Southern's search for its backup quarterback continues as John Lampley gets his shot to back up Austin Howard

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Senior quarterback Austin Howard sat out roughly the entire second half of Southern’s practice Tuesday, ceding the field to the three quarterbacks competing for the top spot behind him.

“We’ve got to find out who the 2 is,” coach Dawson Odums said, referring to the No. 2 quarterback.

Directing the first-team offense Tuesday was freshman John Lampley, a bit of a surprise considering Darquez Lee and Bubba McDaniel had spent most of preseason practice with the second- and third-team offenses.

Lampley was the only backup quarterback to lead a scoring drive during Saturday’s scrimmage, although he did it during the short-field segment on a drive that covered less than 50 yards.

“John’s running with the 2s now,” Odums said. “He’s getting a chance. McDaniel is getting a chance; Lee is getting a chance. We’ve got to find out. It’s got to be decided on the field.”

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FAMU's bus ride to Arkansas grabs national attention, associate AD fires back

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M's football team will take a bus for its Aug. 31 game against Arkansas in order to save on travel costs and the story is stirring up some debate on social media.

The Tallahassee Democrat's story on the bus ride -- which will take about 10 hours -- was tweeted out by ESPN's Jay Bilas on Saturday. The college basketball analyst has more than 1.8 million followers on Twitter.

The Rattlers will leave the Wednesday before the game, which is on Thursday night.

Bilas tweeted out the story and said, "Make no mistake, all players are used to make their schools money. A crazy bus ride to Arkansas...for $750,000."

Chris Asa, FAMU's associate athletic director for tickets and corporate sales, fired back at Bilas in a series of tweets Saturday afternoon, defending FAMU's recent cost-saving measures.

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Alabama State Hornets wrap up second day of practice

MONTGOMERY, Alabama – The Alabama State University football team wrapped up its second day of practice on Saturday morning at the Houston Markham Jr. Football Complex.

The Hornets, preparing for their first game of the season on Sept. 2 against Tuskegee, opened practice for the second consecutive day at 9 a.m. and went through a grinding two and a half hours of practice. The main emphasis was put on individual and team drills, along with continued work on the offensive and defensive units.

With just three more Saturday's until the season opener, here is a look at the top five things you should know about the Alabama State football team.

1. Alabama State features five new coaches to the team this season. Osita Alaribe and Grady Brown were introduced to the team in the spring. Alaribe comes over from Tennessee State University where he served as the defensive coordinator last season. Brown spent last season in Columbia, S.C. at the University of South Carolina as the secondary coach. Joining the Hornets this fall has been the addition of Trey Dunbar, Billy Gresham and Gary Howard. Dunbar will serve as the quarterbacks coach after spending the past three seasons at Troy University as the Assistant Director of Operations and On Campus Recruiter. Gresham will serve as the high school relations director and recruiting coordinator after serving the last six years as the head football coach at Carver Senior High School in Montgomery. Howard will make the transition from offensive lineman last season with the Hornets to graduate assistant.

2. There will be a new defensive scheme in place this season with the addition of Alaribe and Brown. The Hornets spent most of the spring adjusting to the new defense and through the first two practices, the defensive players are continuing to progress under the new system.

"Osita (Alaribe) has done a wonderful job," Jenkins said. "The players have really become acclimated to his system really well. It's a system I fell in love with when I interviewed him. He reminds me of a defensive coordinator who won many championships for me and that is (Charles) Yogi Jones at Bethune-Cookman. He is a young Yogi Jones…Very cerebral, but very detailed. He doesn't do a whole lot of yelling, but does a lot of teaching. He's done an exceptional job and the other defensive coaches have done a great job learning the system. I think they are going to put together a good, strong defense."

3. There is a wide-open competition at the quarterback position this fall. With the departure of starting quarterback Quinterris Toppings from last season, the Hornets have six quarterbacks this fall that will be vying for the starting spot. But don't expect head coach Brian Jenkins to make a decision about the starter anytime soon.

"It is anyone's job," Jenkins said. "Anyone who knows me knows that I like a lot of quarterbacks. If one goes down, then it's next up. All of them are in tuned to what's going on and all of them are executing well, so it's going to be a true fight down the stretch to see who we select. We are going to let those guys battle it out and right now it's only right to keep the competition open and that way each guy can put in his best bid to be that number one guy."

4. It is not where you start, but how you finish. Sure many may grumble that Alabama State was picked to finish second in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) East Division behind Alcorn State. However, the Hornets return six on the offensive side and seven on the defensive side, and have a lot of players returning who played off last year's 4-7 squad. The Hornets had just two All-SWAC preseason selections as offensive lineman Sam Baptiste was selected to first team, while kicker Trevor Vincent was named to the second team.

5. Tuskegee is on the schedule, which means a rivalry is renewed. The Hornets have spent the past few days getting back into the swing of things on the football field. One thing is for sure, Jenkins isn't thinking about the Week 2 opponent (Troy) or the rest of the schedule. Right now, the focus isn't so much on that first game, but about getting the players prepared for an entire season.

"Every game is a big game," Jenkins said. "Anytime you are in a competition it is big, regardless who it is against. Tuskegee is a good program; has a winning tradition; a legendary coach. Right now we aren't concentrating on them, but about Alabama State University football and about being the best we can be right now. We are excited about the game and I have heard about it for many years. I actually attended a couple of them when I was a young lad, and I am honored to be able to coach in this game. As we are preparing to be a better team, we are looking forward to that game with Tuskegee."

Alabama State will play six games at the ASU Football Stadium, including the opener – The Labor Day Classic: A Marion Nine Invitational – against Tuskegee. Tickets are still available and fans are encouraged to purchase tickets by calling the Alabama State University box office at (334) 229-4551 or (334), 229-8479. Fans may be able to purchase tickets online by going www.bamastatesports.com or by clicking the following link: https://www.ticketreturn.com/prod2/team.asp?SponsorID=9737

ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY HORNETS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE 2017

Date		Opponent	Location	Time/Result
9/2/2017		Tuskegee	Montgomery, Ala. - ASU Stadium	7 p.m.
9/9/2017		Troy	Troy, Ala.	5 p.m.
9/16/2017		Kennesaw State	Montgomery, Ala. - ASU Stadium	7 p.m.
9/23/2017	*	Prairie View A&M	Montgomery, Ala. - ASU Stadium	7 p.m.
10/5/2017	*	Alcorn State	Montgomery, Ala. - ASU Stadium	6:30 p.m.
10/14/2017	*	Texas Southern	Houston, Texas	2 p.m.
76th Magic City Classic
10/28/2017	*	Alabama A&M	Birmingham, Ala.	TBA
11/4/2017	*	Jackson State	Jackson, Miss.	1 p.m.
11/11/2017	*	Grambling State	Montgomery, Ala. - ASU Stadium	2 p.m.
11/18/2017	*	Mississippi Valley St.	Itta Bena, Miss.	1 p.m.
94th Annual Turkey Day Classic
11/23/2017		Cheyney	Montgomery, Ala. - ASU Stadium	2 p.m.
Toyota SWAC Championship
12/2/2017		TBA	Houston, Texas	TBA
Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl
12/16/2017		TBA	Atlanta, Ga.	TBA

Follow the Hornets
For complete coverage of Alabama State football, please follow the Hornets on social media at @BamaStateFB (Twitter), /BamaStateSports (Facebook) and @BamaStateSports (Instagram) or visit the official home of Alabama State Athletics at BamaStateSports.com.

ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS

West Virginia State Athletic Department Makes Staff Changes

INSTITUTE, West Virginia -- West Virginia State University Athletic Director Nate Burton has announced the following changes in the Athletic Department staff.

Kerri Blackwell has been named Assistant Athletic Director/Senior Women's Administrator and Mattie Best has been named Interim Head Softball Coach for the 2017-2018 season.

Blackwell has served as the Yellow Jackets' Head Softball Coach for the last three years and the department's SWA for the past year.

"While evaluating our Athletic Department, we had a clear need to add another full-time administrator," said Burton. "I am excited that Kerri has chosen to help lead this department and I am confident she will be a great asset to our programs and to our student-athletes."

Blackwell's responsibilities include administrative oversight over WVSU's five women's programs, academic coordinator, serving as the department's deputy Title IX coordinator, and other internal operations duties.

"A goal of mine has always been to move to the administrative side of intercollegiate athletics." Blackwell said. "I am looking forward to working with our coaches and student-athletes. I am dedicated to the enrichment of our student-athletes and their overall experience at WVSU."

Best, who has served as an Assistant Softball Coach for the Yellow Jackets for the previous three years, has been promoted to interim Head Softball Coach for the 2017-2018 season.

"As a former Yellow Jacket student-athlete and most recently as the assistant coach, Mattie brings knowledge and passion to our women's softball program," Burton said. "I look forward to working with her and supporting her efforts to lead our program this year."

Best is a former first team All-Mountain East Conference and second team All-Atlantic Region selection as a third baseman for WVSU. She completed her playing career in 2014 with a .370 batting average and graduated with honors. The Hemet, California, native holds the program record for career doubles and ranks among the top four Yellow Jackets historically in numerous categories including batting average, hits, runs batted in, home runs, on base percentage, and slugging percentage.

"I would like to thank the administration for the opportunity of being named the interim softball coach," Best said. "With our returning players and group of newcomers, I am looking forward to the start of the season."

The changes are effective immediately.

WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Chicago State Men's Basketball Travels To Bahamas Next Week for NCAA Foreign Trip

CHICAGO, Illinois -- Chicago State University men's basketball is getting an early opportunity to prepare for the 2017-18 season this month as it heads out of the country next week for a five-day trip to the Bahamas where it will play three exhibition games from August 10-15.

The trip will be the second for the Cougars as they traveled to Costa Rica in the summer of 2013 before posting an 8-8 record to finish third in their first season in the Western Athletic Conference in 2013-14.

"I think we are going to have a great experience when we take the team to the Bahamas for our summer tour next month. I feel that we will see a lot of bonding (between the players) and to have a chance to battle against older players in the Caribbean," said CSU head coach Tracy Dildy. "Our guys are going to have to accept that challenge and it should help us as a team just like it did four years ago in Costa Rica."

The Green and White will travel to Nassau on Thursday, Aug. 10 before opening its exhibition slate at Sir Kendal Isaacs National Gymnasium against IBA Elite on Friday, Aug. 11 (6 p.m., central). CSU then takes on the NBPA All-Stars on Saturday, Aug. 12 (3 p.m., central) and the CTG Knights on Sunday, Aug. 13 (3 p.m., central) before returning to Chicago on Tuesday, Aug. 15.

NCAA basketball teams are allowed per NCAA rules to participate in an international tour over the summer once every four seasons to play in exhibition games. CSU will have 10 days of practice in preparation for the trip which began this past Tuesday at the Jacoby Dickens Center.

Seven players return for the Green and White from last season's team which includes two returning starters in Second Team All-WAC junior guard Fred Sims, Jr. (Chicago, Ill./North Lawndale) and sophomore forward/center Patrick Szpir (Wheeling, Ill./Wheeling).

The trip also serves as the inaugural appearance in a CSU uniform for seven newcomers – redshirts Travon Bell (Chicago, Ill/Mather), Ken Odiase (Glenwood, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) and Jelani Pruitt (Gary, Ind./Merrillville), junior college transfers Anthony Harris (Gary, Ind./Griffith (Ind.)) and John Joyce (Chicago, Ill./Taft), and freshmen Cameron Bowles (Chicago, Ill./Kenwood
) and Simeon Henton (North Chicago, Ill./North Chicago).

Fans can follow the Cougars during their Bahamian trip via updates on GoCSUCougars.com and @ChicagoStateMBB on Twitter.

CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS

2017-18 NSU Spartan Basketball Schedule Revealed

NORFOLK, Virginia -- The Norfolk State men's basketball program and head coach Robert Jones released their 2017-18 schedule on Friday. Non-conference home games against Niagara, Bowling Green, Kent State and Elizabeth City State and an exhibition against Virginia State highlight the home non-conference slate for the Spartans.

In all, NSU will play 15 games at Joseph Echols Hall this year, including the normal eight MEAC games and seven non-conference matchups. The Spartans also take on Old Dominion in December at Norfolk Scope Arena. Numerous mid-major trips await the program, with just one high major trek to Auburn on this year's schedule.

2017-18 Norfolk State Men's Basketball Schedule

"This year was very tough scheduling teams," said Jones. "Our recent success of six straight postseasons made opponents scarce to come by. However, we were able to put together a super competitive mid-major schedule with teams that were either in postseason last year or projected to be this year. This schedule will be extremely difficult like every other year. We will be challenged early and often."

The 2017-18 season begins on Nov. 4 when the Spartans host Virginia State for an exhibition game at Echols Hall at 7 p.m. NSU officially opens the regular season on Nov. 10 at Auburn before hosting Lynchburg College on Nov. 13, also at 7 p.m.

"The matchup against Auburn will be our first and one of our stiffest tests all year," stated Jones. "Opening night on the road at an SEC opponent will be very challenging. They return their core from last year and a projected NBA player in Mustapha Heron. This is will be a tall task, however we will be ready to compete at that high level."

Two long trips await the team after Lynchburg. The first finds the team travelling to the University of San Diego and Grand Canyon University on Nov. 18 and 20, respectively, and then later to Little Rock, Arkansas to take on Robert Morris (Nov. 24) and host Little Rock (Nov. 26).

"Road games are always difficult, but playing against San Diego and Grand Canyon presents another challenge in flying three time zones away." added Jones. "San Diego is a solid team in a tough West Coast Conference. Grand Canyon might be the best team on the schedule our fans might not be familiar with, a program that packs its arena every game, is led by NBA legend Dan Majerle, and went 22-9 and 11-3 in the WAC last year.

"Both Robert Morris and Little Rock, year in and year out, also produce high level teams."

A very friendly home schedule awaits after the Little Rock trek, with four contests at Echols Hall in a five-game span. It starts with back-to-back Mid-American Conference opponents in Kent State on Nov. 29 at 8 p.m. and Bowling Green on Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. The KSU contest will also serve as a doubleheader with the women's team, which is also playing a non-conference game that day.

After a trip to Loyola Chicago for the second straight season on Dec. 9, the Spartan men close out that home stretch with a 7 p.m. contest against Mid-Atlantic Christian on Dec. 14 and a 4 p.m. matchup against Niagara on Dec. 16.

"Kent State played UCLA very well last year in the NCAA tournament, and we need all of our fans at this game to help pack the house against a very good mid-major. Last year Loyola Chicago was a very competitive team as well when we played them. They are projected to be near the top of a very good Missouri Valley Conference."

Sandwiched around trips to Eastern Kentucky (Dec. 18) and Stony Brook (Dec. 30) is the Norfolk showdown at Scope Arena on Dec. 22. NSU and ODU will renew a series that was played two years ago at ODU for the first time in 15 years but has not been at Scope since the 2000-01 season.

"Last time we played ODU, the atmosphere was electric in a sold out Ted Constant Center," said Jones. "I expect the same at Scope. I am already getting calls about tickets. That shows how much everyone is already looking forward to this game. On top of that, ODU should have a very good team this season. We look forward to the Battle of Norfolk.

"In addition, Stony Brook is also a perennial contender year in and year out in the America East Conference. They have won multiple regular season championships and should be there at the end again this year."

Games against Bowling Green, Niagara and Eastern Kentucky will each complete a home-and-home series that began last year.

The 2018 calendar year also marks the beginning of MEAC play. It starts on Jan. 3 with a home contest against Coppin State. The Spartans play their next four conference games on the road, first at North Carolina A&T and North Carolina Central on Jan. 6 and 8, respectively. NSU also travels to South Carolina State (Jan. 20) and Savannah State (Jan. 22).

In between, NSU gets a weekend off from the MEAC, and thus a home contest against Elizabeth City State on Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. awaits. At the end of the month, the Spartans host Bethune-Cookman on Jan. 27 and Florida A&M on Jan. 29. All home conference games this season start at 8 p.m. on weekdays, including three on a Monday and one each on a Wednesday and Thursday, as well as 6:30 p.m. on Saturdays.

"The talent level in the conference has been raised to the highest I have seen in close to five years," stated Jones. "This 16-game schedule will be the ultimate grind in 2018. By putting together a demanding non-conference schedule, we will be prepared to continue our recent success in the MEAC."

A rare home-away MEAC weekend starts February's action, when the Spartans host Morgan State on Feb. 3 before travelling to Bethune-Cookman on Feb. 5. The first Battle of the Bay is scheduled for Feb. 10 at Hampton, and NSU also hosts Delaware State two days later on the 12th.

Savannah State and S.C. State make the return trip to Norfolk on Feb. 17 and 19, respectively, before the Spartans embark on one last regular-season road trip. After playing at Maryland Eastern Shore (Feb. 24) and at Howard (Feb. 26), the Spartans will host Hampton on March 1 to close out the regular season.

This year's MEAC tournament runs from March 5-10 at Scope Arena.

Mike Bello, Asst. SID
NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Stellar Season Ahead For SCSU's Darius Leonard

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- In college football you don't always have to go to a big time program to make a name for yourself and get the attention of NFL Scouts. You just have to be great where ever you play. The South Carolina State Bulldogs have a great one.

Down in Orangeburg South Carolina State is continuing preseason drills and senior linebacker Darius Leonard is gearing up for a big year.

He's the reigning MEAC Defensive Player Of The Year and he was recently named the league's preseason defensive player of the year.

People around the country are taking note. Leonard is also on the watch list for the Butkus Awarrd. He'll battle the big boys from the Division I FBS level as well as other studs in the FCS. With these kinds of accolades this is a player who will likely be the next Bulldog taken in the NFL Draft.

Leonard knows he'll be a marked man this year but that doesn't phase him.

"That's going to push me to be better than I was last year. It's good to have a little spot on my back so it's going to have to push me to make me better," Leonard said.

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