Still No. 1: The SWAC tops all FCS schools in attendance

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is still number one in attendance for football games.

The SWAC remained the top-attended conference in the NCAA Div.-I Football Championship Series (FCS) for the 2016 season with a total reaching 678,355.

As a league, the SWAC averaged 14,132 in attendance in its 48 home football games, an increase in average of 1,309 per contest.

The Missouri Valley Conference were next in attendance as it drew an average of 11,095 in its 61 home games. The SWAC outnumbered the MVC by over 1,500 in total attendance despite playing in 13 fewer contests.

The Big Sky ranked third with an average of 9,719.

The SWAC has been the FCS leader in attendance in 38 of the previous 39 years and its most highly attended games did not factor into the figures. The Magic City Classic between Alabama A&M and Alabama State drew over 70,000 fans at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., the Bayou Classic drew 67,845 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, La., and the State Fair Classic between Grambling State and Prairie View A&M drew 53,182 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, TX.

Five schools from the SWAC ranked in the top 20 with Jackson State ranking fourth in attendance among FCS schools (19,660) followed by Grambling State (16,335) in 10th, Alcorn State (14,343) in 13th, Southern (13,678) in 16th and Prairie View A&M (12,194) in 18th.

The SWAC also saw the greatest increase in average attendance (1,309) among all Division I schools including FBS conferences.

The SWAC Championship between Alcorn State and Grambling State drew 24,917 to NRG Stadium in Houston, TX.



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Grambling State AD hires Director of Compliance

Tiffani-Dawn Sykes
Assistant Athletics Director for Compliance

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- Grambling State University Athletics Director Paul Bryant added another important piece to his staff in his on-going effort to improve the GSU athletics program.

Bryant has hired Gramblinite Tiffani-Dawn Sykes as the assistant athletics director for compliance, effective Monday (April 10).

"I am so happy to have Ms. Sykes as a part of the University's team," said Bryant. "Her knowledge and experience in college athletics, particularly in compliance, will allow us to operate within the guidelines of the conference and NCAA. She will be committed to ensuring that the university and athletics staff are compliant in our approach to educating our student-athletes. We are very fortunate to have her at the helm of our compliance department."

"I am very excited to return to Grambling State University, a place that is very special to me," said Sykes. "As an alumna of GSU, I know how much our athletic program means to the Grambling community. I look forward to serving Grambling State University, its student-athletes, coaches and athletics staff for many years."
Sykes returns to her alma mater after four years as the NCAA Eligibility Specialist for the Norfolk State University athletics department, where she was responsible for evaluating degree audits and other academic records in an effort to ensure conformity with NCAA initial, transfer and continuing eligibility regulations. She also assisted with Academic Performance Program (APP), Graduation Success Rate (GSR) and other NCAA academic reports.

Prior to NSU, Sykes spent three years as the director of NCAA compliance at Chowan University from 2010-13. There, she was in charge of certifying all student-athletes for NCAA eligibility while coordinating the NLI and scholarship processes for the athletics department. Additionally, she was a member of the department's senior staff and the sport supervisor for bowling.

Sykes also has extensive sports information experience, having previously served as the sports information director at St. Paul's College (2002-06) and Virginia Union (2006-09). In 2009, Sykes served as the interim assistant sports information director at GSU and as the sport management specialist at the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) in 2010.

Sykes graduated cum laude with a bachelors of science degree from Virginia State in 2001, where she lettered in volleyball and track and field. She currently serves as the National Vice President of the VSU Alumni Association.

The Portsmouth, Va. native earned her masters from Grambling State in 2010, where she graduated summa cum laude. Sykes completed the NCAA Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minority Females in 2007 and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the National Association of College Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and the Women Leaders in College Sports, formerly NACWAA.

GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

JOURNEY TO THE NFL: Former DSU standout Gabe Sherrod prepares to turn pro

PERRYVILLE, Maryland — Gabe Sherrod’s football career has been on an upward trajectory ever since he first stepped on the field to play Pop Warner football at Perryville Middle School.

It’s been a gridiron journey that included a trip to the 1A State High School Football Championship as Perryville’s senior quarterback in 2011, earning All-MEAC first-team honors as a defensive end at Delaware State University in 2015 and, most recently, strapping on a helmet as a fifth-year senior for Big Ten powerhouse Michigan State University.



Now, as he turns his attention to making the jump to the NFL, Sherrod has returned to the place where it all began: Cecil County.

“I’m going into unprecedented territory in that not a lot of people that I know, except for Larry Webster, made it [to the NFL] from this area, so I thought it was only right to come home and train around people I’m familiar with,” said Sherrod, referencing Elkton graduate Larry Webster, a defensive end drafted by the Detroit Lions in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. “This, after all, is where everything started and how I was able to branch out to Delaware State and Michigan State, so I just felt it was only right to come home. And spend time with family, as well. That time is invaluable. I don’t know where I’ll end up in the next couple of weeks, so spending time with my family and having them see my face, seeing their faces, it’s an all-around good thing to do at this point.”

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Texas Southern Lady Tigers Golf wins first SWAC Title in school history

ALEXANDRIA, Louisiana – The Texas Southern women's golf team claimed their first SWAC Women's Golf Championship in program history by shooting a 307-329-636 to wrap up play on Tuesday at the Links on the Bayou in Alexandria, La.

The Lady Tigers broke up a four-year title run by Alabama State, who had also taken the SWAC Women's Golf Championship in five in the previous six seasons.

Jackson State finished as runners up with a 349-338-687 followed by Prairie View A&M in third place (369-351-720) and Alcorn State in fourth (378-370-748).

Texas Southern's Amber Kuykendall shot even-under-par 71-73-144 to pace the Lady Tigers.

TSU teammate Jalyn Joseph was awarded the SWAC Women's Golf Freshman of the Year award after firing a 75-84-159.

Amber Kuykendall and Joseph were each named to the All-Conference First Team.

Texas Southern head coach Hank Stewart was named the SWAC Women's Golf Coach of the Year after guiding the Lady Tigers to their championship.

2017 SWAC Women's Golf All-Conference Team

First Team
Chanelle Avaricio, Alabama State
Amber Kuykendall, Texas Southern
Dismary Marquez, Alabama State
Makalia Brown, Jackson State
Jalyn Joseph, Texas Southern

Second Team
Saidah Bodden, Alabama State
Destani Burbank, Texas Southern
Tasita Garcia, Jackson State
Hillary Washington, Texas Southern
Keelin Floyd, Jackson State

TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

ASU signee Ross brings scoring punch

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Jacoby Ross looks the part.

Watched a couple of YouTube videos of the Alabama State signee this weekend.

He has some handle, can shoot it from deep and get to the rim. Didn't see much mid-range game, but you can see why he averaged 23 points for American Basketball Institute.



Ross showed the ability to play off the ball a little bit and shake free for shots. Understand these are highlights, but the Alexandria, La., native looks like a talent who could help ASU right away.

"It's an honor to be able to go to college and to get my school paid for in the game that I like to play," said Ross in an interview with KALB-TV out of Alexandria. "They're like another home to me. They said they're going to take care of me and I was going to be the leader and that captain of the team. So I'm just going to take on that role and do my part."

The 5-foot, 10-inch point guard averaged 22.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.9 steals while at Peabody Magnet High where he played for his grandfather, Charles Smith.

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Savannah State athletics move to NCAA Division II

SAVANNAH, Georgia -- Savannah State University (SSU) President Cheryl D. Dozier today announced the intent to classify all athletics programs from NCAA Division I to NCAA Division II, "pending approval by the NCAA. The announcement also signals the end of SSU’s membership in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) after the transition," the University reports today.

"This decision was made after months of discussion and deliberation in an effort to put SSU’s athletics programs in the best position fiscally, academically and athletically. This move allows SSU athletics to remain in competition and carry on their traditions," an SSU spokesperson says.

The administration "has maintained that fiscal responsibility for the betterment of students and the institution is priority. Senior administrators are in ongoing communication with the NCAA and the MEAC to create and coordinate a plan to have the most efficient transition," the University reports.

“While I am extremely proud of the progress our athletes and coaches have made at the Division I Level, it is not financially feasible for us to continue,” said Dozier. Additional details about the transition plan will be released in the coming months.

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S.C. State football has competitive 20-17 spring game

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- For the most part, the play in South Carolina State’s spring football game on Saturday was just as good as the amazing weather fans and football recruits in the stands enjoyed.

While the defense stood strong most of the game, the offense showed signs of improvement through spring workouts and posted touchdown runs by two different quarterbacks, as the White team (offense) took a 20-17 win against the Garnet team (defense).

PHOTO GALLERY: S.C. State football spring game 2017

Even with the Bulldogs not playing a few returning starters on defense, there was one forced fumble and fumble recovery against the offense and one tipped pass that was intercepted.

All in all, the game on Willie E. Jeffries Field was a strong finish to the spring workout schedule for S.C. State and head coach Buddy Pough’s team.

“We feel like we got a lot done in developing some depth this spring,” Pough said. “We’re still working on ways to run the ball better and run it more often.

“All of our quarterbacks had their moments today and they had their boneheaded moments too. We’ve got the chance to throw the ball around a little bit, but that’s going to depend on our offensive line continuing to improve.”



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