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NORFOLK, Virginia -- For players at smaller schools, the journey to the NFL isn't always pretty. From going undrafted, to waiting for training camp invites, the process can take a toll. "You have two options when facing obstacles, you can run from them and hide, or you can face them head on," said Redskins linebacker Lynden Trail.
Trail spent three seasons at Norfolk State after transferring from Florida. During his time with the Spartans, he garnered multiple All-MEAC selections, and was a finalist for the top FCS defensive player in the nation. After leaving NSU, Trail went undrafted, and spent a season injured with the Houston Texans before landing with the Redskins.
In the course of his time with the 'Skins, Trail has been cut twice from the practice squad, but that never stopped him. In Week 16 of the NFL season, he made his NFL debut against the Chicago Bears. "It's kind of a roller coaster, that's what I compare it to more than anything," said Trail. "You have your ups, you have your downs, but God's going to put certain things in your way to actually become stronger from it."
With the suspension of 'Skins linebacker Trent Murphy, Trail has an opportunity to be the next man up. "If you continue to grind, continue to work, eventually someone will see it."
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Bragg Memorial Stadium opened its doors to the public in 1957. It is known to be the groundbreaking of the strategic success and achievement of the Rattlers over the years and is now up for new renovations.
The stadium was first named after two of its most prominent figures to the football program, Jubie Bragg and Eugene Bragg; or better known to the Tallahassee area as the “First Family of Rattler Football.” Jubie Bragg served as the first head football coach and athletic director for Florida A&M University in 1907 through 1931. He gathered a record of 4-18-1 as head coach.
Bragg’s son, Eugene, took over the program and became head coach in 1934. Unfortunately, his coaching career was cut short after being killed in an automobile accident in 1935.
Before the nice seating, freshly paved grass and polished skybox, the football program started its first game without a stadium, playing on an all grass field behind Gaither Gymnasium. This area was previously known as “Bragg Field,” which now currently holds the athletic track and field. Thanks to fundraisers, the Rattlers finally had something to brag about in 1957. Bragg Memorial Stadium was finally built and showcased 10,500 permanent seats and bleachers, and held 13, 200 fans.
But as quickly as the rattler fans had something exciting to look forward to every Saturday evening, it seemed as though the thrill began to slowly fade away by the mid-80s. The stadium needed major repairs and grew too small for the football team and its fans, as FAMU enrollment began to spike.
In 1982, expansions to the stadium finally commenced. The $4 million renovation allowed bleachers to seat over 25,000 fans. A press box, concession stand, renovated restrooms and a $125,000 scoreboard with a message center implemented, but the stadium was still in need of desperate repairs and needed to raise $622,000 for structural repair and stair replacements before the start of the 2017-2018 season or else FAMU would be forced to play its home games elsewhere.
Director of Athletics Milton Overton Jr. recently voiced his opinions about repairs to the stadium.
“We’re going to play home games next season, there is no doubt about that, Rattlers always show up,” Overton said.
Even though now the athletic department has raised all the money needed to repair the stadium FAMU students still believe that it has been long overdue for a new stadium.
Nigel Lawrence, a sophomore School of Business and Industry student voiced how he feels about Bragg Stadium needing further repairs.
“Well first I think it’s long overdue, the stadium itself looks old, and just by looking at it you can tell it needs to be renovated.”
Jacques Bryant a senior majoring in healthcare management who has had success with the football program ending his college career with 4 interceptions, 71 tackles, MVP, and recently being named to the ALL-MEAC first team also added his thoughts.
“It’s important that the program has now raised the money for the stadium, because now-a-days players want to play at the best looking facilities and use the most updated equipment,” said Bryant.
According to recent documents released by facility services the stadium will include lots of upgrades such as new coaches offices, meeting rooms, class rooms and a new team meeting room all totaling up to 10,000 square feet. The Offense, and Defense meeting classroom will hold up to 45-seat capacity with theatre style seating also being included.
The program will also include a new weight room at 30,000 square feet, a new athletic training room with hydrotherapy equipment, players and coaches locker room, a lobby full of Rattler Alumni in the NFL along with trophies. Academic space is also being included in this project as two large tutor rooms and 1 large computer lab will be provided for the players.
The fans will also be comfortable as improvements of new benches/seating for 35,000 are sought in this proposal. Additional support space for home and visitor locker rooms, 25 luxury suites, club level, loge boxes, food service, concession stands, retail sales, restaurants, press box, media support, restrooms and other stadium area support space will total 140,136 square feet.
The start of this new project has not been disclosed but Rattler fans can expect to have something new to bragg about next year.
SAVANNAH, Georgia -- When Willie Walker started the 300 Club last year, he had a vision of giving Savannah State University better locker rooms for its student-athletes and better offices for its coaches.
Now he’s committed to raising every dollar possible to keep Tiger athletics from taking a step down one level.
SSU baseball player Turner Davis told the Savannah Morning News on Wednesday that he and other student-athletes were informed by athletic director Sterling Steward about a possible move to NCAA Division II starting in 2019. The Tigers currently compete in Division I-AA (FCS) in football and Division I in all other sports. Steward declined a request for comment.
That news has reached the ears of SSU alumni like Walker, a 1981 graduate who is now an attorney in Jacksonville, Fla., and many are willing to stand up and prevent it from happening, Walker said.
“Everyone in the alumni community is dead-set against returning to Division II,” Walker said Friday.
Walker is the CEO of the 300 Club, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises money for Savannah State athletics.
“We’re making sure that the resources are there so that it doesn’t happen,” Walker said about the proposed plan for SSU to drop to Division II. “Our mission has been repurposed toward raising funds toward the erasing of the deficit so our student-athletes can have a good Division I experience.”
ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- In some spring games, college football coaches just want to see returning starters run plays in sequence and get their timing and accuracy down.
In Saturday’s Garnet and Blue Spring Game at 2 p.m. on Willie E. Jeffries Field at South Carolina State University, head coach Buddy Pough and his staff will be looking to see quite a bit more.
A young defensive secondary is the only area that needs to show some signs of promise on the defensive side of the ball, as the linebacking corps and defensive line are the most established position groups on the team.
S.C. State returns 14 starters from last year’s squad, including All-American linebacker Darius Leonard and All-MEAC linebacker Dayshawn Taylor.
But the offense has several question marks and areas that need to show signs of improvement.
There will be a new starting quarterback and it just might be one of the three starting wide receivers from 2016, even though all three missed considerable playing time due to various injuries last season.
ORANGEBURG, South Carolina – After averaging only 21 points and under 300 yards per game last season, South Carolina State needs its offense to improve this season if the Bulldogs are going to be serious contenders in the MEAC title race.
The Bulldogs tied for third place last year, but they finished three games behind champion North Carolina Central and their 5-6 overall record matched the worst in coach Buddy Pough’s first 15 seasons.
The offense should get better just by facing SCSU’s veteran defense on a daily basis. On Saturday, the offensive players hope to impress the coaching staff when the Bulldogs conclude spring practice with their annual Garnet and Blue game at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium in Orangeburg.
“The offense shows potential and we are young in certain positions, which means we have to mature really quickly, especially on the offensive line,” Pough said.” We just have to continue to work hard to see who we think has a chance to help this team moving forward.”
Quarterback Caleb York transferred after his sophomore season, and either Mykal Moody, a converted wide receiver who excelled in his season finale start against Bethune-Cookman, or Dewann Ford could lead the unit. CONTINUE READING
NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana men's basketball announced Wednesday the signing of Rayshawn Mart of Houma, La., and H.L. Bourgeois High School to an athletic scholarship. He is the first Gold Rush signee for 2017-18.
Mart, a 6-foot-3 guard, averaged 17 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.6 steals for HLB this past season and helped the Braves reach the round of 16 in the LHSAA Class 5A state playoffs and finish 28-7. He was honorable-mention all-state, first-team All-District 7-5A and the league's defensive MVP.
"It's great to have Rayshawn in the Gold Rush family," XULA head coach Alfred Williams said. "He's a talented young man. In addition to his offensive skills, he has long arms and big hands and plays excellent defense."
As a junior in 2015-16, Mart averaged 12.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.2 steals to help the Braves reach the 5A state quarterfinals and finish 24-9. He was a member of back-to-back state-championship teams in AAU competition with the L.T. Rockets.
Mart played strong safety for the Braves' football team in 2016. He intercepted four passes and scored on an interception and a fumble recovery.
"Xavier felt like home when I stepped on the campus," Mart said. "I felt welcomed there. I feel like I can be the best that I can be at Xavier."
Mart will be a pre-pharmacy major at XULA.
"Rayshawn worked just as hard in the classroom as he did on the court to get to this position," HLB coach Andrew Caillouet said. "He has a 3.5 GPA, and that got Xavier's attention."
XULA won five Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season championships and qualified 10 times for the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship during the past 13 seasons. XULA's 31 seasons of 20-or-more victories are a Louisiana men's collegiate record.
NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana men's basketball acquired its second signee in as many days when Galen Smith Jr. of Bay St. Louis, Miss., and Bay High School signed an athletic scholarship Thursday.
Smith, a 6-foot-8, 212-pound forward, averaged 9.9 points and 8.4 rebounds per game this past season. He helped the Tigers win a district championship, reach the second round of the playoffs and finish 25-6.
"Galen is a versatile forward who can play multiple positions. His IQ, passing and work ethic are his biggest assets, " XULA head coach Alfred Williams said. "His upside is through the roof. He will have a great career at Xavier University."
Smith was a member of the National Honor Society at Bay High. He will be a pre-medical major at XULA, and he hopes to become a radiologist.
On Wednesday Rayshawn Mart, a 6-3 guard from Houma, La., and H.L. Bourgeois High School, became XULA's first signee for 2017-18.
XULA won five Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season championships and qualified 10 times for the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship during the past 13 seasons. XULA's 31 seasons of 20-or-more victories are a Louisiana men's collegiate record.
NORFOLK, Virginia -- For players at smaller schools, the journey to the NFL isn't always pretty. From going undrafted, to waiting for training camp invites, the process can take a toll. "You have two options when facing obstacles, you can run from them and hide, or you can face them head on," said Redskins linebacker Lynden Trail.
