B-CU's Sims pushing to avoid a letdown against Delaware State

DAYTONA BEACH — Quentin Williams put together a career-best game in Bethune-Cookman’s 59-49 win over Norfolk State last week.

The senior quarterback finished with 386 yards and four touchdowns, but his coach, Terry Sims, was focused on the bad during Wednesday’s press conference.

Williams threw a pair of interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown, and Sims said that can’t happen in Saturday’s 2 p.m. game at Delaware State.

Sims gave Williams a grade of “B or B-plus.”

But is that good enough for the Wildcats (6-2, 5-1 in the MEAC) to make a run at a conference title?

“It’s never good enough,” Sims said. “I always think there is room for improvement and opportunity for guys to get better.”

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With new roster and new attack, Spartans make slow progress

NORFOLK, Virginia -- Jeff Short drove right, then left, then right again before looking one way and passing another.

As a teammate converted an easy layup off his assist, Short let out a scream, one of many heard during Norfolk State's public intrasquad scrimmage Tuesday night.

"I'm a very emotional player," Short, a senior guard and the Spartans' top returning scorer, explained after putting up a game-high 24 points to lead the Green team to a 62-53 victory over the Gold. "That's what makes me go. "That's what made me the player I am today."

NSU, which opens the season Nov. 14 at South Carolina, will need that player and then some. Of the Spartans' 14 active players, nine are new to the program.

The newness was clear at times during the scrimmage, in which both teams struggled with rebounding and shot selection. Combined, they made 19 of 33 free throws.

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Southern offensive, defensive lines benefitting from head-to-head competition

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Southern won its game against Texas Southern last Saturday the old-fashioned way — by beating the Tigers in the trenches.

The offensive line paved the way for 305 rushing yards.

“When you look back at the box score and see 300 yards rushing — as an offensive line you get real happy knowing that it was on us,” center Terrell Lee said.

Meanwhile, the defensive line set up shop in the TSU backfield, getting eight sacks and yielding just 92 total yards, including minus-2 on the ground.



The rushing stats were largely a byproduct of the sacks, which produced 75 negative yards, but the 22 planned rushes netted a mere 73 yards. The Tigers made just six first downs and ran just 48 plays.

The run-heavy offensive approach was partly because of sloppy field conditions caused by game-long rain that became progressively heavier in the second half.

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Anthony Robinson Named Assistant Baseball Coach at FAMU

TALLAHASSEE, Florida –  Florida A&M Head Coach Jamey Shouppe announces the hiring of Anthony Robinson as Assistant Baseball Coach for the FAMU baseball program. Robinson returns to FAMU as an Assistant Coach where he played third base for the Rattlers from 1996-1999. Robinson will coach third base, work primarily with the outfielders and assist with the hitters.

"I'm very excited to be back apart of the program as a coach," Robinson said. “Coming back from being a player 15 years ago to be on this stage with coach (Jamey) Shouppe and coach (Bryan) Henry and this staff is an honor and an exciting opportunity. I look forward to working and communicating with the guys the importance of working hard, coming to play every day and playing the game the right way. I hope to come in and help continue making this program successful."

A native to Tallahassee, Robinson’s ties to the Rattler baseball program began in high school as he played at Florida A&M Developmental Research School where he excelled in both baseball and basketball. Robinson was a two-sport letterman at FAMUDRS and a state basketball champion in 1994 and 1995.

Robinson earned a baseball scholarship and played baseball for Florida A&M under former Head Coach Joseph Durant from 1996-1999. Robinson primarily played third base while at FAMU, and earned MEAC Freshman of the Year honors in 1996. He was also named to the MEAC All-Tournament Team in 1996 and 1997 and was voted Second-Team All-MEAC at third base his senior season in 1999.

"I'm very excited for Anthony Robinson coming over from the Florida State University School and what he brings to the program," said head coach Jamey Shouppe. “He's a former FAMU player so he knows the system and what to expect at FAMU. He's a guy everyone naturally gravitates to. It all starts with who the person is and his character is off the charts. He's a quality person first of all and, with that, has a great background in baseball."

He comes to FAMU having coached on various different levels of baseball, including Babe Ruth 13U All-Star Team (2001), Lincoln High School Freshman/Varsity (2002) and Florida High School baseball teams from 2003-2013. From 2001-2005 he also served as the Assistant Head Coach for the Varsity Boy's Basketball team at Florida High and the Head Coach for the Varsity Boy's basketball team from 2006-2011. Before arriving at FAMU, Robinson was the Head Coach for the Varsity Girl's Basketball team at Florida High from 2013-2015.

Robinson graduated from Florida A&M in 2001 with a BS degree in Health, Physical Education and Recreation. He and his wife, Anicia, are the proud parents of two boys, Anthony II and Amare.

Robinson is replacing long-time Assistant Coach Brett Richardson, who was hired as the Head Coach at Alcorn State on September 1.

The Rattlers open the 2016 season on Friday, February 19 against Marshall for a three-game series at Moore-Kittles Field.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Rush open season at home against Webber International

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana, with three starters among seven returning lettermen, will open its 78th men's basketball season at 7 p.m. Thursday against Webber International at the Convocation Center.
     
The Gold Rush, 24-10 last season, are ranked 19th in NAIA Division I.



Live stats
     
Xavier is in a familiar position, opening the regular season at home for the 22nd consecutive season. Xavier won its last 19 openers, 16 by double digits.
     
Xavier will be led on the floor by Morris Wright, a 5-foot-10 senior point guard from Zachary, La., a two-time All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference selection and the 2015-16 GCAC Preseason Player of the Year. Wright averaged 14.9 points per game last season, 24.0 in the final three games, and is XU's career leader in 3-point field-goal percentage, .424.
     
The other returning starters are 6-8 senior forward Jarvis Thibodeaux and 6-2 sophomore guard Lucas Martin-Julien. Thibodeaux averaged 5.8 points and a team-best 5.6 rebounds. Martin-Julien did not play last season because of injury but averaged 8.8 points in 2013-14 and earned a share of the GCAC Freshman of the Year award.
     
The other returning lettermen are 6-4 guard/forward RJ Daniels (5.1 points per game), 6-9 forward Charles Savoy (1.1), 6-1 guard Gary Smith (5.2) and 6-7 forward Wesley Pluviose-Philip (4.9). Pluviose-Philip is a junior, and the other three are seniors.
     
There are six newcomers: 6-7 sophomore forward Chris Ward, 6-1 junior guard Seth Jackson, 6-5 freshman guard Leland Alexander, 6-6 senior forward Kevin Murph, 6-foot freshman guard Innocent Kukulu and 6-7 sophomore forward Elex Carter.
    
Dannton Jackson, 273-117 at Xavier with five GCAC regular-season championships and nine appearances at the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship, is in his 13th season as head coach. Jackson enters the season with active streaks of five 20-win seasons, five appearances at nationals and an NAIA-leading 51 top-25 appearances. Jackson is the all-time winningest Gold Rush coach.
     
Webber International, an NAIA Division II school in Babson Park, Fla., returns five of its top seven scorers from a 13-19 team of a year ago. Senior center Dewaine Lyals averaged 12.1 and a team-best 7.0 rebounds.
     
This is the fourth season of basketball in the Convocation Center, a $25 million facility which seats nearly 4,000. The Gold Rush are 41-12 in the building, 15-6 last season. Xavier will play 17 times at home during the regular season and play its second home game at 6 p.m. Friday against Carver College.
     
NOTES:  Carter, from LaPlace, La., is a transfer from NCAA Division I's Southern University. He was Class 5A All-State first team and on the NOLA.com All-New Orleans Area Large Schools team as a senior (2012-13) at East St. John High School . . . Ward, from Horn Lake, Miss., transferred from Northeast Mississippi Community College, where he averaged 2.9 points and 3.3 rebounds last season and shot 54.2 percent from the floor. He helped Horn Lake High School win a pair of district championships . . . Kukulu, from Staten Island, N.Y., was All-Staten Island second team by the New York Daily News his senior year (2013-14) at Curtis High School . . . Home ticket prices are the same as last year — $10 for ages 13 and older, free for ages 12 and younger and for XU students, faculty and staff with a valid ID.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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DWIGHT FLOYD COMMENTARY: FAMU Rattlers Look to Trick the N.C. A&T Aggies

Florida A&M University   vs   North Carolina A&T University


October 31, 2015
5:00 P.M. EST
Tallahassee, Florida
Bragg Memorial Stadium
Radio: 96.1 FM/Internet: Rattler Vision
The Aggie coaching staff and team are riding high after getting off to one of their best starts in years. Intheir first game they demolished a Division II Shaw University team 61-7. They then suffered their only loss of the season against the University of North Carolina 53-14. Undaunted by the loss they next visited Division 1 FCS Elon University coming away with a quality 14-7 win. Against Hampton they found their conference footing winning 45-31. Hampton outgained the Aggies in total yards 431 to 187, but by doing what has become their signature, the Aggies made the bigger plays and found a way to win.

Perhaps the biggest win for the Aggies this season is their win against the Bethune Cookman Wildcats. To put it in perspective the Wildcats have throughout the season found a way to outscore their opponents in close battles, including a tough win against the Grambling State Tigers. The Wildcats outdistanced the Aggies in total yards 440 to 247, yet it was the Aggies who won the game 24-14.

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SU Sports Hall of Fame enshrinement set for Friday

The Southern University Sports Hall of Fame (SUSHOF) will hold its 28th Annual Enshrinement and Banquet Ceremony Friday, October 30, 2015 at the Belle of Baton Rouge Atrium at 7 p.m.

The (SUSHOF) will induct 26 members into the 2015 class. The new members will also be recognized during pre-game activities at the Alcorn State game Saturday at 4:00 p.m.

The 2015 Class includes current Southern University assistant athletic director Earl Hill, who is also a member of the Ashland University Sports Hall of Fame as a player. As head coach of the Southern University-New Orleans men's basketball program, Hill led the Knights to the NAIA Division I National Basketball Tournament during 1994-95, 1997-98 and 1999-2000 seasons.

The Knights became the first team to win the GCAC Tournament in 1994-95. Hill earned GCAC coach of the year honors three times and his innovative, no-nonsense coaching style produced the league's player of the year seven times, including Willie Quinn, father of current SU football star wide receiver Willie Quinn.

Former women's basketball head coach Herman Hartman, Sr., men's basketball star Kevin Florent and baseball star Leroy Boyd.

Southern's 1958-59 baseball team that won the NAIA Tournament will also be enshrined during Friday's ceremony.

The Jaguars claimed the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) National Baseball Championship, finishing 4-1. MLB Hall of Famer Lou C. Brock unloaded a three-run-homer, with the score tied 2-2 to start the Jaguars to a 10-2 victory and the championship over Omaha University.

Southern University Jaguars were the first Negro team to participate in the Annual NAIA Championship Tournament. The tournament was held in Alpine, Texas at Sul Ross State College June 2-5, 1959.

This year’s inductee’s class includes the following:

BASEBALL
Henry C. Baker, Jr.
Leroy Boyd
Raymond Duplechain

BASKETBALL
Yolanda Y. Brown
Kevin R. Florent
Herman L. Hartman, Sr.
Earl R. Hill
Dervynn F. Johnson
Gwendolyn Wilson-Gene

FOOTBALL
Fredrick Bailey
Ezra J. Landry

GOLF
Paul A. Moore
Brian E. Washington

TENNIS
Charles Ketchum
Melvin C. McCurley
Karen K. Scott

TRACK & FIELD
Renan A. Gilkes
Willie C. Owens
1958-1959 BASEBALL TEAM
1958-1959 SWAC/NAIA CHAMPIONS
Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Paul Lewis, Jr.
Herman Rhodes
Alvin Woods

Southern University took the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) National Baseball Championship, taking four games while losing only one. Lou C. Brock unloaded a three-run-homer, with the score tied 2-2 to start the Jaguars to a 10-2 victory and the Championship over Omaha University.

Southern University Jaguars were the first Negro team to participate in the Annual NAIA Championship Tournament. The tournament was held in Alpine, Texas at Sul Ross State College June 2-5, 1959.

1959 -1960 SWAC CHAMPIONS
BASEBALL ROSTER
Sanford Isom Harry Levy
Paul Lewis William Stoudeamire
Wiley MacMillan James L. Dickerson
McVea Griffin Charles East
Seargeant Douglas Herman Rhodes
Alvin Woods Charlie Grey
Henry Triplett Earvin Sams
T. Ashery Gerald Kimble
James Maryland Lee Otis Green
Julius Smith Quincy Mason
Kyle Wells William Sautens
Roy MacGriff Herman James!

COURTESY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS