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WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Chip Vaughn, a former star at Wake Forest and an assistant coach at Winston-Salem State, has been chosen to coach safeties for the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl scheduled for Jan. 23, 2016.
Vaughn, a former NFL player who won a Super Bowl ring with the New Orleans Saints, was part of Wake Forest’s 2006 ACC championship team.
“It is an honor to be selected out of so many candidates,” Vaughn said. “I will use this opportunity to further my knowledge of the game by learning from two legendary coaches in Mike Holmgren and Mike Martz.”
WSSU’s Bloomfield chosen for All-Super Region team
Defensive end Michael Bloomfield, a fifth-year senior at Winston-Salem State, was named to the second team on the Conference Commissioner’s Association All-Super Region I football team.
Bloomfield, an All-CIAA selection, led the Rams with 79 tackles and 13 sacks to go along with two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He helped the Rams to a 6-5 record and their third CIAA championship in the last five seasons.
The only other CIAA player named on the All-Super Region I team was ...
LORMAN, Mississippi -- Jay Hopson grew up near Alcorn State in Vicksburg, but before taking the Braves' coaching job in 2012, the closest he'd come to participating in the SWAC was in high school.
“I got recruited by both Alcorn and Jackson (State), the two local schools.I might not have been good enough back in the day,” he said jokingly.
Hopson has displayed he’s plenty good enough for the SWAC now, and he’ll try to prove it once again when Alcorn State (8-3, 7-2 SWAC) faces Grambling (9-2, 9-0) in the SWAC title game on Saturday (3 p.m., ESPNU) at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
The fourth-year coach is on the verge of leading the Braves to back-to-back conference championships, a feat that hasn’t been accomplished in the conference in 13 years.
When Hopson was hired three years ago, the center of discussion was mostly about him being the first white coach in SWAC history. 2015 Toyota SWAC Football Championship Teleconference
HOUSTON, Texas -- Only two games are on the black college football schedule Saturday as the season winds down to its final weeks. And both games could lead to more. First up in Carrollton, Georgia Saturday at 12 noon, 10-2 Tuskegee looks to advance to the NCAA Div. II Final Four when the Golden Tigers travel to Super Region II top seed West Georgia (11-1) for a quarterfinal matchup.
And later Saturday (3 p.m.) down in Houston, Texas, Grambling State (9-2), winners of the SWAC West Division, takes on East Division champ Alcorn State (8-3) with the SWAC championship and a berth in the Dec. 19 Celebration Bowl in Atlanta on the line. Tuskegee wins again The Tuskegee Golden Tigers and head coach Willie Slater, seeded sixth in the NCAA Div. II Super Region II, are showing that they more than belong in the playoffs.
After getting a 26-16 first round road win over third-seed Catawba, the first victory in Div. II postseason history for Tuskegee, the Tigers followed it up with a thrilling, last-minute 35-31 second round road win at second seed North Alabama Saturday. They now get to play for the region title and a spot in the national semifinals against the region's top seed, the West Georgia Wolves, again on the road. CONTINUE READING
HOUSTON, Texas – The Southwestern Athletic Conference formally inducted seven of its most significant athletes, coaches and administrators into the SWAC Hall of Fame Thursday night at the J.W. Marriott in Houston. The annual reception served as the catalyst for championship weekend in leading up to the 2015 SWAC Football Championship game.
The newest hall of fame class consisted of Selma, Ala. Mayor and former coordinator of SWAC officials George Patrick Evans, Tommy Gibbs, Sr. (Alcorn State), Kevin Granger (Texas Southern), Perry Harrington (Jackson State), Maurice “Mo” Hurst (Southern), Alicia Pete (Prairie View A&M) and Steven Rogers, Sr. (Alabama State)
Each inductee had the chance to share past stories and show gratitude to those that helped them during their playing and coaching days.
George Patrick Evans (SWAC Official)
Prior to a career in politics, Evans served the SWAC for three decades (1979-2009) in an officiating capacity. In addition to becoming one of the conference’s most seasoned officials, Evans also spent more than a decade coordinating officials for SWAC men’s and women’s basketball.
Evans was floored by his induction.
“It’s an honor. It’s certainly a privilege for me to have worked for the SWAC for 30 years,” Evans said. To have this honor – to be asked to be an inductee, I’m just honored to be here …. I’m just appreciative, honored, and I feel blessed.”
Tommy Anthony Gibbs Sr. (Alcorn State University)
Gibbs earned his place in conference lore as one of the great defenders in Alcorn State history. In his collegiate career, Gibbs racked up 300 tackles, 27 sacks, six picks and three fumble recoveries. He was a first-team All-SWAC selection and was a member of the Braves’ 1979 conference championship team
The evening was an emotional one for Gibbs, who dedicated his college career to his mother. Gibbs described his induction as one of the most meaningful accolades he’s ever received.
“It’s a blessing, man. It’s like a dream come true. It was a surprise to me, and it just blew me away. It means everything to me,” he said. “I wish my mom was here to witness this, because she wanted me to do this … but it really means a lot to me. It means a great deal.”
Kevin Granger (Texas Southern University)
As one of the most dominant scorers of his era, Texas Southern alum Kevin Granger went down as one of the greatest basketball players in conference history, leading the Tigers to the SWAC Tournament Championship in 1994 and 1995 – he won tournament MVP honors in 1994 – and in 1996, he led the nation in scoring at 27 points per game.
Granger, who was a two-time all-SWAC and Black College All-American selection, said the best part of the night was sharing the merit with his closest loved ones.
“It’s a big honor. It’s an opportunity to say, ‘Hey, job well done.’ I normally don’t get too excited about individual awards because I was always team player and believed in the team concept of the game,” Granger said. “But, to get recognized for this, it means a lot to me. Not just for me, but I’m moreso for my family that they’re getting the opportunity to enjoy this moment with me.”
Currently, Granger serves his alma mater as its athletics operations manager.
Perry Harrington (Jackson State University)
Harrington was one of the most electric running backs in the nation as part of the Wishbone offense of SWAC coaching legend W.C. Gorden. He earned two All-SWAC selections for the Tigers in 1978 and 1979 as well.
“It’s one of the better honors of my life. It’s the first opportunity I’ve had to enjoy an award with my children. I’m very enthused,” Harrington said of his enshrinement.
Maurice “Mo” Hurst (Southern University)
Hurst parlayed a stunning athletic career at Southern, into an equally impressive seven-year career in the NFL as a member of the New England Patriots. Hurst was named to the NFL All-Rookie honors and was eventually selected to the Patriots’ all-decade team in the 1990s, earning the distinction of All-Pro during the 1995 season.
Hurst said he never thought that his playing career would lead him to the annals of the SWAC Hall of Fame, calling the induction a humbling occasion.
“It means a lot. It’s not something you think about when you’re playing, but ultimately being honored like this – it was somewhat a surprise,” Hurst said. “I’m very, very honored and it means quite a bit to me that they think of me in the same class as some of the great names who have been chosen in the past.”
Alicia Lynn Pete (Prairie View A&M University)
As one of the great athletes and coaching pioneers in Panthers history, Pete has experienced success in nearly every athletic venue one could imagine. Even with the multiple all-conference and all-tournament selections as well as the litany of division and conference championships won as volleyball coach, Pete considered her most recent distinction one of the most meaningful.
“This means a lot to me – not only to me, but to my family and to my university,” Pete said. “I really worked hard to get to where I am today, and I just appreciate being inducted into the Hall of Fame.”
Pete currently serves as the Senior Woman Administrator at Prairie View A&M.
Steve Rogers Sr. (Alabama State University)
Rogers was SWAC Player of the Year twice en route to earning All-American distinction in his junior and senior seasons. He went on to transition from that to coaching and athletic administration, where he has been a part of three separate SWAC championship teams in basketball and football.
For the former Hornet basketball star, Rogers said it was an award to share with his family, supporters and his fellow Hornet alums.
“Tonight’s a great honor for me. I’m truly blessed to have this honor. It means a lot to me, my family and all the people that supported me over the years,” Rogers said. “Most of all, my ASU – Alabama State University; I am so honored and grateful to be a part of that family. It’s because of the Alabama State University family that I’m here today.”
Rogers is currently an assistant coach for the Alabama State men’s basketball team.
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- Stillman College has dropped their football program and all other athletic programs except for men and women’s basketball due to financial challenges, the school's president announced on Thursday.
The Spring 2016 sports will continue, but will discontinue starting in Fall 2016, according to Stillman President Dr. Peter Millet. The band and cheerleading programs will continue.
Millet said he and his staff reached this decision after approximately eight months of research.
Stillman will move to the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference in NAIA.
Stillman’s president said more sports could come back after the 2016-2017 school year if the money is available.
The president said this is a pivotal moment in the college’s history and they want to get back on solid financial ground. Millet feared if they didn't cut their sports programs, except for men's and women's basketball, the school could go under financially.
Millet said he will not allow Stillman to close because of the continuing budget woes. He said “enough is enough.”
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Southern University football confirmed Wednesday offensive coordinator Chad Germany has resigned from the program. Germany will remain on staff until Jan. 14.
“Chad Germany has been instrumental in the success of the Southern University football program for four years,” said head coach Dawson Odums.
“His development of the quarterbacks at Southern helped produced the program’s all-time leading passer and perennial All-SWAC performers. We thank Chad for his service at Southern in helping rebuild the football program and wish him the best in his future endeavors.”
Defensive line coach Myron Jackson, linebackers coach Lorick Atkinson and cornerbacks coach Chris Scott will not return to the Jaguar coaching staff in 2016.
NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana -- Morris Wright scored 19 points Tuesday, and NAIA No. 19 Xavier University of Louisiana scored the final six points to earn a 56-51 men's basketball victory against Mobile.
The Gold Rush (8-2) avenged a 54-39 loss at Mobile from two weeks earlier and gave the Rams their first loss of the season.
Will Hornsby's basket with 44 seconds remaining gave Mobile its final lead, 51-50. Xavier went ahead to stay, 52-51, on a pair of Lucas Martin-Julien free throws -- his only points of the game -- with 31 seconds remaining. On the next possession, Martin-Julien went out of bounds to control a rebound of a missed Mobile shot, then Wright made a pair of free throws with nine seconds to play.
Wright led the Gold Rush in scoring for the 13th consecutive game. Wesley Pluviose-Philip scored nine points, and Jarvis Thibodeaux and RJ Daniels scored eight apiece.
D.J. Hill scored 12 points, James Davis 11 and Brandon Barnes for the Rams (6-1). Davis, who entered the game as NAIA Division I's most accurate 3-point shooter, missed his only attempt from behind the arc.
Xavier led 28-21 at halftime and 35-25 after Thibodeaux's basket with 15:29 remaining.
Mobile outshot Xavier 45.2 to 39.5 percent from the floor. The Gold Rush made 19-of-23 free throws -- a season-best 82.6 percent -- to Mobile's 11-of-17.
Xavier is 8-0 at home this season. It's the first time since 2010-11 that the XU men won their first eight home games.
Xavier will visit city rival Loyola at 7 p.m. Thursday.
WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Chip Vaughn, a former star at Wake Forest and an assistant coach at Winston-Salem State, has been chosen to coach safeties for the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl scheduled for Jan. 23, 2016.
