Sunday, August 1, 2010

New ASU athletic director takes over

Stacy Danley was certainly aware of Alabama State's revolving door in the athletic department. The university has had six different athletic directors since Rob Spivery left in 2002, seven if you want to count execu tive vice president John Knight, who has run the department since interim direc tor Sterling Steward resigned in June.

Danley, a former star running back at Auburn in the late 1980s, served as Tus kegee University's athletic director in 2008 and 2009 so he couldn't help but no tice the turmoil of the Hornets' program as it went through coaching transitions, NCAA sanctions and constant changes at the top of the athletic department.

Danley also noticed other changes on campus. New baseball, softball and soccer facilities as well as a football complex were the latest developments for a pro gram trying to put its chaotic struggles in the past.

"It was very clear to me they were at a position where they were ready to transform this athletic department," he said. "They made a commitment to me that they wanted me here and they wanted me here for some time. I'm not going any where any time soon. We've got a lot of work to do. It's not going to happen over night but we're going to get it done."

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Ravens' Harewood a long way from home

OWINGS MILLS, MD - Ramon Harewood was ambling through a college fair in his native Barbados six years ago as a high school senior, pondering his future when he was discovered by Atlanta track and field coach Michael Grant.

The chance meeting between a towering, hulking teenager and Grant ultimately created a historic path that guided Harewood to the Baltimore Ravens as the first player from Barbados to reach the NFL.

Harewood had the brain of a rocket scientist and a body frame that approached the height and bulk of former Ravens tackle Orlando Brown. "I'm looking at him from a recruiting standpoint, going, ‘Oh my God,'" Grant said. Grant couldn't believe his eyes.

Harewood was academically gifted with a 1370 SAT score. He was 6-foot-6 and well over 300 pounds. And the young man was athletic enough to excel on junior national teams in rugby, track and field, and volleyball. He also played a mean game of cricket.

Grant went to work on Harewood, convincing him to enroll at Morehouse after he first attended the University of West Indies. "He saw me at a rugby game and some track meets and was like, ‘Dude, I'm telling you, you need to be overseas playing sports," Harewood said.



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Morehouse College Glee Club in Concert

The Morehouse College Glee Club embraces a ninety-year tradition of musical excellence and achievement. The Glee Club has continued in this tradition through the dedication and commitment of its members and the leadership that our directors have provided throughout the years. It is a tradition that has bestowed upon the Glee Club a vast history of attainment and shall provide it with a secure future of even greater accomplishments. It is the mission of the Morehouse College Glee Club to keep its standard of excellence.

Music calms the beast in all of us, so enjoy this cultural experience of the world famous Morehouse College Glee Club, under the direction of Dr. David Morrow.

READ MORE @ http://www.mcgclub.com





How the Legacy Bowl could ruin S.C. State football

Orangeburg, S.C. -- (Excerpts) : South Carolina State has finally come clean about the Legacy Bowl. Around a month after Florida A&M issued a statement denouncing the bowl, earlier this week, the school issued a press release confirming that it, along with the rest of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, are engaged in talks regarding a potential Legacy Bowl that would put the winner of the MEAC against the winner of the SWAC at the end of the 2011 season.

All interview requests by T&D Senior Sports Writer Thomas Grant Jr., directed to South Carolina State President George Cooper and Athletic Director Charlene Johnson were rejected. Looking at things from Johnson and Cooper's point of view, and for that matter the MEAC's, and in their defense, the game may actually provide an initial financial benefit. But, it's also a very near-sighted move, especially for South Carolina State.

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READ RELATED ARTICLES:
MEAC'S Thomas: Bowl vote in fall

Commissioner: Legacy Bowl 'no-brainer' for SWAC

MEAC shifts schedules, moves to 2 divisions in most sports
Proposed Legacy Bowl game has an uncertain future »

SU names former Jaguars' Olympian Interim Track & Field Coach

Southern University has announced that former two-sport athlete and 2008 USA Olympian, Brian Johnson, has been named Interim Head Track & Field Coach. Johnson takes over after the resignation of interim head track coach, Tinnequo Lightfoot-Ross.

Ross had just completed her 10th year at Southern University and her first as interim head track & field coach. She took over the program after the long illness, and death of long-time SU Track Coach, Johnny Thomas. She previously served as an assistant coach for eight years.

"With our cross country student-athletes reporting next week, we needed to have someone in place as soon as possible", says Greg Lafleur, SU Athletic Director.

Johnson qualified for his first Olympic Team with his runner-up finish at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials, where he posted his best jump of the year. His 2007 season was highlighted by wins at Baton Rouge and Rethymno, where he had his best mark of the season of 8.31meters/27-3.25. He is currently the #2 ranked long jumper in the US, and 9th worldwide.

Johnson enjoyed a banner season in 2006, highlighted by victories at the AT&T USA Indoor and Outdoor Championships, and ending the season ranked #3 in the U.S. by Track & Field News.

Three years after suffering a devastating knee injury, the former Southern University All-American became a world class long jumper when he captured the 2005 USA Indoor title, later that summer Johnson placed third at the USA Outdoor Championships with a leap of 8.09m 26-6.5. That effort qualified him for a spot on the Team USA roster for the 2005 World Outdoor Championships in Helsinki, where he barely missed qualifying for the final.

Johnson earned his degree in Political Science in 2003 from Southern University and A&M College. His wife, Pamela, is also a Southern U. graduate and they have a son, Kobe.

READ MORE SU SPORTS @ http://gojagsports.cstv.com

Preseason poll shows little faith in DSU


Lavan confident despite 7th position.

Delaware State University was picked Friday to finish seventh in this year's MEAC football race and that did not stun Hornets head coach Al Lavan. "I'm not surprised by the preseason rankings, given the number of question marks surrounding our team this season," Lavan said in a press release.

South Carolina State was picked to win its third straight MEAC title this fall. The Bulldogs collected 15 of 18 first-place votes and 315 total votes. Florida A&M was picked second, garnering two first-place votes and 268 total votes. Delaware State collected 120 votes. Lavan is 38-28 in six seasons with the Hornets, including 30-18 in MEAC contests. The Hornets begin their preseason football camp on Aug. 10.

Delaware State opens its 2010 season on Sunday, Sept. 5, against Southern University (La.) in the sixth annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Orlando, Fla. The contest, which will kickoff at noon, will be broadcast live on ESPN and ESPN3. com.

DSU's home opener takes place on Sept. 11 against Florida A&M with a 6 p.m. starting time. Delaware State (4-7, 3-5 MEAC) finished tied with Hampton and North Carolina A&T for sixth place in the MEAC last season.



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SSU hires 3 football assistant coaches

Savannah State University football interim head coach Julius Dixon has hired three assistant coaches: Carl Funderburk (offensive line), Corey McCloud (defensive line) and Dwayne Curry (linebackers). They will join SSU assistant coaches Alan Hall, Eddie Johnson, Hans Batichon and Barry Casterlin.

John Montgomery (offensive line) resigned earlier this year.

Coach Funderburk is a 1989 graduate of Elon University and coached the offensive line at Winston-Salem State University in 2009. Prior to WSSU, he served seven years at Methodist University (Fayetteville, N.C.), where he was the offensive line coach and travel coordinator.

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