive spring season.
The Tigers will report for fall camp on Aug. 7 in preparation of the John Merritt Classic on Sept. 6.
2015 OVC Preseason Football Predicted Order of Finish
1.Jacksonville State (16 first-place votes) – 128
2.Eastern Illinois – 107
3.Eastern Kentucky (2) – 106
4.UT Martin – 78 5.Tennessee State – 66
6.Southeast Missouri – 63
7.Tennessee Tech – 45
8.Murray State – 38
9.Austin Peay – 17
Note: 8 points awarded for a first-place vote, 7 for second, etc. - Coaches and SID’s could not vote for their own teams
2015 Preseason All-OVC Team
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Dy’Shawn Mobley (RB), Eastern Kentucky
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Devaunte Sigler (DL), Jacksonville State
OFFENSE
QB - Eli Jenkins, Jacksonville State
RB - Dy’Shawn Mobley, Eastern Kentucky
RB - DeMichael Jackson, Southeast Missouri
WR - Paul McRoberts, Southeast Missouri
WR - Josh Barge, Jacksonville State
WR - Janawski Davis, Murray State
TE - Bo Brummel, Jacksonville State
C - Casey Dunn, Jacksonville State
OG - Adam Wright, Jacksonville State
OG - Trey Shelton, Eastern Kentucky
OT - Brett Eyckmans, Eastern Kentucky
OT - Justin Lea, Jacksonville State
OT - Evan Kanz, Eastern Illinois
DEFENSE
DL - Devaunte Sigler, Jacksonville State
DL - LaMichael Fanning, Jacksonville State
DL - Dino Fanti, Eastern Illinois
DL - Chris Landrum, Jacksonville State DL - Gabe Terry, Tennessee State
LB - Kamu Grugier-Hill, Eastern Illinois
LB - Jonathan Jackson, Murray State
LB - Roper Garrett, Southeast Missouri
LB - Tra’Darius Goff, Tennessee Tech
DB - Jourdan Wickliffe, Eastern Illinois
DB - Jermaine Hough, Jacksonville State
DB - Stanley Absanon, Eastern Kentucky
DB - DeBarriaus Miller, Jacksonville State
SPECIALISTS
K - Ryan McCrum, Southeast Missouri
P - Hamish MacInnes, Jacksonville State
RS - Pokey Harris, Murray State
COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
DURHAM, North Carolina -- Though Nimrod Hilliard’s to-do list is short, checking each item off the list before August 14 is incredibly important — life-changing, even.
First, finish and pass three classes to earn his psychology degree. Then, continue to work out to increase his strength.
And finally, perhaps the most urgent matter on his list: get his passport — because in less than a month, the former N.C. Central point guard will board a plane and cross the Atlantic to join his new professional squad, Horsens IC, in Denmark.
“I had a lot of offers from overseas and that was the place I felt most comfortable with,” said Hilliard, who was a first team All-MEAC selection and averaged 12 points and 6.3 rebounds per game in his lone season with NCCU. “I talked to my parents and my coach and my agent, and it was the one that was the best place to start overseas.”
Alabama State junior linebacker Kourtney Berry seems to be everywhere on the football field.
"He makes it tough on me," said Alcorn State senior quarterback John Gibbs Jr., the 2014 SWAC co-offensive player of the year. "He makes it tough on me. I was talking to him and I said, 'You're on every tackle.' I'm trying to figure out how did he get over there when he was just over here seconds ago. He's a tough ball player."
Berry arrived in Montgomery as a walk-on from Merrillville, Indiana who didn't receive a football scholarship offer from any NCAA school. Two years and 233 tackles later, Berry is the premier defender in the SWAC.
"I had to make a statement that you guys missed out on me," Berry said. "I've been playing these last two years with a chip on my shoulder. I could have played, but no one actually took a chance on me except for Alabama State. I can't thank the coaching staff from beforehand enough. They gave me an opportunity to get out on the field and be able to play on a collegiate level."
NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Former Tennessee State University sports information director and longtime HBCU administrator Wallace Dooley, Jr. passed away on Tuesday.
Dooley served as the associate athletic director for media relations at Tennessee State from 2006-2012.
"We are so saddened by the passing of our friend and colleague Wallace Dooley," said TSU athletics director Teresa Phillips. "He and his family have been a prominent part of TSU athletics for decades. He was a treasure chest of information and history for our programs. The TSU family sends our prayers and love to his wife Bridgette and his children."
In a 28-year span, Dooley held positions in sports information/media relations at several schools and two conference offices. He completed a full circle when he returned to his alma mater, Tennessee State University to finish his career.
In 2012, he was honored with the CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) Lifetime Achievement. After retiring from TSU, Dooley maintained connection to the field working as the media contact (radio/internet) in support of HBCU student-athletes and programs through BoxtoRow and HSRN Radio.
His interest in sports information began as an undergraduate student at TSU. He assisted the intramural director with compiling statistics for football and basketball games. In 1978, and after working as a part-time sportswriter at The Tennessean and as an assistant in the sports information office at then-Memphis State, he was named the first full-time sports information director at Alabama A&M.
Dooley won 11 CoSIDA publications awards during his career in addition to earning the CoSIDA 25-Year Award. He counted the Lifetime Achievement Award and its recognition as one of his most cherished of his career.
His many years in the profession included tenures as SID at the University of District of Columbia (1981-1984), Virginia State (1984-88) and North Carolina Central (1988-92). He served the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (1992-96) as public relations director and the Southwestern Athletic Conference (2001-2006) as assistant commissioner for media relations before returning to Nashville.
Dooley also supported athletics off campus. In 1996, he worked with the Atlanta Olympics as a venue press chief. He also worked in the sports information office for the Nashville Kats of the Arena Football and assisted with game day operations for the Tennessee Titans.
Along the way, he had an opportunity to promote some great teams and athletes, picking up honors and accolades for his work in the process.
While volunteering at Tennessee State in 1970, the Tiger football team finished 11-0 and the men’s basketball squad went 24-3. From 1970 through 1975, TSU’s football team was 55-8 with two undefeated seasons and the basketball teams were 111-32 while making four appearances in the NCAA tournament. During Dooley's second tenure at TSU, the basketball team won back-to-back Ohio Valley Conference football titles in 1997-98, including an undefeated regular season, and during his final years, TSU women’s track team won three league titles.
In 1982, Dooley joined several other SIDs from HBCUs (historically black colleges and universities) to partner with the National Association for Women’s Sports (NAWS) in recognizing female student-athletes as All-Americans.
In 1984 at the CoSIDA workshop in St. Louis, he teamed with 11 other SIDs to form the Black College Sports Information Directors Association (BCSIDA).
Dooley worked with and trained a number of former assistants who earned their niche in the profession, including Monique Morgan Smith (former Associate Commissioner, CIAA), Tonya Walker (Athletic Director, Winston-Salem State), Greg Goings (Bowie State SID and President of CoSIDA's Division II-SIDA group), William Bright (HBCU administrator), Zena Lewis (Washington Redskins PR) and Zekeya Harrison (assistant athletic director media relations, Tennessee State).
COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
COACH TORY WOODBURY OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- Johnson C. Smith University head football coach Kermit Blount has hired Tory Woodbury as offensive coordinator.
Woodbury, a Winston-Salem, N.C. native and former quarterback for Winston-Salem State, comes to JCSU after spending the previous four seasons on Blount's staff at Delaware State.
While with the Hornets, Woodbury coached the running backs and under his leadership, more than doubled their rushing yardage in 2012, finishing with 1,088 yards. In 2014, he coached three players that averaged 100 yards rushing.
As a player for the Rams, he passed for 1,823 yards during his junior season, leading WSSU to the CIAA Championship. For his efforts, he was selected as the Black College Player of the Year, All-CIAA First Team, and was named as the MVP of the Pioneer Bowl. During that season, he also finished just four completions short of the NCAA Division II record. He did not throw an interception during that season.
During his senior campaign for the Rams, he was named to the All-CIAA Second team after helping WSSU to its second consecutive CIAA title with a 10-3 overall record. He was also named MVP of the Pioneer Bowl for the second straight season.
Following his collegiate career he was elected in the seventh round of the 2001 NFL draft by the New York Jets. In three seasons with the Jets, he was a back-up to QBs Chad Pennington and Vinny Testaverde and a standout special teams performer. He also competed as a wide receiver for the Jets.
Additionally, Woodbury's professional football career includes stints with the NFL's New Orleans Saints and Buffalo Bills, the Ottawa Renegades of the Canadian Football League, the Cologne Centurions (NFL Europe) and the Arena Football League's New Orleans Voodoo.
In addition to his collegiate coaching career, he has served on the coaching staffs at Providence High School and Garinger High School.
COURTESY JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
RALEIGH, North Carolina -- Rachel Bullard will step down after five seasons as head women's basketball coach at Saint Augustine's University (SAU) to spend more time with her family, the SAU athletic department announced Tuesday, July 21, 2015. A national search for a new head coach will begin immediately.
"We appreciate the service she has given us the past five seasons," SAU Athletic Director George Williams said. "We wish her the best in her future endeavors."
The Lady Falcons performed well on the court and in the classroom under Bullard, earning five consecutive CIAA conference highest team grade point average awards. They also posted a winning overall record during Bullard's tenure including a 19-11 mark her first season.
Bullard coached three All-CIAA scholar-athletes, two conference players of the year and one CIAA Woman of the Year. She also coached five All-CIAA Rookie scholar-athletes including two who were selected league rookies of the year. In 2013, four Lady Falcons made the five-player All-CIAA Rookie Team
Bullard will continue her head coaching duties through August 17.
COURTESY SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
NORFOLK, Virginia -- Two tournaments, several trips to high-major opponents and of course a showdown with crosstown rival Old Dominion highlight the non-conference schedule for the Norfolk State men's basketball team this upcoming season. In addition, NSU will face its normal allotment of 16 MEAC games, including eight at home, as the program revealed its entire 2015-16 schedule on Tuesday.
The Spartans will play 11 home games altogether this year and are guaranteed to face at least 11 opponents who played in the postseason last year.
"Last year we had one of the most difficult non-conference schedules in the country, and this year's schedule looks to be as tough or even tougher than last year," said head coach Robert Jones. "This schedule will test our team early and often, and we are excited about the challenge for this year's young group."
One of the highpoints of the non-conference schedule is the renewal of the crosstown series with Old Dominion. The two teams have not played since the 2000-01 season. NSU will compete at ODU's Ted Constant Center on Dec. 29 at 7 p.m.
"The highlight of the schedule for local Spartan fans will be the return of our crosstown rival game vs. ODU," said Jones. "We haven't played them in 15 years. We as a staff have been diligently trying for two seasons to get this done and now it is finally here. This year ODU should be extremely good, and it will be a great challenge for us."
As was previously announced, NSU will play in a pair of tournaments this year, the 2015 Paradise Jam and the Sun Bowl Invitational. The Spartans open up their part of the Paradise Jam against Indiana State on Nov. 20 at 4 p.m. EST. NSU will face either Ohio or Tulsa on Nov. 21 or 22 followed by one last game on Nov. 23 in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands against one of the foursome of Hofstra, DePaul, South Carolina or Florida State. NSU will make its third appearance in the tournament, the format of which is an eight-team bracket.
The Spartans also make their second appearance in the Sun Bowl Invitational hosted by UTEP. NSU will take on the host Miners on Dec. 21 in El Paso, Texas, followed by either UC Irvine or Sam Houston State the next day. All three of NSU's potential opponents in the Sun Bowl Invite competed in the postseason last year.
The 2015-16 season officially begins for NSU at South Carolina on Nov. 14, which will be followed by a contest against Washington Adventist on Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. in the first home game of the year for the Spartans. After competing in the Paradise Jam, NSU makes a return trip to Northern Arizona on Nov. 30 to complete a home-and-home deal.
On Dec. 2, the Spartans host Mercy College at 7 p.m. at Joseph Echols Hall before playing eight straight games on the road during the next month. That journey will begin on Dec. 7 with a MEAC game at Coppin State. The Spartans then play three games in five days in a trip that will start at Northern Kentucky on Dec. 13 and will include stops at Cincinnati (Dec. 15) and Evansville (Dec. 17).
After two contests in the Sun Bowl Invitational, NSU will play at ODU after the Christmas holiday and then at Alabama on Jan. 2. The non-conference season finishes up with a home game against Princeton on Jan. 5 at 7 p.m., the second of a home-and-home series with the Tigers.
Evansville defeated Northern Arizona for the CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT) championship last year, while Cincinnati (NCAA) and ODU and Alabama (NIT) also played in the postseason last season.
"Challenging ourselves against other quality opponents such as Cincinnati, Alabama, Evansville and in the prestigious Sun Bowl tournament will help us prepare for a well-balanced MEAC schedule this year," Jones continued. "We are also thrilled about continuing our home-and-home series with Northern Arizona and Princeton and starting a new one with Northern Kentucky."
NSU will host Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman on Jan. 9 and 11, respectively, to kick start the full conference schedule. The Spartans make a trip to North Carolina Central (Jan. 16) and North Carolina A&T (Jan. 18) the following weekend, the first time in four years NSU will play at N.C. A&T and the first game at NCCU in five seasons for the Spartans.
They will then return home to take on South Carolina State (Jan. 23) and Savannah State (Jan. 25) after playing at those two schools each of the last three years.
The month of January will come to a close with the Battle of the Bay at Hampton on Jan. 30. Two more road games at Howard on Feb. 6 and UMES on Feb. 8 will follow, and then the Spartans will welcome Morgan State to town on Feb. 13 and Coppin State on Feb. 20.
The Spartans travel to Delaware State for a road contest on Feb. 22 and then a rare Wednesday MEAC game on Feb. 24 at Morgan State.
The regular season comes to a close with home matchups against Howard (Feb. 29) and Hampton (March 3). All MEAC home games this year will start at their usual 6 p.m. time on Saturdays and at 8 p.m. on Mondays.
This season's MEAC schedule also mirrors last year's slate, just with the home and away designations switched. Hampton (NCAA), N.C. Central (NIT), UMES (CIT) and Delaware State (CBI) all competed in the postseason last year as well.
The 2016 MEAC tournament runs from March 7-12 at Scope Arena.
NSU brings back six letterwinners from last year's team that finished 20-14 overall and 12-4 in MEAC play. The Spartans welcome six scholarship newcomers to this year's squad, including two freshmen and four junior college transfers.
NORFOLK STATE SPARTANS 2015/16 MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
Date
Opponent
Location
Time/Result
11/14/2015
South Carolina
Columbia, S.C.
TBA
11/17/2015
Washington Adventist
Norfolk, Va.
7 p.m.
2015 Paradise Jam
11/20/2015
Indiana State
St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.
4 p.m.
11/21-22/2015
Ohio/Tulsa
St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.
2:30/6:30 p.m.
11/23/2015
TBD
St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.
TBD
11/30/2015
Northern Arizona
Flagstaff, Ariz.
TBA
12/2/2015
Mercy College
Norfolk, Va.
7 p.m.
12/7/2015
*
Coppin State
Baltimore, Md.
7:30 p.m.
12/13/2015
Northern Kentucky
Highland Heights, Ky.
TBA
12/15/2015
Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio
TBA
12/17/2015
Evansville
Evansville, Ind.
TBA
Sun Bowl Invitational
12/21/2015
UTEP
El Paso, Texas
9 p.m.
12/22/2015
UC Irvine/Sam Houston State
El Paso, Texas
7/9 p.m.
12/29/2015
Old Dominion
Norfolk, Va.
7 p.m.
1/2/2016
Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
TBA
1/5/2016
Princeton
Norfolk, Va.
7 p.m.
1/9/2016
*
Florida A&M
Norfolk, Va.
6 p.m.
1/11/2016
*
Bethune-Cookman
Norfolk, Va.
8 p.m.
1/16/2016
*
North Carolina Central
Durham, N.C.
4 p.m.
1/18/2016
*
North Carolina A&T
Greensboro, N.C.
7:30 p.m.
1/23/2016
*
South Carolina State
Norfolk, Va.
6 p.m.
1/25/2016
*
Savannah State
Norfolk, Va.
8 p.m.
1/30/2016
*
Hampton
Hampton, Va.
6 p.m.
2/6/2016
*
Howard
Washington, D.C.
4:30 p.m.
2/8/2016
*
UMES
Princess Anne, Md.
7:30 p.m.
2/13/2016
*
Morgan State
Norfolk, Va.
6 p.m.
2/20/2016
*
Coppin State
Norfolk, Va.
6 p.m.
2/22/2016
*
Delaware State
Dover, Del.
7:30 p.m.
2/24/2016
*
Morgan State
Baltimore, Md.
7 p.m.
2/29/2016
*
Howard
Norfolk, Va.
8 p.m.
3/3/2016
*
Hampton
Norfolk, Va.
8 p.m.
3/7-12/2016
MEAC Tournament
Norfolk, Va.
TBD
Mike Bello, Asst. SID COURTESY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Gus Malzahn keeps it simple.
That's what first-year Prairie View A&M head coach Willie Simmons loves about his uptempo, spread offense at Auburn.
"The way he uses formations, the way he plays fast and the way he keeps the game simple," Simmons said. "I think a lot of the spread guys' philosophy is the simpler, the better."
Like Malzahn did at Auburn in 2010, Simmons was an offensive coordinator for a conference championship team. Last season, Simmons was instrumental in Alcorn State winning the SWAC title.
The Braves led the league in scoring offense (44.0 ppg.), total offense (493.8 yards per game) and rushing offense (286 yards per game).
Birmingham, Alabama -- The Southwestern Athletic Conference released its 2015 SWAC Football Preseason Teams during Media Day on Friday morning.
Alabama State tallied five selections with linebacker Kourtney Berry carrying one of the two most prestigious recognitions after being named the SWAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.
There were 51 players named to this year's preseason teams as a result of receiving 2014 All-SWAC honors.
In the event that a player was named to the First Team during the postseason and did not return, the Second Team player at that position was elevated to First Team recognition.
Players were ranked in their position based upon the number of votes received.
Ballots were completed by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.
Berry led the conference in total tackles during his first two years by grabbing over 100 tackles, including a SWAC-high 128 tackles (67 solo) last season.
GREENSBORO, North Carolina – Ben Hall, who held the position of interim head coach this past season, has been selected as North Carolina A&T’s new head baseball coach, director of athletics Earl M. Hilton III announced Tuesday.
“Coach Hall played under (longtime college baseball coach) Jack Leggett like (former A&T baseball coach) Keith Shumate. I see a lot of similarities between coach Hall and coach Shumate in terms of their approaches and philosophies to the game,” said Hilton. “Coach Shumate was a very successful coach for A&T, and I think coach Hall can be as well. I had a chance to observe him throughout the season, and I was impressed with what I saw from him in terms of paying attention to detail, preparation and overall leadership. While our win-loss record was not what we hoped it would be, coach Hall effectively guided the program through a difficult transition period.”
Hall was announced as an assistant coach under then head coach Joel Sanchez on October 1, 2014. Three weeks later Hall was named interim head coach after Sanchez’s dismissal. In Hall’s first season as a head coach, the Aggies finished 10-36 overall and 7-17 in the MEAC. But in the Aggies last 12 games, they went 6-6 including a win over arch-rival N.C. Central in the regular-season finale that prevented the Eagles from qualifying for the MEAC tournament.
Hall discusses the importance of pitching
“I am truly blessed and thankful for the opportunity to lead the North Carolina A&T State University baseball program forward,” Hall said. “First I want to thank Chancellor Harold L. Martin, and athletics director Earl Hilton for this opportunity and the confidence they have displayed in me through this appointment. In addition, I definitely want to thank all of the A&T staff and faculty I have had the pleasure to work with this past year. A&T is an amazing place that displays all the characteristics of a destination for student-athletes to come and chase their dreams.”
Hall’s first season saw three players earn first-team All-MEAC honors including conference rookie of the year Adan Ordonez. Ordonez was also named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American under Hall.
“Our program’s first priority is to lead our student-athletes as they develop into men while striving for success on and off the field. Secondly, our daily work will honor the rich tradition of Aggie baseball, yet push for new heights,” said Hall. “I am excited about the new staff we have in place. Their talent, energy for the game and consistency in their work ethic will directly benefit this program going forward. We are excited for the future of Aggie baseball.”
Before he came to A&T, Hall spent three seasons as assistant with the Winthrop Eagles baseball program. During his time with the Eagles he assisted with infielders, hitters and all aspects of recruiting, which included 2014 first-team All-Big South outfielder TJ Olesczuk who was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles and 2013 all-conference third baseman Chad Smith.
Before accepting the post at Winthrop, Hall worked at Division II Wingate for four seasons. He started there as a graduate assistant before being promoted to an assistant coach in 2010, where he worked with hitters and infielders. In 2011, the Bulldogs finished in the top-10 in hits, doubles, home runs and slugging percentage nationally. The Bulldogs finished 34-22, won the South Atlantic Conference Tournament and earned a bid to the Southeast Regional. The Bulldogs won the SAC regular-season title in 2010.
As a player, Hall spent one season each at Stetson and Daytona Beach Community College before transferring to Clemson University where he played under Leggett. At Stetson he hit .321 and was named to the Atlantic Sun Conference All-Freshman team. His best season at Clemson came in 2005 when he hit .319 with five doubles and nine RBI.
Hall received his undergraduate degree in sports management from Clemson in 2007 and his master’s degree in business administration from Wingate in 2009.
COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
JACKSON, Mississippi -- Jackson State's game at Southern on Sept. 19 at Southern, will be broadcast on ESPN3/ESPNU, according to a SWAC press release.
The SWAC unveiled its television schedule in the aforementioned release on Tuesday morning. The game against the Jaguars is the Tigers' lone appearance on the schedule.
The contest will air live on ESPN3 at 6 p.m. and then on ESPNU within 24 hours.
Alcorn State and Mississippi Valley State each appear once on the TV schedule, which features 13 games as of now.
The Braves' game against Georgia Tech on Sept. 3 will also be on ESPN3. The Delta Devils will host Southern on Sept. 10 and the contest will air on ESPNU.
Alabama State and Southern lead the way with three broadcast appearances each.
MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Stillman College coach Teddy Keaton isn’t sure whether his team is ready to improve on last year’s injury-riddled season.
The 5-6 Tigers graduated 22 seniors and while Keaton was impressed with several aspects of spring practice, he’s not sure whether fans will see improvement from the Tigers this fall until he sees several of the unproven players in action.
“I can’t determine that until I see what we’ve got,” he said. “I know I was very optimistic when the spring ended. The guys who were role players last year, I think they stepped in and transitioned pretty good. So it’s how much they put into the offseason and when they come back to camp, we’ll see where they’re at. There’s more to it than just the physical part of it.”
Keaton was in Montgomery on Monday for the annual Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference media day, where it was unveiled that his Tigers were picked to finish third in the SIAC Western Division behind 2014 champion Tuskegee and Miles College.
NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana seeks to hire an athletic trainer after Joe Fawcett, a staff member since June 2014, left XU this past week to return to the University of Detroit Mercy.
UDM hired Fawcett as assistant director of sports medicine. He began his duties there Monday.
Fawcett was a graduate assistant trainer at UDM for two years and earned a master's degree from that school in 2014. He is a native of Zanesville, Ohio.
At Xavier, Fawcett was the primary sports medicine contact for men's basketball and men's and women's cross country and track and field. He assisted with the other teams as needed.
Jason Horn, Xavier's director of athletics and recreation, said the university will hire a new trainer as soon as possible. That person will join Xavier's other full-time trainer, Allie Wood.
The XU trainer positions are part of the partnership between Xavier Athletics and Ochsner Health System's sports medicine division.
DURHAM, North Carolina -- The Winston-Salem State University Rams football team is picked to win the CIAA Southern Division and to take home the 2015 CIAA Title, it was announced at the CIAA Football Media Day held at the Research Triangle Park Marriott in Durham on Thursday.
