Florida State adds Delaware State to 2017 football schedule

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The Florida State Seminoles have added the Delaware State Hornets to their 2017 football schedule, FSU announced on Twitter on Tuesday.

Florida State will host Delaware State at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee on Nov. 18, 2017. Per a report by 247Sports, FSU will pay Delaware State a $475,000 guarantee for the game.

Delaware State is a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in the Football Championship Subdivison (FCS). The Hornets finished the 2016 season 0-11 overall and 0-8 in MEAC play.

The addition of Delaware State tentatively completes Florida State’s non-conference schedule for the 2017 season.

FSU is slated to open the 2017 season on Sept. 2 against Alabama in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta. The Seminoles also host ULM on Sept. 9 and travel to face arch-rival Florida on Nov. 25.

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Grambling State Football lands another 4-Star Ole Miss transfer

Christian Morris, who will report to Grambling upon graduating from Ole Miss in May 2017 has two years of eligibility remaining.

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- The rich get richer at Grambling.

Almost a year after landing a high profile recruit from Ole Miss, Grambling's football program went back to the Southeastern Conference well to secure a commitment from a former four-star recruit when offensive tackle Christian Morris announced Monday on Twitter he is committed to Grambling.

Christian Morris ‏@CMo_7uno  4h4 hours ago

Committed to Grambling ! #GramFam

Morris is the former teammate of quarterback DeVante Kincade, who transferred from Ole Miss to Grambling last year. Kincade was recently named the 2016 Southwestern Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year, and he helped Grambling win an HBCU national championship over the weekend.

"DeVante played a huge factor in my decision making and as well as winning the SWAC championship," Morris told The News-Star on Monday night. "That really just blew my mind over and made me want to come to Grambling."

Grambling's win Saturday in the Celebration Bowl sealed the deal for Morris, who will report to Grambling upon graduating from Ole Miss in May. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

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Six SWAC Standouts Garner AFCA All-America Honors

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Southern running back Lenard Tillery and wide receiver Willie Quinn, Texas Southern kicker Eric Medina, Jackson State defensive end/linebacker Javancy Jones, Grambling State wide receiver Chad Williams and Alabama State linebacker Kourtney Berry have been named to the American Football Coaches Association 2016 Coaches' FCS All-America team.

The announcement was made earlier today. Medina is the AFCA first-team pick at kicker, and Tillery, Quinn, Jones, Berry and Williams all received second-team consideration at their respective positions except for Quinn, who was a second-team choice as an all-purpose player.

Each player was also a first-team All-SWAC choice at their respective positions, with Quinn doubling up first-team All-SWAC nods at wide receiver and return specialist and Jones taking first team all-league honors at defensive end and second team honors at linebacker. Medina also earned first-team All-SWAC honors in multiple positions this year (kicker and punter).

Tilley rushed for a league-leading 1,665 yards and 13 scores on his way to becoming the all-time leading rusher in SWAC history. He led the conference in rushing by more than 400 yards.

Williams hit the SWAC triple crown in receiving as he led all players in catches (90), yards (1337) and touchdowns (11). He was the only player to crack 1,000 receiving yards and average 100 yards or better per contest.

Quinn tied Williams for the league lead in touchdown grabs, catching 63 balls for 955 yards. Quinn added another 697 yards in the return game as he accounted for 1682 total yards of offense, good for No. 4 in the conference.

Medina was 15-of-16 in field goals, and scored 72 points. The LaPorte, Texas native also averaged 42.1 yards per punt on his 36 attempts.

Jones, who was a second-team AFCA All-American at defensive end, posted 82 tackles (fourth-highest in the league) and four sacks with 19.5 tackles for loss. The latter figure was second in the conference.

Berry, a three-time All-SWAC first-teamer, made 66 total stops in his last hurrah for Alabama State, which put him in the top 10 ranks for tackles.
SWAC Football.

FULL AFCA COACHES FCS ALL-AMERICA TEAM


COURTESY SWAC MEDIA RELATIONS

Celebration Bowl promotes leadership, heritage and opportunity

ATLANTA, Georgia -- Intense and exhilarating are words some of the 31,096 spectators used to describe the second Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl Dec. 17 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

Southwestern Athletic Conference champions Grambling State University defeated North Carolina Central University, champions of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, 10-9 to win the first game of this year’s college bowl season.

The Air Force Reserve has served as the title sponsor of the bowl game since its inception in 2015. Its commercials and advertisements before and during the game reached a broad national audience.

The expanded reach from attendees of the game, viewers of ABC’s live broadcast, consumers of ESPN’s coverage and perusers of social media allowed an opportunity to showcase the more than 70,000 Citizen Airmen who are part of the communities they serve. They study in colleges and universities, support local community programs, maintain civilian careers, and make an impact each and every day.

“The Air Force Reserve believes inclusion inspires excellence,” said Lt. Gen. Maryanne Miller, chief of Air Force Reserve and commander of Air Force Reserve Command. “We’re here to honor the legacy of our culture of diversity.

“The fusion of our varied and rich cultures generates a resilient force for freedom and forges a unique bond between the Reserve, families and communities,” she said.

The diversity and inclusion Miller referred to was reflected in various events leading up to and including game day from not Conly the SWAC and MEAC coaches and players, but also their supporters.



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Michael Strahan, Elvin Bethea among SWAC, MEAC greats to be honored before Super Bowl LI

HOUSTON,Texas -- Members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame that attended historically black colleges and universities, including Michael Strahan of Texas Southern, Ken Houston of Prairie View A&M and former Oilers great Elvin Bethea, will be recognized at NRG Stadium prior to Super Bowl LI as part of the NFL's new alliance with the Southwestern Athletic Conference and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

Houston, who played for the Oilers from 1967-72 as part of a 14-year NFL career, and Strahan, who played for the Giants team that won Super Bowl XLII, will be among the former SWAC players who will be honored on the field prior to the Feb. 5 championship game. Bethea, who played from the Oilers from 1968-83, attended college at North Carolina A&T.

Former Chiefs defensive back Emmitt Thomas of Angleton, who attended Bishop College, also will be among the group of honorees that includes Super Bowl veterans such as Jerry Rice, Art Shell, Mel Blount and Willie Davis and Super Bowl MVP Doug Williams.

The Super Bowl recognition is part of the new NFL/HBCU alliance known as the Strength of HBCUs, Impacting Pro Football Since 1948, which commenced at Saturday's Celebration Bowl in Atlanta. The relationship included a football careers forum for SWAC and MEAC athletic administrators.



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NFL Celebrates Hall of Famers Who Attended HBCUs

CANTON, Ohio -- The National Football League and Historically Black Colleges and Universities have shared a long rich tradition together, which have produced the greatest legends to have ever played the game.

In fact, ten percent of the Pro Football Hall of Fame is comprised of NFL Legends who attended HBCUs.

That’s why it was so appropriate in May of 2016 that the NFL partnered with the MEAC and SWAC to develop and strength their relationship for future endeavors.



The partnership is put in place to celebrate and honor the history and impact that HBCUs have had on the game. Another key component of the partnership, is to increase career opportunities for students and football administrators at these institutions.

During December 15-16, a special conference was held at the NFL headquarters that focused on career and character development. Conference goers from the MEAC and SWAC had the unique opportunity to learn about the inner workings of the NFL from some of the league’s best NFL and Club executives.

The 2016 Celebration Bowl served as the kick off to the league’s enriched partnership with the MEAC and SWAC. The conclusion of the well celebrated partnership will close at Super Bowl LI with a special celebration of Pro Football Hall of Fame players that attended HBCUs.

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Southern basketball notebook: Tre'lun Banks has no time to celebrate his graduation; no decision yet on suspended players

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Skipping college graduation for basketball is becoming a bit of a Banks family tradition.

Like his father, Roman, did for his graduation, Southern senior point guard Tre’lun Banks skipped Friday’s ceremony in which he would have received his diploma in favor of attending the Jaguars’ morning practice sessions.

Banks earned his degree in 31/2 years. He could have graduated last spring but put it off until December so he could play his senior season.

“It’s big when you graduate. Everybody wants to walk, but I feel like we had so much going on,” Banks said. “I feel like this team is in need, especially with a lot of players being gone and with me being a senior leader, there was just too much that needed to be done.”

Roman Banks, Southern's coach, said it was his son's decision to pass on his graduation ceremony. Roman skipped his at Northwestern State to continue his preparation for a run at a professional career.

“(Tre’lun) wanted to make sure he finished, but he wanted to be out here,” Roman said. “It was his decision. His mom wanted to see him walk, but that wasn’t in his plan.”

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