Grambling’s dominace in question this season

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- The dominance that Grambling displayed in the Southwest Athletic Conference in 2015 is somewhat in question at the start of this season.

Grambling, which ran the table through its league schedule last year and then reached the SWAC championship game, has a quarterback issue and a need to improve a defense that allowed 35 points per game, a matter which helped the Tigers finish last in the conference in pass defense.

Coaches and league sports information directors have picked Grambling to finish second in the West Division behind Prairie View A&M. The Tigers received 35 points, six behind Prairie View and three in front of third-place Southern.

The Tigers finished 9-3 overall in 2015 behind quarterback Jonathan Williams, who passed for just over 3,000 yards, an accomplishment that was second best in the SWAC.

There’s quarterback potential help on the way however, as Grambling has Ole Miss transfer
Devante Kincade as a replacement. Kincade injured his foot last year and was not available for any of the Tigers’ spring football workouts.

CONTINUE READING

Southern looks to break out of the pack this season

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- It could be somewhat of an enigmatic 2016 football season for Southern University.

The Jaguars have plenty offensive experience returning including running back Lenard Tillery, the preseason Southwestern Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year.

There is also a new synthetic turf that will grace the Jaguars’ playing field at 28,500-seat A.W. Mumford Stadium for the start of 2016. The turf, paid for by the SU System Foundation, Baton Rouge Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Louisiana Superdome Management and UBU Sports, will be unveiled at the home opener Sept. 17 against Alabama State.



Those factors should be enough to encourage the Jaguar Nation, as Southern enters this year picked third in the West Division behind projected leader Prairie View A&M and second place Grambling.

That’s the same place the Jags finished last season, despite having one of the nation’s best offenses.

However, for the second straight season, Southern begins a regular season with a problem, as league sanctions due to academic issues prevented the Jaguars from having spring football.

CONTINUE READING

Ellenwood ready to tackle FAMU athletics issues after joining leadership team

Joyce Ellenwood,
 Associate Athletic Director for Academics and Compliance Services
(COURTESY PHOTO: FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS)

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Joyce Ellenwood is ready to take on the challenges that come with being the head of compliance in Florida A&M’s athletic department.

Ellenwood, who last month was named associate athletic director for compliance and academic services, has a list of things she wants to tackle while on the job.

First, she wants Florida A&M’s entire community to know compliance isn’t 100-percent an athletics issue.

“Ensuring our documents are in place, ensuring we’re following rules and regulations, ensuring we’re educating the university community,” she said.

“Compliance with NCAA rules is a FAMU community effort. It’s a campus-wide effort. It’s not just an athletic focus. Of course, we have our student-athletes, we have our coaches, we have our athletics staff that is responsible for knowing and abiding by NCAA rules, but we also want to make sure the campus community is also educated.”

CONTINUE READING

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

UMES Hawks Add JUCO Point Guard Michael Chambers To Recruiting Class

PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland -- The University of Maryland Eastern Shore men’s basketball program rounded out the roster with a final piece by signing junior college guard Michael Chambers.

Chambers, a 6-foot-3, 186-pound guard spent last season at Cape Fear Junior College in Wilmington, N.C., where he averaged and helped the squad to a 24-8 overall record.

“Mike is a prolific scorer,” Hawks head coach Bobby Collins said. “He has proven that he can score at the collegiate level. He also has a very high basketball IQ and is always thinking a play ahead.”

The Sea Devils advanced to the Region 10 Tournament Championship game falling 75-72 to Spartanburg Methodist. Chambers had 33 points, 11 rebounds and three assists in that contest.

Before playing last season with Cape Fear, Chambers spent the 2013-14 season as a freshman at Division II Lees-McRae where he averaged 18 points His season highlights included 21 and 29 points against Division I High Point and Appalachian State respectively.

The team has awarded its full compliment of scholarships for the 2016-17 athletic year.

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

UMES Hawks' Dominique Elliott will play pro hoops in Slovenia

PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland -- Dominique Elliott said that the only thing he knew about Slovenia was that Donald Trump’s wife is from there.

Melania Trump was born in Novo Mesto, then a city in Yugoslavia, in 1970.

Novo Mesto is where Elliott will begin what he hopes to be a long career in professional basketball. The University of Maryland Eastern Shore graduate signed a one-year deal with the ABA Liga’s KK Krka on Thursday, July 21.

“I’ve heard Novo Mesto is very nice,” Elliott said. “I’ve looked it up and talked to some people. The people are nice, the crime is not bad and they love their team. I’m ready to get out there and get to work. It’s a job now.”

Elliott, 24, will leave the states soon. He recently had to get his passport expedited so he can be in Slovenia for training camp on Aug. 8.

The process for Elliott finding a professional basketball home started months ago in Norfolk, Virginia.

CONTINUE READING

FAMU Marching "100" Summer Band Camp 2016

ALWAYS WATCH IN 1080p HD, WIDE SCREEN

UAPB seeks to reverse slide

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas -- Arkansas-Pine Bluff is counting on a host of newcomers to contribute as it seeks to escape the Southwestern Athletic Conference's Western Division basement.

With only 12 returning starters (6 offense, 4 defense, 2 specialists), the Golden Lions are the league's least experienced team.



Entering his 10th season, coach Monte Coleman is the SWAC's longest-tenured head coach. Coleman is working to right the ship as UAPB has struggled to a 7-27 mark since winning the conference championship in 2012.

First-year offensive coordinator Ted White has implemented the spread in an effort to boost a stagnant offense which ranked ninth in the SWAC in scoring (19.5 points per game), eighth in rushing (130.4 ypg), seventh in passing (186.6 ypg), eighth in total offense (317 ypg) and dead last among 10 teams in third down conversions (26.5 percent).

CONTINUE READING 

Haywood sets out to revive Texas Southern

HOUSTON, Texas -- Texas Southern is hoping Michael Haywood can duplicate the turnaround that he orchestrated at his previous head coaching stop.

In his only other head coaching stint at Miami (Ohio), Haywood followed up a 1-11 2009 campaign with a 9-4 record and the Mid-American Conference championship in 2010.

Introduced as Texas Southern's new coach in December, the Houston native and former Notre Dame cornerback takes over a program coming off of academic sanctions.



Six starters return from an offense which rated fifth in the SWAC in scoring (25.6 points per game), seventh in rushing (137.6 yards per game), eighth in passing (179 ypg) and ninth in total offense (316.6 ypg).

Quarterback Averion Hurts is coming off of a solid freshman season after completing 74-of-139 passes for 991 yards and 14 touchdowns with only three interceptions. Hurts, who shared the position with senior Johnathan Bowen, was also the team's third-leading rusher with 81 carries for 195 yards and three scores in nine games.

CONTINUE READING

Jackson State releases 2016 fall camp schedule

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Tony Hughes' first training camp at Jackson State will officially kick off 10 days from now.

JSU released its practice schedule on Friday afternoon, and training camp will feature 26 practices, which begin on Aug. 2.

In 2015, the Tigers held six two-a-day practices. That number will dip this year. JSU is only scheduled to hold three days of two-a-day practices.

The first three practices of camp are open to the public and media. Each of those practices begins at 5 a.m. and will be held at Jackson State's practice field.

he Tigers won't go into full pads until the fifth day of practice on Aug. 6. A "Meet the Tigers" event will also be held that day at 2 p.m. at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The first scrimmage of camp is slated for Aug.18 at 3:30 p.m. There will be a mock game on Aug. 26 at 6:15 p.m, which will be closed to the public and media.

CONTINUE READING

Most important Tigers: No. 1 LaMontiez Ivy

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Seven months have passed since Jackson State ended its 2015 season against in-state rival Alcorn State.

The Tigers kick off the regular season in less than two months, and JSU will open training camp in less than two weeks.

Not to mention, SWAC Media Day has come and gone.

In preparation for that, The Clarion-Ledger has counted down the 10 most important Tigers in 2016.

This list isn't ranking JSU's best players, most talented or productive, but the importance of the role they'll play this fall.

CONTINUE READING

Alcorn State on mission to threepeat

LORMAN, Mississippi -- Pursuing its third straight SWAC championship, the Alcorn State Braves go into preseason camp with a new head coach and 13 returning starters.

Former Alcorn quarterback Fred McNair was promoted from assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach to head coach following Jay Hopson's departure for Southern Mississippi. Hopson didn't leave Fred McNair, the older brother of Alcorn legendary QB Steve McNair, with a bare cupboard.



Five starters returns from an offense which was third in the SWAC in scoring (39.6 points per game), first in rushing (293.4 yards per game), ninth in passing (162.8 ypg) and second in total offense (456 ypg).

Pressed into service as a sophomore, Lenorris Footman proved to a more-than-adequate replacement for the injured John Gibbs Jr. Appearing in 11 games, the Monticello, Florida product product threw for 1,106 yards with 14 touchdowns and only four interceptions.Fitting into the offense seamlessly, The dual threat Footman averaged a stellar 7.4 yards per carry while finishing second on the team in rushing with 1,023 yards and 11 TDs. McNair would like to see Footman improve upon his 43.5 completion percentage, but that should come with experience.

CONTINUE READING 

Jackson State a potential sleeper

JACKSON, Mississippi -- If one team in the SWAC has the capability of emerging as a sleeper, it would appear to be the Jackson State Tigers.

Despite coming off consecutive losing seasons, the pieces are in place for immediate improvement under first-year head coach Tony Hughes.

Hughes spent 31 years as an assistant before accepting his first head coaching position in December. At JSU, he inherits nine starters on both sides of the ball.

Hughes is looking for more production from an offense which ranked seventh in the conference in scoring (22.9 points per game), ninth in rushing (101.1 yards per game), second in passing (273.2 ypg) and fifth in total offense (374.3 ypg). Closing out the season on a four-game losing streak, the Tigers (3-8, 3-6) were the league's most heavily-penalized team with 86.6 yards per game in markoffs.

A healthy LaMontiez Ivy would be a major step toward upgrading the offense. Despite missing three games with an ankle injury, the senior quarterback completed 60.6 percent of his passes for 2,199 yards with 15 touchdown and eight interceptions last year.

CONTINUE READING

Male's Townsend commits to North Carolina A&T

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky -- Male High School product Taliyah Townsend, who won a trio of sprints at the Class 3-A state track and field meet in May, has committed to North Carolina A&T.

Townsend won the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes in helping Male capture the state team title and had scholarship offers from Baylor, Florida State, Michigan State, Ohio State and several others.

“Everybody thinks I’m crazy for choosing a smaller school over the big schools, but I don’t think it’s about the school you go to,” Townsend said. “It’s about how you progress as an individual and an athlete on your own.”

Townsend said she didn’t visit North Carolina A&T until the middle of June and was impressed with Aggies head coach Duane Ross, who was a member of the U.S. Olympic Team in 2004.

“I really liked that he’d be the one working with me,” Townsend said. “A lot of the other schools, it wouldn’t have been the head coach working with me. It would have been the sprints coach.”

CONTINUE READING

Winston-Salem State Announces Inaugural Winston-Salem Football Classic

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- The Winston-Salem State University football team has an exciting season coming to the city of Winston-Salem with five home games and the inauguration of the Winston-Salem Football Classic. The three-day community-centered event is one of the strongest community partnerships in WSSU athletic history with the Rams joining strengths with the City of Winston-Salem and Winston-Salem Forsyth County School System.

We are excited about the launch of the inaugural Winston-Salem Classic. Lots of planning has gone on behind the scenes to ensure the weekend is a memorable one. It's more than just a game for us - it's an opportunity for partner with the city of Winston-Salem and heightened the exposure about WSSU and celebrate our value within the city, stated Tonia Walker, WSSU Director of Athletics.

The Winston-Salem Football Classic kicks on Thursday, Sept. 15 with the "Youth tRAMSformation Tour." Beginning at 9 a.m., over 700 seventh graders from across the county to learn academic concepts. The event will include sessions with WSSU professors, staff and students-athletes. Students will also tour the campus radio station and grasp mass communication techniques beneficial with speech. Science concepts will be introduced through a tour of the school of Health Science's virtual hospital housed at the Enterprise Center where they will witness various demonstrations. Additionally exercise science faculty will provide lessons on how student-athletes overcome injuries through interactive activities. Students will tour the Diggs Gallery and several other key areas of campus.

"We are excited about the opportunity for our middle school students to engage in activities that focus on academic life on the college campus. We are well aware of the positive impact that athletics plays in the classroom and are grateful to the WSSU athletes and staff who are willing to serve in mentors roles to help our young people understand that commitment and dedication are the keys to success on and off the field", stated Carol Montague Davis, Assistant Superintendent of Middle and High School Administration for the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.

The Winston-Salem Classic continues on Friday, Sept. 16 with the WSSU football team and the Panthers of Virginia Union visiting area middle schools, and volunteering throughout selected schools.

The day will conclude with Winston-Salem Classic Banquet. The banquet is open to the public and will honor one of the most decorated men in college athletics – Coach William "Bill Hayes. Both WSSU and VUU will be present at the banquet with keynote speakers. Tickets to the banquet are $75, which includes general admission to the game on Saturday. Tickets will be available for purchase through the WSSU Athletics website – www.wssurams.com or in-person from the WSSU Bowman Gray Fieldhouse. Select students from the Youth tRAMSformation Tour will be invited back to attend to the banquet.

Mayor Allen Joines stated, "Winston-Salem is very pleased to host the first annual Winston-Salem Classic. We hope all of the participants, both locally and from out of the City, have a memorable time."

On Saturday, Sept. 17 the real festivities begin, with the We See Red Block Party, the six-hour RAMtastic day will feature games, vendors, exhibition booths, community group performances, radio personalities and food trucks. At 5 p.m. the world-renowned Red Sea of Sound will lead the group from main campus to Bowman Gray Stadium for the 6 p.m. helmet-to-helmet matchup with the Rams and the Panthers. (All youth from Thursday's Youth tRAMSformation Tour are welcomed as special guests and will be invited to take place in pre-game and in-game activities.)

According to Chancellor Elwood Robinson, "The Winston-Salem State University Football Classic is about more than football. The game is just one part of a great weekend that gives some of the best and brightest students from our local public schools exposure to a slice of college life, honors the legacy of former Athletic Director and Coach Bill Hayes, and sets the stage for the Classic to become an annual tradition for the university and the city."

Tickets for the 2016 Winston-Salem State University football season are still available for purchase through the ticket office (336) 750-3220. General admission is $75, general parking is $75, the All-Access card is $150 (provides admission to home football, basketball, baseball and the ACE Awards; this card is not valid for championship games or the CIAA Tournament), All-Access card with reserved seating is $200.

COURTESY WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

CIAA Announces Preseason Football Team & Ranking

Durham, North Carolina -- The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) and its Football Coaches Association announces the 2016 CIAA Football Predicted Order of Finish and the Preseason All-CIAA Team.

For the second consecutive season, the Rams of Winston-Salem State University have been selected as the predicted championship contender. The defending CIAA Champion Rams finished 6-5 last season with a 5-2 conference record. Bowie State University has been selected to finish second after falling to WSSU in the 2015 CIAA Championship and then to Assumption College in the first round of NCAA DII playoffs.

2016 Predicted Order of Finish

1. Winston-Salem State University
2. Bowie State University
3. Virginia Union University
4. Virginia State University
5. Fayetteville State University
6. Chowan University
7. Livingstone College
8. Elizabeth City State University
9. Johnson C. Smith University
10. Shaw University
11. Lincoln (Pa.) University
12. Saint Augustine's University

Predicted Divisional Order of Finish

Northern Division

1. Bowie State University
2. Virginia Union University
3. Virginia State University
4. Chowan University
5. Elizabeth City State University
6. Lincoln (Pa.) University

Southern Division

1. Winston-Salem State University
2. Fayetteville State University
3. Livingstone College
4. Johnson C. Smith University
5. Shaw University
6. Saint Augustine's University

The 2016 Preseason All-CIAA Football Team is led by a standout group of senior student-athletes. Stephen Scott, Lincoln (Pa.) running back, led the Conference in yards per game (125.8) and tied for first in rushing touchdowns (10) in 2015. BSU Bulldogs' wide receiver Nyme Manns highlights the preseason team after completing his junior season ranked second in the CIAA with 92 receiving yards per game and tied for the first place rank with 13 receiving touchdowns. Last season's defensive game was marked by a season-high 10 sacks, achieved by defensive linemen Paulin Miano and Miles Pace of Virginia Union.

2016 Preseason All-CIAA Football Team

Offense

TE	#17	Victor Tabbs*	ECSU	6-4	230	Sr.	Suitland, MD
OL	#62	Jac'que Polite*	WSSU	6-5	300	Sr.	Ridgeland, SC
OL	#70	Tim Samuels	WSSU	6-3	240	Jr.	Charlotte, NC
OL	#75	Justin Nester*	BSU	6-3	276	Sr.	Dayton, MD
OL	#78	Abraham Garcia	VUU	6-6	340	Sr.	Fort Lauderdale, FL
OL	#78	Victor Tamba	BSU	6-5	335	Jr.	District Heights, MD
WR	#8	Nyme Manns*	BSU	6-4	212	Sr.	Baltimore, MD
WR	#16	Jordan Garrison	BSU	6-2	229	Sr.	Baltimore, MD
QB	#12	Shawheem Dowdy	VUU	6-4	218	Sr.	Baltimore, MD
RB	#5	Stephen Scott*	LUPA	5-8	205	Sr.	Baltimore, MD
RB	#9	Hakeem Holland*	VUU	5-10	180	So.	Baltimore, MD
PK	#47	William Johnson	WSSU	5-11	175	Sr.	High Point, NC
KR	#9	Hakeem Holland	VUU	5-10	180	So.	Baltimore, MD

Defense

DL	#7	Miles Pace	VUU	6-2	250	Sr.	Miami, FL
DL	#46	Armond Cox	LC	6-3	240	So.	Teaneck, NJ
DL	#53	Paulin Miano*	VUU	6-6	265	Sr.	Washington, DC
DL	#99	Sean Copeland	BSU	6-0	325	Sr.	Baltimore, MD
LB	#20	Demetrius Newberry	CU	5-11	225	Sr.	Brunswick, GA
LB	#34	Geo Feggins	VSU	6-1	210	Sr.	South Hill, VA
LB	#44	Kevaugn Townsend*	BSU	5-8	203	Sr.	Ft. Washington, MD
DB	#8	Carlo Thomas*	JCSU	6-2	185	Jr.	East Orange, NJ
DB	#21	Rodeshawn Joseph	VUU	6-1	185	Sr.	Pompano Beach, FL
DB	#26	Travis Scales	FSU	6-0	200	Sr.	North Carolina
DB	#37	Eric Henderson*	FSU	5-8	170	Sr.	Charlotte, NC
P	#57	Christopher Palmer	BSU	6-2	274	Sr.	St. Mary's, MD
PR	#12	Robert Chesson	BSU	5-10	179	So.	Annapolis, MD

*2015 All-CIAA First Team Members

The 2016 CIAA football season opens on Saturday, September 3 with the CIAA Football Championship scheduled for November 12, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. The nationally televised championship game will be played at Durham County Memorial Stadium and feature the CIAA Northern and Southern Division champions.

CIAA Football Media Day kicks off at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 21, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. Catch all the action by following the CIAA on Facebook (The CIAA), Twitter (@CIAAForLife), and Instagram (@CIAASports).

COURTESY CIAA MEDIA RELATIONS