Florida A&M Holmes looking for new beginnings this football season

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  By now everybody knows about all the things that went wrong in Earl Holmes' first year as head football coach at FAMU.

He had two coaches out, either recovering from an illness or the death of a relative during a six-week period. Then, running back coach Elijah Williams quit the job to handle a family matter midway through the season. Quarterback Damien Fleming, in the midst of a less-than-spectacular season, suffered a season-ending foot injury.

And, who could forget the foul up with the sidelines headsets that were so inadequate that they malfunctioned for almost an entire game? Go ahead, laugh because it seems funnier than it is to understand.

No matter how Holmes spins it, fans take those types of things as excuses for losing. Especially when expectations were for a season better than 3-9.

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Four Sign With TSU Volleyball For Upcoming Season

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Volleyball head coach Kathy Roulhac has added four players for the upcoming 2014 season. Samantha Beltran, Madison Halterman, Haley Hampton and Marie Hadar have all signed to compete for the Tigers in the fall.

 

Beltran, a 5’10 setter, comes to Tennessee State after completing her prep career at Streetsville Secondary School for Jim Dinner and Karen Young in Mississauga, Onatrio. The five-sport athlete led Streetsville to a ROPSAA Triple-A Championship in her finals season. In 2011, Beltran earned MVP honors at the Joan of Arc Tournament.

 

Beltran was a member of the Student Council, the Tiger Leadership Council, and earned Academic Honors every year in secondary school. The incoming freshman played club ball for Peel Selects coached by Ken Jones, Eclipse West Volleyball Club coached by Amanda Vigna, Defensa Volleyball Club coached by Aaron McGregor and Lakeside Volleyball Club coached by Bear Davies.

 

Halterman will transfer to TSU after spending two years at Iowa Western Community College. The 5’7 libero/defensive specialists earned a spot on the All-Region XI team as a sophomore, helping IWCC to a 7th place finish at Nationals, and a 4th place in her freshman campaign.

 

As a sophomore, Halterman played in 49 matches, averaging 4.24 digs per set as the Reivers and head coach Alicia Williams finished 44-5. The incoming junior recorded a career high 34 digs versus Miami-Dade (10/25). In her first season, Halterman played in 46 and collected 125 digs, along with four service aces and 11 assists.

 

The Omaha, Neb. native earned All-State honors in her final two seasons for Jennifer Rhine at Benson High School. Halterman was twice named to the Omaha World Herald’s All Metro team and was selected as the BHS team MVP as a senior. Halterman also competed for the BHS soccer team and was a member of the honor roll.

 

Halterman played club volleyball with the Omaha Wave for Terry Gamble and the Omaha Premier for Nate Mongan.  Halterman guided the Premier to a fifth place finish at the 2011 Junior National Championships.

 

The incoming junior intends to major in Psychology with future plans to work in human services as a social work.

 

Hampton completed two seasons for Amber McCray at Panola College where she earned 1st Team All-Conference honors as a sophomore and was an NJCAA All-American Nominee. Hampton spent her freshman season as an outside hitter and transitioned to middle blocker in 2013.

 

She was second on the team in kills with 2.59 per set and third in blocks with 0.82 per set. She also notched double-digit kills in 13 matches in her final season. During a 5-game loss to top-ranked Blinn at the Regional Tournament, Hampton helped lead the Fillies with 10 kills on 22attempts for a .409 hitting percentage.

 

Hampton’s accomplishments also extend past the court as she was named to the Region XIV All-Academic Team. She intends to major in Criminal Justice at TSU.

 

In her first season at PC, Hampton played in 31 matches, averaging 2.3 kills and 0.82 blocks per set, while finishing with a .303 hitting average. Her performance earned her a spot on the All-Conference Honorable Mention squad and the Most Improved Award at Panola.

 

Hampton prepped at Dr. John Horn HS in Mesquite, Texas where she was a three-sport athlete, competing in volleyball, basketball and track. The 5’9 middle blocker/right side hitter played competitively for Travis Ferguson and the Impact Highline 18’s.

 

Hadar brings NCAA D-I experience to TSU after spending three seasons at Arkansas State. The Humboldt, Iowa native played in five matches, starting four, before an injury ended her season. Hadar recorded four kills against South Dakota and five blocks against Pittsburgh, while finishing the season with 12 kills, seven blocks, and three digs.

 

The 6’1 outside hitter played in 23 matches, starting 21, as a sophomore at ASU. Hadar led her squad in blocks per set at 0.78, tied with 11 solo blocks and delivered 175 kills. Hadar collected a career-high 14 kills against Louisiana-Lafayette as she registered a Sun Belt single game best .824 hitting percentage. At the Sun Belt Tournament versus UALR, Hadar matched her career-high kills’ mark of 14. She finished her second year with 59 total blocks, 22 digs and six assists.

 

As a freshman, Hadar played in four matches, collecting seven kills, one ace and two digs as ASU claimed the Sunbelt West Division title. Academically she was named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll.

 

The junior transfer played four years at Humbolt High School for Connie Rasmussen and was named to the All-Conference, All-District and All-State teams. Hadar was a member of the Costa Rican National Team, who claimed the Central American Cup Championship in 2011. She was also played in the World Championships in Japan for Costa Rica.

 

Hadar played two years with the Iowa Power Volleyball Alliance team, while participating in volleyball, basketball, soccer and softball at HHS. Hadar plans to continue her degree in sports management with the aspirations of attending Law School.

 

The Tigers open the season on Aug. 29 at the University of Arkansas Tournament.

 

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Alabama State Price Signs Free Agent Contract With Arizona Diamondbacks

PHOENIX, Arizona -- Alabama State University first baseman Dexter Price has signed a free agent contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
 

Price (6-2, 200, Sr., Lake Worth, Fla.) led the Hornets and tied for third in the SWAC with seven home runs and was fifth on the team with 40 RBI. He hit .299 this season with 14 multi-hit games and seven multi-RBI games with a .397 on-base percentage and .448 slugging percentage. Price was ninth in the SWAC in runs scored (29), tied for seventh in two-out RBI (19), and ranked 10^th in total bases (90). He started all 113 games he played in as a Hornet during his two-year career, hitting 15 home runs and driving in 67 runs.

 
"I'm very proud of Scooter and this great accomplishment," said Alabama State head baseball coach Mervyl Melendez. "He gave us two great years, was an outstanding player and a good teammate. We wish him well."
 
Price is the fourth player from the 2014 SWAC Eastern Division championship Hornets to be selected to play professional baseball, joining SS Emmanuel Marrero (7^th round pick - Philadelphia Phillies), OF Richard Amion (19^th round - San Francisco Giants) and C Richard Gonzalez (29^th round - Houston Astros).

"I want to thank the coaches for being there to help me during my time at ASU," said Price, who transferred to the Hornets from Daytona State College. "I will never forget all the players there. I wish I could stay longer because I had more fun on this team than any I've ever played on. I wish the best of luck to future players who will get the opportunity to play at Alabama State. It was a fun experience."

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

MVC Football Replay on Its Way?

Valley Football teams to experiment with replay

CARBONDALE, Illinois -- Missouri Valley Football Conference schools could be mandated to use instant replay in as soon as the next two years, according to commissioner Patty Viverito.

Two schools, Northern Iowa and North Dakota State, plan to use instant replay in all their games after the league approved experimenting with the process for televised games this fall. Before this year, Valley Football teams could only use replay during games against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents or in the playoffs.

"I think it's an expense that everybody anticipates taking on, eventually. I just think it happened a year ahead, or two years ahead of where we anticipated, in terms of the investment," Viverito said. "But, you don't have to buy the equipment. You can rent the equipment on a game-by-game basis, so, I think that's why a couple of the schools are looking to see, to do just a game or two with rented equipment and then determine if it makes sense for the investment."

Instant replay has been steadily growing at the Football Championship Subdivision level over the last four years. The MEAC used it in televised games through its package with ESPN networks in 2011. The Big South and SWAC experimented with ...

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SU Fall Camp 2014: Jaguars report July 31

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Head coach Dawson Odums welcomes his defending SWAC champion Southern Jaguars to fall camp July 31 when players are scheduled to report to the A.W. Mumford Fieldhouse starting at 1 p.m.

The Jaguars, who travel to face defending New Orleans Bowl champion UL Lafayette in the season opener on Aug. 30, will conduct its first practice of fall camp on Aug. 1 at 5 p.m. Freshman and newcomers will hold a brief practice at 3:45 p.m. prior to the full team practice.

Southern's first practice in full pads is set for Aug. 5 at 9:15 a.m. followed by the first of four scheduled two-a-day practices Aug. 6 at 9:15 a.m. and 4:15 p.m.

The final scrimmage of fall camp is slated for Saturday, August 16 at 9:45 a.m. before the Jaguars gather to host Fan Fest later in the afternoon.

Classes for the Fall 2014 semester begin Monday, August 18.

SOUTHERN FOOTBALL 2014 FALL CAMP SCHEDULE 

July 31 - PLAYERS REPORT - 1 p.m.-3 p.m.; Equipment Pickup - 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Aug. 1 - PRACTICE #1 (HELMETS) - Freshman and Newcomers 3:45 p.m.; Entire team 5 p.m.

Aug. 2 - PRACTICE #2 (HELMETS) - 9:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.

Aug. 3 - PRACTICE #3 (SHELLS) - 3:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.

Aug. 4 - PRACTICE #4 (SHELLS) - 9:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.

Aug. 5 - PRACTICE #5 (FULL PADS) - 9:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Aug. 6 - PRACTICE #6 (FULL PADS) - 9:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. | PRACTICE #7 (SHELLS) 4:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.
Aug. 7 - PRACTICE #8 (FULL PADS) - 4:15 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.
Aug. 8 - PRACTICE #9 (FULL PADS) - 9:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. | PRACTICE #10 (SHELLS) 4:15 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.
Aug. 9 - PRACTICE #11 (FULL PADS) - 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Aug. 10 - PRACTICE #12 (SHELLS) - 4:45 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Aug. 11 - PRACTICE #13 (FULL PADS) - 9:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. | PRACTICE #14 (SHELLS) 5:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.
Aug. 12 - PRACTICE #15 (FULL PADS) - 9:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Aug. 13 - PRACTICE #16 (FULL PADS) - 9:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. | PRACTICE #17 (SHELLS) 5:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.
Aug. 14 - PRACTICE #18 (FULL PADS) - 9:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Aug. 15 - PRACTICE #19 (SHELLS) - 9:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m
Aug. 16 - PRACTICE #20 (FULL PADS) - 9:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Aug. 18 - Classes Begin - No Practice

Aug. 19 - PRACTICE #21 (SHELLS) 5 p.m. (Pre-Practice availability 4:35 p.m.)

COURTESY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS 

Hampton hoping transfer Quinton Chievous can have immediate impact

HAMPTON, Virginia  -- The 2013-14 season in the MEAC was dominated by North Carolina Central, as Levelle Moton’s team went 16-1 in conference play and earned its first NCAA tournament berth as a Division I member. The question for the other teams in the MEAC heading into the offseason was a simple one: how do they close the gap between themselves and the defending champion Eagles?

One team asking that question is Hampton, which finished second in the MEAC standings with a 13-4 record. But the goal for teams in small conferences is to win their league’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, and for the second consecutive season Edward Joyner Jr.’s team lost its MEAC tournament opener.

The good news for Hampton is that while leading scorer and rebounder Du’Vaughn Maxwell (14.9 ppg, 7.3 rpg) is out of eligibility, they return the other four of their top five scorers led by point guard Deron Powers (11.8 ppg, 4.0 apg). The Pirates also add four newcomers with the most recent being former Tennessee guard Quinton Chievous.

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Cleveland Browns notes: Isaiah Crowell trying to make team as running back

BEREA, Ohio  -- If Ray Farmer has proven one thing in his first year as general manager of the Browns, it is he is willing to take a chance on a player with a checkered past.

 Isaiah Crowell fits that description. Crowell was regarded as one of the most talented running backs in the recent draft, but 32 teams passed on him through all seven rounds, so the Browns signed him as an undrafted rookie. The pre-draft scouting report on nfldraftscout.com explains why teams shied away:

“Crowell failed a drug test while at Georgia and was charged with two felony counts of possession of a firearm. Further, he hasn’t shown ideal toughness, struggling to play through relatively minor leg injuries throughout his collegiate career. … From a purely talent standpoint, Crowell may just be the best runner in the 2014 draft. Questions about his toughness and dependability, however, make him very much a gamble that some teams simply won’t be willing to take.”

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Southern's 'Doc' Williams receives LATA President's Award

Courtesy John Oubre and Southern University Athletics

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Longtime Southern University athletic trainer Carl 'Doc' Williams received the Louisiana Athletic Trainers Association's President's Award in recognition of his lifetime of service to Southern University as the school's head athletic trainer.

LATA vice president Ray Castle presented Williams the award in the SU athletic training room inside the A.W. Mumford Fieldhouse on Thursday.

Click here to watch the video.

"It's always an honor to get an award, wherever it comes from, because it means that those people have an admiration for what you've done and what you do," Williams said. "And that's the most important thing."

"As a trainer), you try an please the people you come into contact with, the people around you, and you try to help whenever you can and that's always been my mode of living."

Along with his many years of service with the SU athletic department, Williams served on the athletic training staff of the Dallas Cowboys and was active member of several national trainers associations.

The President's Award also recognized Williams as one of the integral figures who helped passed Louisiana legislation which recognized athletic trainers as allied healthcare professionals in the state.

This year, House Bill 691 was the first major revision in the athletic training practice act initially passed in 1985. The 2014 law, signed by Gov. Bobby Jindal under ACT 418, move the 1985 law from certification to licensure of athletic trainers.

"I began to really appreciate how much more work and time which the members of LATA had to dedicate in the early 1980's," Gerard White, president of the Louisiana Athletic Trainers' Association.

"Those key members were never acknowledged for what had to be a very time consuming endeavor to get the first athletic training practice act passed in 1985. So, with the recent passage of a revised athletic training practice act, the honors some key athletic trainers who played a pivotal role in getting the first law passed.

"Members, like Carl Williams, were the forefathers for the athletic training profession and serve as a positive role model and mentor for the rest of us."

Others also recognized with the 2014 LATA President's Award were: Mayfield Armstrong ATC, Michael Brunet MD, David Drez MD, David Giardina ATC, Bob Goodwin ATC, Jim Murphy ATC, PT, Troy Prevot PA-C, ATC, and Rep. Chris Broadwater (Legislator of the Year).

The Louisiana Athletic Trainers' Association (LATA)is a not-for-profit organization of health care professionals dedicated to the safety in sports completion and the profession of athletic training within the State of Louisiana.

COURTESY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Gold Rush announce signing of three student-athletes

From left:  XU assistant coach Alfred Williams, signees Troy Salvant,
Josh Freeman and Jacques Johnson and head coach Dannton Jackson.

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana announced Friday the signing of three student-athletes for men's basketball: Troy Salvant of Marrero, La., Josh Freeman of Chicago and Jacques Johnson of Ridgeland, Miss.
    
Salvant will be a freshman with the Gold Rush in 2014-15. Freeman and Johnson will be juniors.
    
Salvant is 25 years old and spent the past seven years in the Army, including 12 months during the Iraq war, and reached the rank of sergeant. A 6-foot-1 shooting guard, Salvant averaged 19.5 points per game as a senior at L.W. Higgins High School, where he graduated in 2007 and led the Hurricanes to the Class 5A state playoffs.
    
Former XU standout Wanto Joseph played against Salvant in high school. He recommended Salvant to XU head coach Dannton Jackson.
    
Freeman, a 5-10 point guard, is a transfer from Chicago's Kennedy-King College, a two-year school where he averaged 9.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game this past season. Freeman made 36.4 percent of his 3-pointers and 80.4 percent of his free throws. As a senior at Harold L. Richards High School in Oak Lawn, Ill., Freeman averaged 14 points per game and was all-conference.
    
Johnson, a 6-3 small forward, is a transfer from East Central Community College in Decatur, Miss. Johnson averaged 15.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game this past season and was selected second-team all-state in the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges. He was an MACJC all-star and was chosen East Central's MVP. As a senior at Provine High School in Jackson, Miss., Johnson averaged nine points per game.
    
Xavier's Gold Rush were 23-9 this past season, won the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season championship for the third consecutive year and qualified for the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship for the fourth straight season. Xavier ranked 16th in the coaches postseason poll.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
https://twitter.com/xulagold
https://www.facebook.com/xulagold 

NCCU Football To Open Season at ECU on ESPNEWS

 GREENVILLE, North Carolina – North Carolina Central University's season-opening football game at East Carolina University on Aug. 30 will be broadcast live to a national television audience on ESPNews with a kickoff time of 8:00 p.m., the American Athletic Conference announced on Thursday (June 19) afternoon.

When the two teams meet inside Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in Greenville, N.C., it will be first gridiron match-up between NCCU and ECU.

East Carolina, which will play its inaugural campaign in the AAC this fall under fifth-year head coach Ruffin McNeill, was 10-3 in 2013 and successfully completed the program's seventh postseason appearance in the last eight years with a 37-20 win over Ohio in the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl.

The Eagles, who are under the direction of first-year head coach Jerry Mack, opened last season at ACC Coastal Division champion Duke University and made three appearances on ESPN networks in 2013 (ESPN3 at Duke on Aug. 31, ESPNU vs. S.C. State on Oct. 10, ESPNews vs. Bethune-Cookman on Nov. 2).

For more information about NCCU football, visit www.NCCUEaglePride.com or download the NCCU Sports Network app.

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

NCAA meeting with Southern set for June 25

 INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana  -- Southern will get its day in court June 25.

That’s when eight representatives of the university will appear before the NCAA Committee on Academic Performance in Indianapolis as the Jaguars attempt to have an NCAA postseason ban lifted.

All Southern teams have been ineligible for NCAA postseason play since December as a result of inadequate reporting of student-athletes’ Academic Progress Rates. The university has been working for more than six months to satisfy NCAA requests for complete and accurate APR data.

Two NCAA representatives visited the campus in April to evaluate changes Southern has made to its record-keeping and submission to avoid future shortcomings.

An NCAA spokesperson said the hearing will involve a discussion of “the data issues at Southern and how the school will move forward with accurate and timely data submission in the future.”

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Former SU, Astros player Pittman dies at 60

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  --  Former Southern baseball player Joe “Shoes” Pittman, who played for three Major League teams, died last week. He was 60.

Pittman, who was an infielder with the Jaguars from 1973-75, was a native of Houston and played with and was later a scout for the Houston Astros.

“We are saddened to learn of the passing of Joe Pittman, who was a member of the Astros organization for many years as a player, scout and minor league instructor,” the Astros said in a statement.

“To those that played with him, Joe was known as a fun and enthusiastic individual that brought energy to the ball club.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to Joe’s family and many friends throughout the game and beyond.”

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Joseph Wayne Pittman (Shoes)
 January 1, 1954 – June 12, 2014

Astros statement on the passing of Joe Pittman
 

The Astros released the following statement on June 14, 2014 regarding the recent passing of former player, scout and Houston native Joe Pittman. He was 60 years old:

 

"We are saddened to learn of the passing of Joe Pittman, who was a member of the Astros organization for many years as a player,

scout and minor league instructor. To those that played with him, Joe was known as a fun and enthusiastic individual that brought energy to the ballclub. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Joe's family and many friends throughout the game and beyond."

 

An infielder, Pittman, who had the nickname "Shoes", was drafted by the Astros in 1975 and played for the Major League club for two seasons (1981-82). He also played in the Major Leagues for San Diego (1982) and San Francisco (1984). He later served as a scout for the Astros from 1988-2003, which included a stint as a minor league instructor in 1996.

Press Release  -- Houston Astros

Shaquille Duncan has been dismissed from the Morgan State basketball team

BALTIMORE, Maryland  --   Shaquille Duncan is no longer a member of the Morgan State men's basketball team.

Duncan, a junior of the Bears team last season, has been dismissed from the team today by head coach Todd Bozeman.

COURTESY MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

UAPB Lady Lions inks Barnes and Corby for 2014 season

COURTESY UAPB ATHLETICS

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas  --   The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Volleyball Team adds two-more newcomers for the upcoming 2014 season in outside hitters/middle blockers Valiyah Barnes and Lauren Corby.

Barnes, was a four-year letter winner in volleyball and a three-year starter at Simeon Career Academy High School in Chicago, Ill.  Last season, she was a First Team All-Conference selection and was a Second Team All-Conference selection in 2012 as she led her team to second place finish in conference play in 2012.   In addition, Barnes played club volleyball for the Powerhouse Volleyball Club.

Corby comes to UAPB from Edwardsville High School in Dorsey, Ill, where she was a four-year letter winner and a four-year starter for EHS.  Last season, Corby led her team to a conference championship, regional championship and to a second place finish in sectional play.  During her junior season of play, Corby was named the Team's Most Valuable Player.  Also, Corby was a member of the High Performance Club Volleyball Team.

With the addition of Barnes and Corby, this brings the Lady Lions grand total to five newcomers for the upcoming season.

Kayla Dowdell, a 5-10,  outside hitter from Jonesboro, Ga., led Miami Dade College to a 21-7 overall record and an a perfect 8-0 in Southern Conference play, earning them a bid for the FCSAA State Tournament, last season.   She finished the season with 174 kills in 373 total attacks with 57 errors for a .314 hitting percentage, averaging 2.07 kills per set.  Also, she recorded 81 digs and four service aces on the season.

Jade Sanlin, a 5-8 liberio/outside hitter from Fairview Heights, Ill., was a four-year letter winner in volleyball at Atlthoff Catholic High School where she reaped First Team All-South Honors and earned Belleville New Democrat 3A-4A All-Area Honorable Mentions.  As a member of the High Performance STL Club Team, Sanlin finished the season third on the team in digs with 349 and was a two-time USAV High Performance SA3 Pipeland program selectee.

Rounding out the cast of 2014 signees is Jahkishm Soto, a 5-10 outside hitter/middle blocker from Rockdale County High School in Conyers, Ga.   This four-year letter winner was a two-year starter for the Lady Bulldogs as she earned Second Team 8AAAAAA All-Area honors.  In addition, she led the Lady Bulldogs to a third place finish in the 8AAAAAA Regionals.

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PINE BLUFF ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

US Senate calls out NSF’s Support of HBCUs

In language included with a 2015 spending bill, legislators ask that HBCUs receive at least three NSF Innovation Corps awards.

WASHINGTON, D.C.  -- The U.S. Senate reportedly wants more robust support for science faculty and students at America’s historically Black colleges and universities but National Science Foundation officials don’t like being told how to do it, according to AAAS’s Science Insider.

In the article on a 2015 spending bill, elected and public education officials in Maryland indicated that the extent to which Black colleges have National Science Foundation (NSF) buy-in should correlate closely with their appearance on NSF’s award listings.

Jeffrey Mervis’s report in Science Insider reveals that only one historically Black college—Florida A&M University—ranks in the top 200 institutions receiving NSF research funding. Similarly, Mervis showed that while the NSF took issue with the Senate’s assertion that their six research directorates have been traditionally reluctant to support faculty at HBCU institutions, to date, only one of roughly 140 I-Corps awards has gone to an HBCU faculty member.

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HBCU Alumni Association 10k/5k Run Walk Coming Sat June 28

ATLANTA, Georgia  --  Going on seven years now, the Atlanta HBCU Alumni Alliance (AHBCUAA) has galvanized thousands of HBCU alumni, family and friends in support of health awareness and scholarship with their annual 5k/10k Run-Walk.  This year's event takes stages from Grant Park on Saturday, June 28.

The theme, Run For You, Run For Them, Run For Us, highlights our three-fold purpose:  Run For You embodies the health aspect and the importance of getting active, Run For Them represents the scholarship dollars raised for future students of the great participating HBCUs, and Run For Us represents the strength and success we achieve when we work collectively.

Both the 5K and 10K are USA Certified Track and Field courses. This event is open to everyone, and various alumni groups have created teams to compete and re-connect. #Team WCLK will feature several of our team members, including Wendy Williams, Debb Moore, Kiplyn Primus, Aaron Cohen and Shed Jackson.

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FAMU taking second look at APR scores

KELLEN WINSLOW SR.
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY
Photo Courtesy FAMU Athletics
 

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- FAMU has started a review of how Academic Progress Report scores were tallied for football and men’s basketball in hopes that it can take one more shot at appealing postseason bans on both programs.

Athletic director Kellen Winslow said the process will be meticulous, although he wasn’t sure if the end result would be enough to take the case back to the NCAA.

FAMU had already launched its appeal before the postseason sanctions were announced in April.
“We are going to look at every detail, turn every rock and try to find every point we possibly can,” Winslow said. “Will the adjustments be enough to move the needle? We don’t know, but we have to look at it.”

FAMU faced a similar situation last year with volleyball, which eventually...

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Former Rutgers assistant Brian Jenkins credits Greg Schiano and Kyle Flood for his success at Bethune-Cookman

HEAD COACH BRIAN JENKINS
BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida  -- Brian Jenkins spent only one year as an assistant at Rutgers, but he said the time was crucial to his development as a coach.

After serving as the wide receiver coach under Greg Schiano for the 2009 season, Jenkins was hired as the head coach at Bethune-Cookman, a Division 1-AA program in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Jenkins has a 37-11 record and has been named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference coach of the year three times in four seasons.

"Working under Greg and working with guys like Kyle (Flood) helped prepare me for the job that I have now," Jenkins said. "I think it taught me the last little things that I needed to know in order to run a program. It was really phenomenal. I've got a lot of respect for Greg. I learned so much about running a program and I learned a lot from Kyle football-wise. The experience that I got from being there for one year was tremendous."

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Rutgers football coaches to work camp in Florida at Bethune-Cookman University

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida  --  Penn State's James Franklin isn't the only coach taking advantage of a loophole in an NCAA rule that allows coaches to work at camps for high school prospects in different parts of the country.

Rutgers coach Kyle Flood and his staff will be guest coaches at a camp held Sunday at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Fla.

NCAA rules prevent programs from holding high school camps at out-of-state locations more than 50 miles from campus. But coaching staffs are allowed to work at camps outside of the 50-mile radius that are hosted by other schools.

Flood has a relationship with Bethune-Cookman head coach Brian Jenkins, who was the wide receivers coach at Rutgers in 2009, so this was a natural collaboration.

"Both of us are out trying to do the same thing, and that's to get as many kids and ...

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FSU's Bess taking basketball reins at alma mater

LAWNDALE, North Carolina  -- “…There’s no place like home, there’s no place like home…”

Former Burns High basketball standout Joreka Bess is certainly going to put that notion to the test this coming winter. She might not click her heels to do it but Bess will be bouncing a few basketballs and blowing a whistle in familiar territory.

That’s because Bess has been named the new girls’ head basketball coach at her alma mater, Burns High principal Chris Blanton announced this week.

The 1999 Burns High graduate was a standout on the court and off during her playing days. A four-year varsity performer for the Bulldogs and coach Tommy Pruett, she was a three-time all-conference selection and earned Southwestern Conference Player of the Year honors during her senior season.

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FAMU Music Professor Longineu Parsons to Play Carnegie Hall

LONGINEU WARREN PARSONS II
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  Florida A&M University (FAMU) Department of Music Professor Longineu Parsons will perform alongside Broadway’s elite at the world-renowned Carnegie Hall on June 23.

Parsons, a celebrated trumpet player, will appear in the Broadway reunion production, “Black Stars of the Great White Way Reunion: Live the Dream.”

The reunion pays tribute to the role African Americans have played in Broadway’s history and will honor the work of such entertainment legends as Louis Armstrong, Eubie Blake, Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Louis Jordan, Paul Robeson and Fats Waller.

Parsons will share the stage with some of Hollywood and Broadway’s greatest contributors such as Obba Babatunde, Keith David, Dule Hill, Norm Lewis, Phylicia Rashad, Chapman Roberts, Glenn Turner, Cicely Tyson and Ben Vereen.

“It’s a big day at the office, a good day at the office,” said Parsons, who will play a tribute to Armstrong. “I look forward to being a part of this historic occasion.”

Parsons himself is etched in the rich history of Broadway. He was the lead trumpeter in the hit Broadway musical revue “Bubbling Brown Sugar” for several years.

“Black Stars,” billed as the largest cast of African-American men to share a Broadway stage in history, is Parsons’ second performance at Carnegie Hall. In 1993, he made an appearance during a tribute to the Nicholas Brothers, taking the stage with celebrities such as Bill Cosby and Lena Horne.

In addition to Carnegie Hall, Parsons has also played at some of the world’s most iconic concert halls, including the Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center and Theatre de Paris.




The protégé of jazz legend and FAMU alumnus Nat Adderley, Parsons has performed in more than thirty countries and has been invited to play for such dignitaries as the king of Morocco, the president of Gabon, the royal family of the Netherlands, the president of Austria, the U.S. ambassador to France, the royal family of Monaco and members of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

He has performed and recorded with an impressive list of music greats, including: Adderley, Calloway, Frank Foster, Billy Harper, Philly Joe Jones, Herbie Mann, David Murray, Sam Rivers, Cecil Taylor, Joe Williams and Nancy Wilson.

According to Parsons, among the many achievements he’s made in his career, his role as a music educator is at the top of the list.

“I leave work with a smile,” he said, “because everyday I’m with these wonderful young people and I get to share what I have with them.”

MUSIC MENTOR AND EDUCATOR

Longineu is Associate Professor of Trumpet at Florida A&M University, the institution from which he obtained a Bachelor of Music degree. He earned his Master of Music in classical trumpet from the University of Florida. He also pursued supplementary jazz studies at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and studied composition at the doctoral level at Florida State University and the University of Florida. He holds a weekly Jazz Jam at a local jazz club to provide a performance opportunity for students, and coaches the trumpet section of the celebrated Florida A&M Marching 100 Band. He was a guest clinician for the Universidad Autonoma de Bucaramanga, in Colombia (1999 and 2000); High School of the Arts, in Bogota, Colombia (2000), and the Conservatoire Nationale de la Region, in Nantes, France in August 2001.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS

Curry, Price Named PVAMU Men's Assistant Basketball Coaches

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas  -- Prairie View A&M University head men's basketball coach Byron Rimm II announced that Keenan Curry and Ryan Price will join the staff as assistant coaches for the 2014-15 campaign. Curry comes to PVAMU from Emporia State University while Price was at Southern University.

Ryan Price joins the basketball staff Prairie View A&M University for his first season as an assistant coach.  Price previously spent three years at SWAC rival Southern University and played a major part in helping the program rank as one of the SWAC's best as the team's recruiting coordinator and assistant coach.

"Ryan Price is one of the top young up-and-coming assistants in the country," said ESPN College Basketball Insider Jeff Goodman. "Price is a grinder as a recruiter and will turn over every stone in order to recruit a player. He has tremendous relationships throughout the country and will help Prairie View A&M in its effort to become one of the top mid-major programs in the country."

At Southern, Price was very instrumental in helping the Jaguars ascend to the top of the SWAC standings from the moment he stepped foot on campus in 2011. In his first season at Southern, Price helped the Jaguars complete a 13-game turnaround from the previous season as Southern went from a last-place team in the SWAC standings to a second place team. In his second season, the Jaguars took the next step as they claimed the top seed in the SWAC Tournament with a 15-3 regular season mark and a 23-10 overall record. 

Southern won the SWAC Tournament and earned an NCAA Tournament bid for the first time since 2006. The Jaguars made national headlines that postseason as they nearly pulled off an upset over No. 1 ranked Gonzaga in the second round of tournament action.

Last season, Southern claimed the SWAC's Regular Season Championship for the first time since 2006 as they finished with a 19-13 overall mark. While at Southern, Price was responsible for recruiting and skill development with the post players and in 2013, he orchestrated a recruiting class which was ranked 33rd in the nation by HoopScoopOnline. In addition, Price recruited the 2013 SWAC Newcomer of the Year and All-Conference Selection Malcolm Miller, 2014 SWAC Newcomer of the Year and All-Conference Selection Calvin Godfrey and 2014 SWAC Freshman of the Year Tre'lun Banks.

Prior to Southern, Price spent two seasons at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith as the team's assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. Price also had a major undertaking with the program as he helped UA Fort Smith transition from the junior college ranks to a NCAA Division II program during his tenure.

During his two seasons at Arkansas-Fort Smith, Price helped guide the Lions to a combined 28-28 win-loss record. The Lions finished 19-10 during the 2010-11 season, and had the best record in the Heartland Conference. Price recruited 2011 Heartland Conference Freshman of the Year Jake Toupal and 2011 Heartland Conference First Team member Josh Simmons.

Price was a student assistant coach at Henderson State University during the fall of 2007 while completing his bachelor's degree in general studies before joining the coaching staff at NCAA Division II Gannon University in Erie, Pa. During his two seasons at Gannon, Price helped guide the Golden Knights to a combined 56-9 win-loss record. The Golden Knights finished 30-4 during the 2008-2009 season, won the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship, won the Atlantic Region Championship and advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division II National Tournament. Price also mentored and worked with NCAA Division II All-American and NBDL standout Kyle Goldcamp. At Gannon, Price was in charge of recruiting, coaching post players and monitoring academics.

The Roanoke, Va. native is a 2002 graduate of William Fleming High School, where he earned All-District and All-Region honors. He played three seasons at McNeese State before finishing his collegiate playing career at NCAA Division II Henderson State.

While at McNeese State, Price was named McNeese State's Newcomer of the Year as a freshman and was a three-time Defensive Player of the Year for the Cowboys – a feat accomplished only once before in school history by NBA Hall of Famer and former Detroit Piston Joe Dumars.

During his only season at Henderson State, Price, who played guard, started 32 games and averaged eight points and 3.7 rebounds per game. He helped lead the Reddies to a 23-9 win-loss record, the Gulf South Conference West Division championship and the second round of the NCAA Division II Tournament.

Price hails from a basketball family as his father, Tic, is the head men's basketball coach at Lamar University. Price has served as head coach at McNeese State, Memphis and the University of New Orleans.

Keenan Curry begins his first season as an assistant basketball coach at Prairie View A&M University.  Curry comes to Prairie View A&M after a two-year at Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas.

A native of Kansas City, Mo., Curry spent two seasons at Emporia State University as an assistant coach and played a large role in helping the Hornets achieve their most wins in five years following the 2013-14 season.  ESU finished with 18 wins in Curry's final season and advanced to the quarterfinal round of the MIAA Tournament.  A total of six players earned MIAA Honors under Curry's watch with four players named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll. 

Off the court, Curry wore several hats as ESU's camp coordinator, social media director, recruiting coordinator and academic liaison.  As camp coordinator, Curry forged relationships with the nationally acclaimed University of Kansas men's basketball program and had four Jayhawks serve as camp guests and speakers during ESU's annual basketball camps.

Prior to ESU, Curry spent two seasons as an assistant basketball coach and recruiting coordinator at Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, Kansas.  At Fort Scott, Curry coached three players whom averaged in double figures in his final season at FSCC while also helping the team rank fourth in free throw percentage amongst Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference teams.  Curry, who also played two seasons at FSCC from 2007 to 2009, was also in charge of film exchange, opponent breakdowns, summer camps and team workouts.

Curry graduated from Pittsburg State University in 2011 and holds a master's in Health, Physical Education and Recreation from Emporia State.  

COURTESY PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS  

Bayou Classic here to stay for now

Superdome officials clarify comments, back annual GSU, Southern game

GRAMBLING, Louisiana --The annual Bayou Classic that pits bitter rivals Grambling and Southern is here to stay for now, or at least that’s what Superdome officials are reiterating.

The general manager of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome said in a statement Thursday evening Grambling and Southern have their full support in continuing the annual game in New Orleans.

The news comes a day after WWL-TV reported a board member of the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District brought up the possibility of Grambling being replaced in the Bayou Classic.

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Tickets Now On Sale For Second Missouri Classic

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri  -- Tickets are now on sale for the second Missouri Classic, which will feature the football teams of Lincoln and Langston playing at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. on Sept. 6, 2014 at 3:00 p.m. CDT.

Tickets for the game are $28 for Lower Level general admission seating and $45 for tickets on the Scout Investments Club Level. Student tickets are available for $18 while general admission tickets for groups of 15 or more at $25. Tickets can be ordered by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000, online atwww.ticketmaster.com or at the Arrowhead Stadium Ticket Office located between Founder's Plaza and the Hy-Vee Gate on the north side of the stadium.

Tickets are also on-sale at participating Ticketmaster outlets, as well as other local participating ticket outlets which are listed below. Tickets can also be ordered through both schools by calling the Langston University Ticket Office at (405) 466-3262 or the Lincoln University Ticket Office at (573) 681-5054. Fans interested in tickets for groups of 15 or more can get more information by calling (888) 99-CHIEFS (24433). Arrowhead Stadium suites are also available for the contest by calling (816) 920-4894.

Parking for the game is $20 per car and $35 for RV/bus parking. Parking on gameday is cash only.

"We are excited to once again be participating in the Missouri Classic," said Lincoln athletic director Betty Kemna. "Lincoln and Langston have a long rivalry and this should be another great game. This is a fantastic opportunity for our student-athletes and fans to experience a great football game in a historic NFL setting in Arrowhead Stadium. ALWE and the Kansas City Chiefs do a wonderful job of promoting and producing this game, and we would like to thank them both for inviting us back to Kansas City."

Lincoln won the inaugural Missouri Classic, beating NCAA Division I Grambling State, 47-34, in front of over 20,000 fans at Arrowhead Stadium. Lincoln's rivalry with this year's opponent, Langston, dates back to 1924, with this year's meeting being the 61st in the all-time series. Langston, an NAIA program, is coming off a 6-4 season. The Blue Tigers, meanwhile, will begin their first year in the Great Lakes Valley Conference this fall.

Both teams also have ties to the Super Bowl. Lincoln is coached by Mike Jones, famous for making "The Tackle" on Kevin Dyson at the one-yard line that clinched Super Bowl XXXIV for the St. Louis Rams. Langston, meanwhile, has a connection to the Kansas City Chiefs, who play in Arrowhead Stadium. Langston's athletic director is Mike Garrett, a former running back with the Chiefs who helped the team win Super Bowl IV.

"I'm thrilled that Kansas City is hosting the Missouri Classic again. This event is a huge win for this community any way you to look it," Kansas City Mayor Sly James said. "The Missouri Classic connects young people, particularly from our urban core, with the college experience and it has a positive impact on our local economy. I welcome the visitors the event brings to our City and look forward to an energetic, fun game."

For more information on The Missouri Classic, as well as a schedule of the events that will take place in Kansas City leading up to the game and a list of television and radio stations providing coverage, visit http://www.themissouriclassic.com/, the game's official website. 

Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY BLUE TIGERS ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS 

Grambling's spot in Bayou Classic being debated

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New Orleans, Louisiana  --  Organizers of the Bayou Classic reportedly have considered dropping Grambling State as one of the permanent teams in the annual Southwestern Athletic Conference showcase.

WWLTV.com reported managers of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, the host site for the Bayou Classic, have discussed replacing Grambling as a participant against Southern University, citing low attendance by Grambling fans in recent years. The Thanksgiving weekend event between the two schools turns 41 this year.

"If Grambling has fallen off that bad, maybe Southern could take the lead and it could be an earned-in game and bring in somebody else," Robert Bruno, the commissioner of the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District, told WWLTV. "I just don't know if Grambling can carry the load."

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