FAMU football players tackle spring drills with pride

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M’s spring football routine this year looked a lot like the team’s summer workouts, with players controlling drills under the watchful eye of the team’s strength and conditioning coach.

Next year the team will be able to hold full spring practices — including contact drills — but for two weeks, the group worked out primarily with Parker Brooks. Players worked on different offensive and defensive scenarios without head coach Alex Wood or any of the position coaches.

The drills wrapped up on Friday at Bragg Memorial Stadium, marking the end of the spring phase of FAMU’s program a day before FSU’s spring game in Orlando.

Junior running back Gerald Hearns said the workouts have been just as intense as a regular practice, even though the coaches aren’t watching. Players were flying to the ball, celebrating big plays and a DJ kept up-tempo music playing in the background.

“There’s a lot of pride,” Hearns said. “We’re taking accountability and responsibility. Just for us to take on this task, knowing we couldn’t have spring football. We’ve done a great job coming out here every day taking care of business.”

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Steelers continue hosting pre-draft parade of defensive prospects

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania -- General manager Kevin Colbert said the Steelers planned to focus on the defensive side of the ball during the NFL Draft, and he's sure holding true to his word if pre-draft visitors are any indication.

The Steelers on Friday hosted four more defensive players to bring their total to 16 of 18 pre-draft visitors on that side of the ball. The Steelers are permitted 30 pre-draft visitors until a week before the draft.

On Friday, the Steelers focused on the defensive line with tackle Javon Hargrave (South Carolina State) and defensive ends Quinton Jefferson (Maryland) and Dean Lowry (Northwestern).

The Steelers also met with safety Demontrae Elston (Mississippi), bringing their total to 11 defensive backs hosted in a week, including seven safeties.

The most intriguing visitor was Hargrave, who played for a FCS team.

Hargrave (6-foot-1, 309 pounds) was an Associated Press All-American in 2014-15 and the MEAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2014. Hargrave collected 16 sacks as a junior, including an FCS single-game record six against Bethune-Cookman. Hargrave finished with 29 1⁄2 sacks his last two years and also 45 1⁄2 tackles for losses.



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Three Interceptions, Five Sacks Lead Defense to Victory in NCCU Spring Football Game

DURHAM, North Carolina – Three interceptions and five sacks sparked the Gray defense to a 45-33 victory over the Maroon offense in North Carolina Central University's annual spring football game inside O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium on Friday.

Sophomore defensive end Antonio Brown (Jacksonville, Fla.) got things started for the Gray team by recording his first of a game-high three sacks on the opening drive.

The Gray unit's three interceptions were all highlights. Freshman defensive back Jaquell Taylor (Raleigh, N.C.) returned an interception 39 yards for a touchdown. Sophomore Brandon Galloway (High Point, N.C.), who has converted from tight end to safety, saved a touchdown with an interception in the end zone. And sophomore Roderick "Dee" Harris (Simpsonville, S.C.) intercepted a pass and showed how an interior lineman can run with an 18-yard return.



The Maroon offense used six explosive plays of 30 yards or more to amass 358 yards of total offense, with 243 yards through the air and 115 yards on the ground.

Freshman running back Dorrel McClain (Cary, N.C.), the 2015 MEAC Rookie of the Year, rushed for 53 yards and two touchdowns (1 yard, 30 yards) on just eight carries for an average of 6.6 yards per run.

Freshman quarterback Naiil Ramadan (Charlotte, N.C.) completed 15-of-26 passes for 215 yards, including a 52-yard bomb to sophomore receiver David Miller (Wilmington, N.C.).

The game ended with a 30-yard touchdown strike from sophomore quarterback Darius Dobson (Charlotte, N.C.) to Marc Bronson.

Standard scoring applied for the offense, plus one point for each first down. The defense tallied four points for each stopped drive, plus one point for an interception or fumble recovery and one point for a three-and-out. No team was allowed to score more than seven points per drive.

The Eagles open the 2016 gridiron campaign on Sept. 3 at Duke University in the Bull City Gridiron Classic.

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Alcorn State QB John Gibbs works out for Texans

Alcorn State quarterback John Gibbs Jr. (3) passed for 7,451 yards, 57 touchdowns and 19 interceptions during his collegiate career.
LORMAN, Mississippi -- Alcorn State quarterback John Gibbs Jr. is working out for the Texans on Saturday at their local prospect workout, according to a source not authorized to speak publicly.

For his career, Gibbs passed for 7,451 yards, 57 touchdowns and 19 interceptions. He rushed for 2,198 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Gibbs won a SWAC championship last season, passing for seven touchdowns.

The 6-6, 220-pound Booker T. Washington graduate rushed for 335 yards and eight touchdowns last season. He also passed for 19 touchdowns as a junior and rushed for 13 touchdowns.

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Southern hopes FBS pair sets up SWAC title run

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Southern University will lead into its Southwestern Athletic Conference schedule by facing two FBS opponents.

The Jaguars' 11-game schedule, announced Tuesday, will begin with a Sept. 3 visit to ULM and a Sept. 10 trip to Tulane.

They will then play their SWAC and home opener against Alabama State on Sept. 17. In addition, Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Oct. 22, homecoming), Texas Southern (Nov. 5) and Mississippi Valley State (Nov. 19) will pay visits to A.W. Mumford Stadium.

Coach Dawson Odums' squad will have road conference games at Alabama A&M (Sept. 24), Jackson State (Oct. 15), Alcorn State (Oct. 29) and Prairie View A&M (Nov. 12).

The regular season wraps up Nov. 26 against Grambling State in the 43rd Bayou Classic at the Mercedes Benz Superdome in New Orleans.

Southern, the 2013 SWAC champion and 2014 finalist, finished 6-5 last season, including 6-3 in the SWAC.

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ASU Hornets Take Game One At Jackson State

JACKSON, Mississippi – The Alabama State baseball team took game one of its three-game weekend series at Jackson State with a 7-4 over the Tigers at Braddy Field.

Alabama State improved to 21-12 overall, 13-0 in league play as the Hornets won game one of a conference series for the 10^th straight time. Jackson State falls to 17-13, 6-4.

Trailing 2-1 after one inning, the score remained the same until the fifth. Oscar Priouleau and Yamil Pagan walked to lead off the inning. Following a sacrifice bunt by Diandre Amion advanced the runners, Carlos Ocasio walked to load the bases. Dillon Cooper's walk scored Prioleau to tie the game at 2-2.

Perhaps the play of the game came in the next at-bat, as Chris Biocic's head first slide into first base negated a would be inning-ending double play as Pagan scored from third for a 3-2 lead. Ray Hernandez' single to left scored Ocasio for a 4-2 ASU lead.

"More than anything else, you want effort. You want your guys to give effort," Alabama State head coach Mervyl Melendez said of Biocic's play that turned what could have been a tied game at 2-2 at the end of the inning into a three-run lead. "Chris didn't have a good at-bat in grounding to the shortstop, but what he did after that was the key to the game. That's what we want our guys to do. In spite of what you do, give effort, and play hard. Chris has always played hard, and because of his effort, it made what could have been a one-run inning a three-run inning."

The Hornets added three huge eighth-inning insurance runs, all with two outs. Pagan's triple down the right field line scored Prioleau to extend the lead to 5-2. Amion then doubled to left center, scoring Pagan for a 6-2 lead. Ocasio then doubled to right center, scoring Amion for a 7-2 lead.

Joseph Camacho (6-0) won his 27^th straight game as the Hornets won for the 31^st time in his last 32 starts. After allowing two first-inning runs, he kept Jackson State off the scoreboard over the final seven innings. He allowed five hits, walked three and struckout seven.

Ocasio went 3-for-4, and Amion 2-for-4 as the Hornets extended their winning streak to five games. Game two of the series is Saturday at 3 p.m., with the live radio broadcast beginning at 2:45 p.m. on bamastatesports.com.

BOX SCORE

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MEAC's draft candidates stronger than SWAC's

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- There's great tradition with MEAC and SWAC football, but neither FCS conference remains the pipeline they once were for NFL teams.

The two conferences of historically black colleges and universities used to combine annually on 20 to 30 selections in the NFL Draft during the 1960s and '70s and remained in double figures in the '80s and '90s.

Such Pro Football Hall of Famers as Elvin Bethea (North Carolina A&T), Bob Hayes (Florida A&M), Willie Lanier (Morgan State), Shannon Sharpe (Savannah State) and Art Shell (Maryland-Eastern Shore) were drafted from MEAC schools, and the SWAC produced greats such as Mel Blount (Southern), Buck Buchanan and Willie Davis (Grambling State), Walter Payton (Jackson State) and Jerry Rice (Mississippi Valley State).

Two years ago, no MEAC or SWAC player was chosen - the only time that has happened in the NFL's common draft era, which began in 1967.

Last year, there was one fourth-round selection from each FCS-level conference, the Arizona Cardinals taking Delaware State nose tackle Rodney Gunter from the MEAC and the Baltimore Ravens picking Texas Southern cornerback Tray Walker from the SWAC. Walker died March 18 from injuries suffered in a dirt bike accident.

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Wins for XU Goreau, Flowers, but Southern prevails 5-2

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana got women's singles victories from Charlene Goreau and Brion Flowers, but Southern University swept the doubles and won the dual match 5-2 Wednesday at XU Tennis Center.
    
The Lady Jaguars (6-7) defeated the Gold Nuggets (8-10) for the first time in three tries. Xavier was seeking its first 3-dual win streak against Southern since 2007-09.
    
Southern swept the doubles, then clinched when Darnesha Moore defeated Jana van der Walt 6-4, 6-1 on the second singles court. Goreau, a freshman winning for the 12th time in her last 13 decisions, defeated Laura Syori 6-3, 6-2 at No. 1, and Flowers beat Rufaro Chirewa 6-2, 6-1 at No. 4.
    
Southern's other singles victory came from Nicki Neal in a 6-0, 6-3 decision against Tess Guarino at No. 6. The Lady Jaguars won 8-6 at both of the top two doubles flights and got an 8-1 victory at No. 3 from Syori and XU transfer Amanda Materre against Sha'Nel Bruins and Dasia Harris.
    
Next for Xavier's women and men will be Jackson State at 1 p.m. Sunday at XU. Both XU teams are playing their final six regular-season duals against NCAA Division I opponents.
    
NOTES:  It was the second time in the last three duals and the third time this season that the Gold Nuggets dropped all three doubles matches . . . The Gold Nuggets are 2-3 this season against NCAA DIs . . . XU coach Alan Green announced a date and time change for women's and men's duals at the University of New Orleans. New dates will be April 18 for the women and April 19 for the men. Start time of both will be 2 p.m. The original playing date was April 15.

Results

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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ASU adds JUCO transfer Young-Battle to QB mix

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Brian Jenkins has added Jujuan Young-Battle to the quarterback competition at Alabama State.

A junior college transfer from Ellsworth Community College in Iowa, Young-Battle threw for 3,118 yards and 26 touchdowns in 11 games last season.

Jenkins saw the Orlando native play at Jones High and said he’s been following him ever since. When asked who No. 4 was after Friday’s spring practice, Jenkins played coy at first, but ultimately let the cat out the bag as he foresees a bright future for Young-Battle at ASU.

“He has a chance to be a really good player,” Jenkins said about Young-Battle, who also played receiver in high school.



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3 from XU are repeat winners of GCAC weekly awards

 NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Sha'Nel Bruins, Thomas Setodjiand Christopher Kennie, no strangers to Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player and/or Performer of the Week awards, were honored again Tuesday for their efforts March 28-April 3.
     
Bruins won in GCAC women's tennis for the third consecutive week, the fifth time this season and the sixth time in her career. Setodji, a freshman, won in men's tennis for the third time. Kennie is the men's field performer for the second consecutive week and the fourth time in his career.
     
Bruins, a junior from Colfax, La., and a graduate of Grant High School, won in doubles and singles against NCAA Division I Prairie View A&M and helped Xavier win that dual 6-3. She also won in singles against NAIA No. 11 Northwestern Ohio. Bruins' five GCAC weekly awards are the second-most ever in a season by an XU women's tennis player.
     
Setodji, from Domont, France, was 3-0 in singles and 2-1 in doubles. Setodji and Kevin Chaouat defeated the ITA's second-ranked NAIA doubles team, Daniel Rueda and Thommy Johansson of Northwestern Ohio, 8-6 en route to a 6-3 Xavier dual victory — Xavier's first-ever dual team victory against an NAIA top-5 opponent. Setodji also recorded singles victories against Prairie View A&M and Louisiana-Lafayette.
   
Kennie, a senior from New Orleans and a graduate of Holy Cross High School, produced a career best of 6.65 meters (21 feet, 10 inches) in the long jump at the Mississippi College Twilight Invitational. Kennie's mark in this event is the best by an XU student-athlete this season.
   
 Next competition for these XU teams:
     •  Women's tennis:  2 p.m. Wednesday vs. Southern at XU Tennis Center — note that the start time has been moved up one hour.
     •  Men's tennis:  1 p.m. Sunday vs. Jackson State at XU Tennis Center. The XU women also will play Jackson State at this site and time.
     •  Men's and women's track and field:  9 a.m. Saturday in the Leon Johnson NSU Invitational at Natchitoches, La.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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XU Gold Rush, Nuggets defeat Prairie View A&M at home

NEW ORLEANS — For the 18th time in Alan Green's 13 seasons as Xavier University of Louisiana coach, his teams defeated an NCAA Division I opponent on the same day.
     
The Gold Rush, ranked third in the NAIA, beat Prairie View A&M 7-2 Saturday at XU Tennis Center. The Gold Nuggets, ranked 15th, defeated the Lady Panthers 6-3.
    
Thomas Setodji, Kevin Chaouat and Kyle Montrel won in doubles and singles for the Rush (11-3). Setodji clinched with a 6-1, 6-0 victory against Christian Waldron, giving the XU men their sixth consecutive victory and 11th in their last 12 dual matches.
     
Brion Flowers, Brandi Nelson and Sha'Nel Bruins won in doubles and singles for the Nuggets (8-9). Flowers clinched with her 6-2, 6-1 victory against Stacy Lackey.
     
Green's Rush and Nuggets pulled off the DI double for the first time on Feb. 28, 2003, against Prairie View. XU has beaten the Panthers and Lady Panthers on the same day four times. Xavier's other four-time same-day DI victims during the Green era are Alcorn State and Jackson State.
     
Against DI opponents this season, the Gold Rush are 3-3, and the Gold Nuggets are 2-2.
     
Xavier's men will travel to Louisiana-Lafayette for duals at noon and 4 p.m. Sunday. The XU women will play Southern at 3 p.m. Wednesday at XU Tennis Center.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Southern Football opens 2016 season at ULM, Tulan

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Southern University football will open the first two weeks of the 2016 schedule on the road against in-state opponents ULM and Tulane before beginning the final year of the Southwestern Athletic Conference's 9-game mandate on Sept. 17.

The Jaguars travel to Monroe to face ULM on Sept. 3 in the first-ever meeting between the two schools on Sept. 3. The 2016 opener marks the fourth consecutive year the Jaguars open against a FBS opponents. On Sept. 10, Southern will make their Yulman Stadium debut in the first game against Tulane since 2002.

With the SWAC switching to a 7-game conference schedule in 2017, Southern opens the final year of the 9-game conference slate against Alabama State in the home opener on Sept. 17 in A.W. Mumford Stadium. Southern closes out the first month of the season on the road at Alabama A&M on Sept. 24 before observing back-to-back bye weeks during the first two Saturday's in October.

On October 15, Southern renews one of the SWAC's most-intense rivalry when the Jaguars travel north on Interstate 55 to face Jackson State in Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Southern hosts SWAC western division foe Arkansas-Pine Bluff for its 2016 Homecoming game on Oct. 22 before meeting two-time defending SWAC champion Alcorn State on the road in Lorman, Miss on Oct. 29.

The November slate open with a home date hosting Texas Southern in A.W. Mumford Stadium before playing on the campus of Prairie View A&M in the Panther's new stadium. Mississippi Valley State serves as the Jaguars home finale opponent on Nov. 19, replacing the program's longstanding pre-Bayou Classic bye week.

Southern concludes the 2016 campaign against arch-rival Grambling State in the 43rd annual Bayou Classic in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Nov. 26.

Fans are encouraged to contact the Southern University Ticket Office at 225-771-3171 for information on purchasing season books. All times are tentative and subject to change.

2016 Southern U. Football Schedule
All times are tentative and subject to change

September
3 at ULM (Monroe, La.)
10 at Tulane (New Orleans, La. | Yulman Stadium)
17 Alabama State (A.W. Mumford Stadium) | 6 p.m.
24 at Alabama A&M (Huntsville, Ala.) | 1 p.m.

October
15 at Jackson State (Jackson, Miss.)
22 Arkansas-Pine Bluff (A.W. Mumford Stadium | Homecoming 2016) 4 p.m.
29 at Alcorn State (Lorman, Miss.)

November
5 Texas Southern (A.W. Mumford Stadium) | 4 p.m.
12 at Prairie View A&M (Prairie View, Texas)
19 Mississippi Valley State (A.W. Mumford Stadium) 4 p.m.
26 vs. Grambling State (Bayou Classic | New  Orleans, La. | Mercedes-Benz Superdome)

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Time is of the essence for Jackson State this spring

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Nine of Jackson State's 15 spring practices are in the books.

The Tigers have implemented all of their base packages, and first-year coach Tony Hughes was generally pleased with how the team performed in its first scrimmage this past weekend.

Now he wants his players to maximize the final six practices.

"Every day we have to improve from now on," Hughes said. "Because once spring training is over, we don't get these days back, and we start moving into summer training or camp in the fall. Every day is really critical to the development as our football team. That's the challenge every day."

Hughes felt the team improved during it's scrimmage and that effort carried over into the first two practices this week. He graded the team on four categories and will continue to do so during the season.

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Kern named head women's basketball coach at MVSU

ITTA BENA, Mississippi -- Mississippi Valley State has named Jessica Kern as its fourth head women’s basketball coach in the program’s history.  Director of Athletics Dianthia-Ford Kee made the announcement Monday morning.

Kern takes over at MVSU after spending last season as an assistant coach at the Furman University, where she helped guide the Paladins to the semi-finals of the Southern Conference Tournament.

Prior to her arrival at Furman, Kern took over a Lincoln University program in 2011 that had won just three games the year before.

During the 2014-15 season, she was named the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Coach of the Year after leading her team to a 22-9 record and a share of the CIAA Northern Division title.  The 22 wins marked a school record and carried Lincoln to a CIAA Tournament championship game appearance.

Three seasons ago, she led the Lions to the program’s first win over a Division I opponent in Morgan State and Winston-Salem State.

Before accepting the head coaching position at Lincoln, she served as an assistant coach and media specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for the 2010-11 campaign, immediately following a two-year stint (2008-10) as an assistant coach/recruiting coordinator at Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

Kern attended Penn State University, where she served as a basketball team captain for two years and twice earned All-Big 10 and Academic All-Big honors while also competing in track & field.  After graduating in 2002 with a degree in journalism, she began a successful seven-year professional basketball career that would take her to Australia, Germany, Switzerland, Romania, and Poland.

Kern enjoyed one of the most successful prep careers in Milwaukee City Conference history, earning a combined 11 letters in basketball, volleyball, and track & field while serving as team captain in each sport for multiple seasons.  In basketball she played in four state Final Fours and won a pair of state championships.  She claimed 11 individual conference championships in track & field and was a three-time all-conference performance in volleyball.

She has a son, Bobby Lee Collins, Jr.

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Langston University Lewis & Mason Named NAIA All-Americans

LANGSTON, Oklahoma  –  Che'Ron Lewis and T'Keya Mason were named to the National Association of Intercollegiate (NAIA) 2015-16 Division I Women's Basketball All-American team the NAIA national office announced today.

Lewis, a junior forward from Cushing, Okla., and Mason, a senior guard from Long Beach, Calif., were both named to the NAIA All-American honorable mention team.

Mason led Langston in scoring at 18.4 points per game but Lewis wasn't far behind, averaging 18.3 points per game for the Lady Lions.

Both Lewis and Mason were also selected to the Red River first-team All-Conference team on March 3, 2016; Mason finished third in the RRAC and tenth in the NAIA in scoring and combined to total 857 career points. Lewis came in fourth in scoring in the RRAC and currently sits at 759 career points but will have one season of eligibility remaining.

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Alec Wong’s Two Home Run Day Helps Lift the Florida A&M Rattlers to Doubleheader Sweep

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  – Florida A&M (17-9, 7-1 MEAC) scored 22 runs and pounded out 23 hits to sweep a doubleheader over North Carolina Central (13-16, 5-6 MEAC) by scores of 6-3 and 16-4 at Moore-Kittles Field on Saturday. In game one, the Rattlers rallied to score five runs in the eighth inning to secure the win. Marlon Gibbs drew a bases loaded walk in the eighth inning to plate Willis McDaniel for the go-ahead run. In game two, FAMU scored 13 runs in the fourth and fifth innings to put the game away. Alec Wong had two home runs in game two and seven different Rattlers recorded two hits in the game.

FAMU reliever Hunter Fillingim (2-0) earned the game one win after working 2/3 of an inning with no runs allowed, but walked two batters. Kendal Weeks came in to record the final two outs, including a strikeout to end the game, for his second save of the season. Game one starter Ryan Anderson pitched a season long 5.1 innings and allowed two unearned runs on six hits and tied a season best with three strikeouts. Anderson also tied a season high with three strikeouts.

Ricky Page (2-2) picked up the win in game two as he worked five innings and gave up three runs (one earned) with three strikeouts and four walks.

The Eagles scored first with a pair of unearned runs in the top of the second inning of game one. Conrad Kovalcik singled off the leg of pitcher Ryan Anderson with two outs and Christian Triplett followed with a single to left to put runners on first and second. Sisqo Scott reached on an error that would have ended the inning to load the bases and Jacobi Harris was hit-by-pitch to score Kovalcik from third. Triplett would score the second run of the inning on an RBI single from Ellington Hopkins.

FAMU was able to get on the board with a single run in the fourth inning to make the score 2-1. Jacky Miles, Jr. led off with a single into left field and advanced to third as McDaniel followed with a single into center field. Miles, Jr. then scored from third for FAMU’s first run of the game as Ryan Hutson grounded into a 6-4-3 double play.

NC Central scored another unearned run in the eighth inning to increase its’ lead to 3-1.

FAMU took their first lead for good with five runs in the eighth inning in what proved to be the final score of 6-3. Dillard led off with a walk and Ben Ellzey was hit-by-pitch to start the inning for the Rattlers. Both runners advanced with a sac bunt from Miles, Jr. before McDaniel hit a two-run triple up against the fence in right field to bring home both Dillard and Ellzey. Cameron Johnson would then draw a pinch-hit walk to put runners on the corners with one out. AJ Elkins came in to pinch run at first base for Johnson and after a pitching change that brought in Grant Cain in for relief of Jamar Hinton, Peter Jackson also drew a walk on four pitches to load the bases. With the bases still loaded,

Gibbs was also walked to plate McDaniel for the go-ahead run. Wong was then hit-by-pitch, the third straight free pass of the inning, to plate Elkins for the fourth run in the inning. Dillard was then hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded to score Jackson for the final FAMU run of game one.

NCCU reliever Jamar Hinton (1-1) pitched 2/3 of an inning and allowed four runs on one hit with two walks for the loss. Game one starter Alex Dandridge worked a no decision with six innings pitched and gave up just one run on six hits with three strikeouts, two walks and one hit batter.

In game two, FAMU scored first on Wong’s solo home run to right field, in the first inning, for a quick 1-0 lead. It was the second home run of the season for Wong. Florida A&M tacked on another run in the second inning on an RBI double from Ryan Hutson to increase the lead to 2-0.

NC Central tied the game with two unearned runs in the third inning. Jacobi Harris and Hopkins recorded back-to-back singles to start the inning and a sac bunt by James Dey was misplayed by pitcher Ricky Page that loaded the bases. A pair of RBI fielder’s choice plays with the lead runner out at second allowed the two runs to score from third base.

Florida A&M regained the lead, at 3-2, with a single run in the third inning, but NCCU would answer right back to tie the game again at 3-3 with a run in the fourth inning.

FAMU broke the game open for good with nine runs in the fourth inning to make the score 12-3. Miles, Jr. had a three-run triple; McDaniel and Hutson added RBI doubles and Brian Davis had an RBI single in the inning.

The scoring continued in the fifth inning as the Rattlers scored four more runs that made the score 16-3. Wong hit his second home run of the day, a two-run blast, to right field to increase the FAMU lead to 14-3. Back-to-back walks with no outs forced a pitching change as Joshua Greene came in for relief of reliever Carter Kovalcik. Ellzey then singled through the left side to load the bases and Johnson’s pinch-hit RBI single plated Keith Stevens, who pinch ran earlier in the inning for Dillard. AJ Elkins later brought home Davis with an RBI single to left field for the fourth run of the inning.

North Carolina Central would score one more run in the seventh inning as Hopkins led off with a solo home run to right field for the final score of 16-4.

Eagles game two starter Andrew Vernon (0-3) suffered the loss as he gave up 11 runs (five earned) on nine hits with five strikeouts and four walks.

Florida A&M and NC Central close out the three-game series on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 PM.

As always, fans can follow Rattler Baseball on Twitter @BaseballFAMU and on Facebook.

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

 

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Steve Harvey, ASU Announce Turkey Day Partnership

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- That “Ole ‘Bama State Spirit” meets Hollywood this year, as world famous entertainer Steve Harvey will partner with ASU to sponsor the 2016 Turkey Day Classic.

“I'm bringing Hollywood to Montgomery,” said Steve Harvey, who visited the ASU campus on Saturday, April 2 to announce that he is partnering with the University to sponsor the annual Turkey Day Classic.

Harvey joined President Gwendolyn E. Boyd, ASU Board of Trustees Chairman Locy Baker and a host of other dignitaries in making the announcement.

“I want to thank Chairman Baker and Dr. Boyd for believing in the vision that I had,” said Harvey. “What I decided to do was put my machine behind (the Turkey Day Classic) and bring a little Hollywood to Alabama, especially for our young people because they are our future. We are going to do some special things.”


ALWAYS WATCH IN 1080p HD, WIDE SCREEN

The event was held on the field of The ASU Stadium. Fans stood in the bleachers as the ASU cheerleaders and the Hornets football team ran onto the field, forming a path for Harvey’s entrance. The crowd cheered as the popular entertainer, entrepreneur and businessman was driven to the news conference platform by Boyd.

While Harvey did not give complete details of plans for the Turkey Day Classic, he did say that he planned to take the traditional event to a new level, with a heavy focus on students.

“I have put together a staff that going to sit down with the student body and find out what they want to do,” said Harvey. “It’s about everybody; it’s about the whole campus. Right now, the most important thing is education at this university right here -- to grow enrollment and enrich the lives of these young people so that y’all can be great. My objective is to make as many millionaires as I can...I joke around a lot, but I’m serious. I know a lot about God and I know a lot about business. I know a lot about starting at the bottom...and how to get to the top. So, we’re going to bring some of that here to ASU and we’re going to try inspire some young people and we’re going to have a good time in the process.”

Boyd said the University is excited and honored to have Harvey as a partner.


ALWAYS WATCH IN 1080p HD, WIDE SCREEN

“Today, I am proud to announce that ASU has a new partner. A partner that will help ASU to succeed, a partner who understands the value of a college education, a partner who has a sincere passion to see young people get every opportunity they can to go to college and to reach their fullest potential...a partner who genuinely cares for people and is always moving forward in the grace and favor of God to help other people. Today, I am proud that ASU has the honor and the blessing of having Mr. Steve Harvey partner with us to help us be the best university that we can be--not just the best HBCU, but the best university that we can be. We thank God for our divine connection with Mr. Harvey.” Boyd added.

Boyd also drew cheers from the crowd with the official announcement that the Turkey Day Classic is moving back to Thanksgiving Day.

“I grew up here in Montgomery, and I remember the excitement of Thanksgiving Day,” said Boyd. “And even when I was serving as Miss ASU, I remember the thrill of riding in the parade on Turkey Day. And so, as I return home as the first female president of Alabama State University, it is most appropriate that we honor this time-honored tradition of the oldest black college classic.”

In his remarks, Harvey recognized local businessmen Alfred Seawright and Greg Calhoun, and credited Calhoun with helping him to make the decision to support the Classic.


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Harvey and Calhoun are longtime friends and business partners, and according to Harvey, are working to bring jobs to Alabama.

“We have the pleasure of traveling with him (Harvey) all over the world and seeing him do things that are unbelievable,” said Calhoun. “And to see him come to Alabama and share the love, it means so much to me and my family and Dr. Seawright and his family. We just thought, if you’re going to show love, why not show it at home.”

Event highlights also included a presentation of Hornets paraphernalia to Harvey by SGA President Jeremy Crum and Miss ASU Muriel Pannell, as well as a welcome from two students from ASU's Zelia Stephens Early Childhood Center.

Before leaving the stadium, Harvey stopped to speak to the Hornets football team just a few hours after they completed a practice and scrimmage game. He encouraged the players to put their education first and to take advantage of the opportunities that they are given.

“The talk he gave them was wonderful,” said Head Football Coach Brian Jenkins. “I hope that what he said struck home with them. As the head coach, I am excited about this partnership with Mr. Harvey. I’m excited that he’s not only going to invest in the University, but also in our students.”

The Turkey Day Classic will be played on Thursday, Nov. 24, when the Hornets face the Miles College Golden Bears.



For season tickets and other game information, visit bamastatesports.com.

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS

Secondary stands out in first JSU spring scrimmage

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Jackson State’s defense had issues forcing turnovers last season.

The Tigers tied for the second least amount of turnovers forced in the SWAC last season while having the second lowest total of interceptions in the conference.

On Saturday, in the first spring scrimmage of the Tony Hughes era, the secondary looked like a unit that wants to change those numbers.

Jackson State’s defense had issues forcing turnovers last season.

The Tigers tied for the second least amount of turnovers forced in the SWAC last season while having the second lowest total of interceptions in the conference.

On Saturday, in the first spring scrimmage of the Tony Hughes era, the secondary looked like a unit that wants to change those numbers.



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ASU maximizing 10 spring practices

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Six.

That’s how many spring practice days Alabama State has left after being granted 10 for posting an Academic Progress Rate score of 932 for 2014-15.

Not sure how much a team can accomplish with just 10 practices, but ASU coach Brian Jenkins plans to get plenty of out them.

“The main thing is to get our scheme down a little bit more,” Jenkins said after Friday’s practice. “Get a certain mindset established with our players. We have a certain expectation and we want our guys to understand we’re going to practice to keep the expectation.”

Jenkins hopes the Hornets see the value in academics and prevent that from hindering them in any fashion. They weren’t allowed to have spring practice and a spring game last year and were ineligible for postseason play because of low APR results, but they put in the work in the classroom to earn practice time.



COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

SCSU Bulldogs Conduct Second Spring Scrimmage

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina – The South Carolina State Bulldogs conducted their 10th spring practice and their second scrimmage Saturday (April. 2) morning at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.

The two-hour workout session started with a 9 a.m. practice, followed by a 10 a.m. scrimmage. SC State head coach Buddy Pough is beginning his 15th season at the helm of the Bulldog football program.

During the first half of Saturday's scrimmage, the Bulldogs concentrated on their passing and running game, with some emphasis on the special teams.

The Bulldogs return to the practice fields Tuesday (April. 5th) at 6:50 a.m., for the eleventh (11th) spring workout. SC State will hold its annual Garnet & Blue Spring game Saturday, April 9th at 1 p.m. in Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. You can purchase your season tickets now for the 2016 Football Season. The South Carolina State Ticket Office will be open 11a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, April 9th.



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LIFT-A-BULLDOG KICKOFF RALLY
The Bulldogs will hold their 2016 Annual Lift-A-Bulldog Scholarship Fundraiser Seafood Extravaganza Friday, April 8 at the I.P. Stanback Museum, beginning from 6:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale for $65 per person. For more information or to R.S.V.P call (803) 536-8579 by April 7, 2016. All proceeds and donations will go to sponsor the summer school and the football scholarship program.

For more information on South Carolina State Athletics visit www.scsuathletics.com or call the Office of Athletic Media Relations at (803) 536-7060.

COURTESY SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

FAMU Athletics releases the "Investing in Champions" football season tickets and parking campaign

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE BUILDING CHAMPIONS WEBSITE

XU's Bruins, Albrecht are GCAC Players of the Week

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana juniors Sha'Nel Bruins and Adam Albrecht are the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Players of the Week in tennis for March 21-27.
    
Bruins, from Colfax, La., and a graduate of Grant High School, won for the fourth time this season and the fifth time in her career. She won 3-of-4 matches, including a pair of comebacks in a 5-4 victory at then-NAIA No. 11 Keiser. In doubles, Bruins and Dasia Harris trailed 7-4, 40-love against Samantha Guy and Livia Toth before rallying for a 9-8 (7-3) victory. In singles, Bruins clinched the dual with a 3-6, 6-0, 6-0 victory against Lola Garcia.
    
The victory against Keiser was the Gold Nuggets' first victory of the season against a ranked opponent.
    
Nour Abbes (six in 2014) is the only XU women's tennis player to win more than four GCAC weekly awards in a season. Bruins is one of five to win four times in a season.
    
Albrecht, from Ladna, Czech Republic, and a graduate of Gymnasium Breclav, won for the second time this season and the third time in his career. He was unbeaten in singles and doubles to help Xavier win road duals at St. Thomas (Fla.) and sixth-ranked Keiser. He extended his singles win streak to a career-best eight matches and helped Xavier snap Keiser's 11-dual win streak.
    
Xavier's men and women will play Prairie View A&M at 11 a.m. Saturday at XU Tennis Center. The XU men will visit Louisiana-Lafayette in noon and 4 p.m. duals Sunday — their third and fourth meetings this season with the Ragin' Cajuns. All the weekend opponents are NCAA Division I members.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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XULA's Kennie, Allen, Quincy receive GCAC's weekly awards

NEW ORLEANS — For the second consecutive week, Xavier University of Louisiana produced three Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Performers of the Week in track and field. Winners for March 21-27 are Christopher Kennie in men's field, Clarke Allen in women's field and Kayla Quincy in women's track.
    
All XU performances were from the Louisiana Classics meet in Lafayette.
    
Kennie, a senior from New Orleans and a graduate of Holy Cross High School, was honored for the first time since 2013 and the third time in his career. Kennie matched his best-ever collegiate long jump — 21 feet, 6 3/4 inches (6.57 meters) — in a 10th-place finish. He finished ahead of 11 athletes from NCAA Division I.
    
Allen, a sophomore from Mendenhall, Miss., and a graduate of Mendenhall High School, won for the third time this season and the fourth time in her career. Allen produced her third consecutive top-7 finish in the triple jump and had a best mark of 34-10 1/4 (10.62 meters) in placing seventh.
    
Quincy, a junior from Avondale, La. and a graduate of Xavier Prep (now known as St. Katharine Drexel Preparatory School), won for the first time in her career. Quincy became Xavier's first qualifier for the 2016 NAIA National Championships with a time of 57.06 seconds in the 400-meter dash. She finished fifth and ahead of 22 from NCAA Division I. Quincy ran anchor on the 1,600 relay squad which finished ninth in 4:01.84, approximately 3 1/2 seconds faster than it did the previous week.
    
Through the first three meets of the outdoor season, XU athletes have won a combined eight GCAC weekly awards in track and field.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Point And Drive Marching Band Documentary Reviewed At FAMU With Music Department

WORK HARD OR WORK HARDER. THOSE WERE THE OPTIONS.

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The producer and director of Point and Drive movie, Detroit native Brandi Mitchell, returned to her alma mater to pre-screen her documentary with the esteemed group of faculty at the undeniably most influential music department in the country at Florida A&M University.





POINT AND DRIVE is a documentary that presents the passion, talents, history, struggles and triumphs of the most imitated marching band of all time, The Florida A&M University Marching 100 from the voices of it’s successful alumni spanning over four decades. It also shows the beauty and anatomy of the Historically Black College and University [HBCU] halftime show which the Marching 100’s founder, Dr. William P. Foster innovated, while chronicling the bands influence on young adults from all societal backgrounds; forever changing our lives, culture and traditions.

Starring Grammy Winning Jazz legends like Scotty Barnhart, Wycliffe Gordon and Vincent Gardner, all of whom are alumni of the ground-breaking marching band and university, popular artists like Dwele, and a host of alumni from all "fields" of expertise, Point and Drive explores this tightly-knit underground culture that is the marching band. Shot over a three-year time period with unprecedented access, the film intimately explores what it takes to make the band, how it’s founder Dr. William P. Foster formed the band at the height of segregation, it’s historic rise, unexpected fall, and comeback after a 2011 hazing death which almost stopped the music from playing - indefinitely.

Through original interviews, music, live performances, dancing and rare archival footage and images, we learn that the process of mastering Point and Drive, which is actually the form of precision marching that makes the famed band so eye catching, is so much more – it transfers into an innate bar of excellence that is the measurement and standard for success in their lives.

Point and Drive tells the story of how the vision and passion of one soul can shape the lives of many, and the necessity of fighting to sustain what you believe in - no matter what happens. It is a story for people of all ages, one that will inspire, educate, and provoke a spirit of excellence.

Read More about the documentary and seeing it at www.pointanddrivemovie.com.


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COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY MARCHING 100 AND THE INCOMPARABLE Brandi Mitchell, www.PointAndDriveMovie.com

Jackson State offensive line does sweat the technique

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Everything circled back to technique for Jackson State's offensive line last season. Former O-line coach Steven Aycock constantly mentioned it as the area that needed the most improvement on the line.

Even though Ayock, along with the majority of last season's coaching staff, is gone, the message hasn't been abandoned.

Technique is the main focus for first-year Tigers offensive line coach Matt Jones this spring.

"It's an acquired skill. We talk about having a tool box and you have an inside-run step, an outside-zone step, a pass set, a short pass set ... and you have to pull all those things in your tool box," Jones said. "Right now we're just looking for a hammer and screw driver. Eventually we're going to have an Allen wrench. We just need the technique and do it at a high level."

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