Savannah State and North Carolina A&T Football to play at Appalachian State

Boone, N.C.  - Six home games, including three in September, and a season-opening contest versus one of college football’s most powerful programs highlights Appalachian State University’s 2011 football schedule, which was announced by ASU director of athletics Charlie Cobb on Monday.

Appalachian opens the 2011 campaign at Virginia Tech. The season-opening matchup pits two of only three NCAA Division I programs that have won at least 10 games each of the last six years (Ohio State is the third). Despite being separated by less than 150 miles, the Mountaineers and Hokies are squaring off for only the fourth time ever and the first time since 1982.

Virginia Tech won each of the three previous meetings between the programs, all of which took place at VT’s Lane Stadium in a four-year span from 1979-82 (the teams did not meet in 1980). The Mountaineers are 7-27-1 all-time against current members of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Following the opener at Virginia Tech, ASU settles in for a very rare string of three-consecutive home games, beginning with the home opener on Sept. 10 versus North Carolina A&T, followed by a Sept. 17 date against another Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference foe in Savannah State and the Sept. 24 Southern Conference opener versus Chattanooga.

The three-consecutive games at Kidd Brewer Stadium, where ASU has led FCS in regular-season attendance for each of the past four years, mark only the third time in Appalachian’s 82-year football history that the Mountaineers will play regular-season home games on three-straight Saturdays (the Apps also played at home on three-consecutive weekends in Sept. 1957 and Sept. 1981).

2011 APPALACHIAN STATE FOOTBALL REGULAR-SEASON SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Site All-Time Series Last Meeting
Sept. 3 at Virginia Tech Blacksburg, Va.VT leads, 3-0 VT 34, ASU 0 (Oct. 23, 1982)
Sept. 10 North Carolina A&T Boone, N.C. ASU leads, 4-1 ASU 38, A&T 31 (Sept. 16, 1995)
Sept. 17 Savannah State Boone, N.C. First Meeting

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WSSU Coach Maynor Receives New 5-Year Contract and 43.75% Pay Raise

WSSU Chancellor Dr. Donald Reaves

GREENSBORO, N.C. - He's fourth on N.C. A&T's career passing list, but former All-MEAC quarterback Connell Maynor won't be the Aggies' next football coach.

Maynor, the head coach at Winston-Salem State, said during the weekend he turned down A&T's offer to take over for interim coach and longtime assistant George Ragsdale.

After Maynor turned down the Aggies, Winston-Salem States's Board of Trustees Executive Committee on Monday unanimously approved a new five-year contract that raised his salary from $90,000 to $160,000 a year, Chancellor Donald Reaves told the Journal. Former A&T coach Alonzo Lee's contract was worth $145,000 annually.

"It just wasn't worth the gamble," Maynor told the Journal...

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O'Quinn, NSU Spartans roll in double OT win over Coppin State Eagles

BALTIMORE, MD - Kyle O'Quinn, who just hours earlier was named MEAC Player of the Week, sank two free throws with 4.5 seconds left in double overtime Monday night as Norfolk State topped Coppin State 110-108 at the Coppin State Physical Education Complex.

O'Quinn, a 6-foot-10 junior center, scored a career-high 37 points, grabbed 19 rebounds and blocked six shots as the Spartans won their fifth straight. O'Quinn was coming off games of 26 and 24 points in wins over South Carolina State and Morgan State. But Norfolk State (7-13, 5-3 MEAC ) had many heroes in this one.

Poor shooting foils NSU women

BALTIMORE - The Norfolk State women were doomed by 29 turnovers and poor shooting Monday night in a 64-55 MEAC loss at Coppin State. Tyisha Bridges led NSU (8-10, 1-7) with 14 points while Sarah Daily chipped in 13.

Coppin State (7-12, 4-4) attempted 20 more free throws than the Spartans and was paced by Larissa Carter, who finished with 18 points.

Eagles Prevail Over Norfolk State 64-55

BALTIMORE -- Larrisa Carter had 18 points and nine rebounds and Coppin State defeated Norfolk State 64-55 on Monday in the Physical Edciation Complex despite the suspension of three players.

Coppin State (7-12, 4-4 MEAC) played the game without Jeanine Manley, Crystal Whittington and Leola Spotwood who were all suspended for one game following their involvement in an on-court altercation following the Eagles 75-74 loss to North Carolina A&T on Saturday.

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Texas Southern cruises past Alabama State

HOUSTON -- Travele Jones scored 18 points to lead Texas Southern past Alabama State 73-59 Monday night. Kevin Galloway added 15 points and Lawrence Johnson-Danner had 14 to help the Tigers (10-10, 8-1) remain tied for first in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

Tramaine Butler led the Hornets (6-16, 3-6) with 17 points.

Texas Southern took control of this one early by quickly building double-digit lead and shot 51 percent in winning for the eighth time in nine games. The Tigers led 12-0 2:49 into the game, went into halftime up 41-32 and led by 18 after intermission.

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Jackson's jumper gives WSSU a win

Andrew Jackson saved the day, and helped re-fuel a rivalry with Johnson C. Smith as he hit a buzzer-beating 35-foot jumper in a 78-77 victory for Winston-Salem State. In front of a packed house of 3,200 at the Gaines Center on Monday night the Rams kept a hold of their first-place grip in the CIAA’s Southern Division. But it was far from easy.

“I know I beat the clock,” said Jackson, a senior guard who took Marcus Wells pass from midcourt and then hit the long jumper. The Rams coughed up the lead with sloppy play near the end and the Bulls had a 77-75 lead with three seconds left. With 1:18 left the Rams were up by five but the Bulls never gave up and came charging back.

JCSU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL BLOCKS OUT WINSTON-SALEM STATE FOR A 64-60 VICTORY

Winston Salem, NC – The Johnson C. Smith University women's basketball team remains unbeaten on the road after a 64-60 win over Winston-Salem State University on Monday evening inside the C.E. Gaines Center on the campus of WSSU. JCSU improves to 17-1 overall, 10-1 in the CIAA, and 3-0 in the division; while the Lady Rams move to 12-7 overall, 7-3 in the conference, and 2-1 in the Southern.

Coming into this game, there were a few interesting storylines. First, this was the first contest between JCSU and Winston-Salem State since January 2007; after WSSU ventured out of the CIAA to Division I-AA competition. WSSU head women's coach Stephen Joyner, Jr. has several ties to Johnson C. Smith University.

Joyner, Jr. is an alum of JCSU and former student-athlete, he served two seasons as the assistant women's basketball coach (under current JCSU head women's coach Vanessa Taylor), and he is the son of JCSU Director of Athletics and head men's basketball coach Stephen Joyner, Sr. Despite all those facts, JCSU and WSSU were battling for the top spot in the CIAA Southern Division.

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Livingstone Blue Bear Women Down St. Augustine's 84-80 In Rollercoaster Affair

Lady Blue Bear Coach Angelyne Brown

SALISBURY, NC – The Livingstone women’s basketball team battled hard Monday evening to overcome a pesky St. Augustine’s team and grab an 84-80 victory.

Livingstone (12-4, 7-2, 2-1) was led by Brittany Wright who recorded her seventh double-double of the season with 23 points and 12 rebounds before fouling out of the game. Cassaundra Rhodes also added 16 points while Jasmine Murray scored 10.

Livingstone got off to another slow start as the Falcons (11-8, 5-4, 0-3) jumped out to a quick 8-2 lead, but the Blue Bears battled back on a 7-0 run to grab a 9-8 lead with 15:20 left in the opening half. Over the next three minutes the lead changed hands four times. Livingstone found itself down two with 12:16 to go, but went on a 7-0 run to go up 18-13 with 10:28 left.

Blue Bear Coach James Stinson

Livingstone Overcomes 14-Point Deficit to Upend St. Augustine's 75-74 In Overtime

SALISBURY, NC – The Livingstone men’s basketball team erased a 14-point, second-half deficit Monday evening and defeated the St. Augustine’s Falcons 75-74 in overtime.

The Blue Bears trailed the Falcons by 14 points with 7:35 to go in game and less than four minutes later the Blue Bears had clawed their way within four with 3:59 to play. St. Augustine’s briefly regained a seven-point edge before Livingstone went on a 5-0 run to get within two with 2:44 left in regulation.

The Falcons went back up by four with 2:12 to go, before Darius Cox hit a jumper with 1:42 left and was fouled. Cox converted the free throw to bring Livingstone within one. St. Augustine’s continued to hit clutch shots down the stretch and went back up by three with 1:25 remaining. Livingstone had multiple opportunities on its next possession to score, but couldn’t. The Blue Bears fouled St. Augustine’s Darrell Glass to proceeded to miss both free throws.

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2011 Honda Battle of the Band Performances

Eight HBCU Bands, Bow Wow Perform at 9th Annual Honda Battle of the Bands

Atlanta, Ga. - The ninth annual Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase delivered on its promise to bring the ultimate party with a purpose to the people, offering a little something for everyone – from “Hip-Hop’s very own “Bow Wow” in live performance, to spirited marching band renditions of the latest chart-topping soul, R&B and Hip-Hop hits. Atlanta’s WVEE Radio evening drive-time host, Ryan Cameron, introduced the bands, while “Bow Wow” treated fans to a special performance of “Ain’t Thinkin’ ‘Bout You,” from his new album, Underrated.

2011 Invitational Showcase, themed “Hollywood Lights,” featured a mass band performance medley of music in film, as nearly 60,000 HBCU friends, fans, students and alumni from all parts of the country made their annual pilgrimage to support their favorite bands.


Videographer: MarchingsportHD

This year’s Showcase bands included: Albany State University, Bethune Cookman University, Clark Atlanta University, Jackson State University, South Carolina State University, Tennessee State University, Virginia State University and Winston-Salem State University.


Videographer: Ram2010Pride

The Honda Battle of the Bands not only showcases the pageantry and showmanship of HBCU bands, but also and more importantly, acts as the nation’s only HBCU music scholarship program of its kind. The eight bands selected to participate in the Invitational Showcase were awarded $20,000 each for their music scholarship programs, plus an additional $1,000 grant for their participation in the Celebration Tour, the Honda Battle of the Bands’ pre-qualifying event. In all, a total of $205,000 in scholarship money was given to HBCU music programs this year.













Credits:
1. Bethune-Cookman University, Videographer: MarchingsportsHD
2. Jackson State University, Videographer: MarchingsportsHD
2b.Jackson State University, Videographer; Jarquavius101
3. South Carolina State University, Videographer: MarchingsportsHD
4. Tennessee State University, Videographer: doublea198505
5. Albany State University (Ga.), Videographer: JGASU08
6. Winston Salem State University, Videographer; doublea198505
7. Clark-Atlanta University, Videographer; doublea198505
8. Virginia State University, Videographer; doublea 198505
9. Mass Band Closing, Videographer; SoSouthernTV
10.Intro...Honda Battle Of The Bands 2011 featuring DJ Baby Yu, Ryan Cameron & Bow Wow; Videographer: djbabyyu

RELATED LINK: The 9th Annual Honda Battle of the Bands