Categories: MEAC, Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, Delaware State Hornets, Florida A&M Rattlers, Hampton Pirates, Howard Bison, Morgan State Bears, Norfolk State Spartans, North Carolina A&T Aggies, South Carolina State Bulldogs, Winston-Salem State Rams
Times, they are a-changing at Bethune-Cookman
When the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats take the field on September 4 against Edward Waters College, a lot of things will look drastically different than they did a calendar year ago. They’ve got a new coach, new field, new logo, new offense, and a new attitude.
The first major change was at the head coaching position. Gone are the days of the flashy outfits, oversized belt buckles and snakeskin boots that came to be known as “Shine’s sideline attire.” Last December, B-CU named former Rutgers wide receivers coach Brian Jenkins the 10th head football coach in school history, replacing all-time winningest head coach Alvin Wyatt after 13 seasons at the helm. This summer the city of Daytona Beach installed new artificial turf to Municipal Stadium and B-CU has opted to scrap the traditional Wildcat logo that adorned helmets for a number of years in favor of a new logo that features a B and C interlocked with wildcat claws flanking each side.
Sempier still gets a kick out of coaching
It’s a picture-perfect dry and comfortable Saturday afternoon in mid-August. The Toyota Corolla – which has logged more than 160,000 miles while its driver traverses the Garden State in a never-ending quest to train kicking prospects – pulls up to the curb alongside Bonnel Field in West Caldwell.
As Verona native Pat Sempier exits the driver’s side door and heads to the car’s trunk in order to grab a bagful of footballs before heading out to the field, the single, unmistakable aspect one notices is not the missing hubcap on the front left tire.
Much more striking is the smile on the face of the man, 76 years young, and as excited about beginning year 52 as the state’s top kicking coach as he was when he coached early success stories like Bruce Nugent at Cedar Grove in 1963. Read more about that later on.
Process helps Winston-Salem State stabilize membership status
Winston-Salem State will return to active Division II membership September 1, highlighting not only a successful transition for the university but also an excellent test case for a new process for NCAA members reclassifying from Division I to Division II.
2010 Boxtorow.com/BASN preseason HBCU All-American Team
Six members of the defending SWAC champions from Prairie View A&M, including their all-conference backfield of quarterback K.J. Black and running back Donald Babers, are part of the 2010 BoxToRow.com/BASN HBCU Preseason All-American team.
The preseason team is made up of 27 of the top Black college football players in the country. The voters are comprised of some of America’s top writers and media members who cover HBCU football.
- 773 words - FCS News Articles, MEAC, Hampton Pirates, SWAC, South Carolina State Bulldogs, Morgan State Bears, Ohio Valley Conference, Tennessee State Tigers, Grambling State Tigers, Southern Jaguars, Prairie View A&M Panthers NCCU Begins Preseason Practice Tonight in Durham
DURHAM, N.C. – The college football preseason officially kicks off for North Carolina Central University Monday night (Aug. 2) at 7:30 with the Eagles’ first practice of the 2010 gridiron season.
Eighty-eight student-athletes reported to NCCU’s preseason camp on Sunday. The Eagles spent the day checking in to residence halls, completing compliance paperwork, taking physicals with team medical staff, and receiving equipment.
Bowl 'surrender' or status quo for MEAC football?
We’re into the dog days of the sports calendar, which means that feuding cyclists and the words of football coaches who haven’t held a practice yet pass for news.
Along those lines, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference honchos are discussing football’s future postseason direction.
Specifically, the league is considering opting out of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs in favor of a bowl game between historically black schools.
Dennis Thomas, the MEAC’s genial commissioner and the former athletic director at Hampton University, said that no conclusion has been reached, that the principals are in the midst of due diligence.
- 736 words - MEAC Hampton Reigns as Top-Ranked HBCU Division I Program
NEW YORK – The Hampton University athletics program was tabbed as the top-ranked NCAA Division I Historically Black College & University (HBCU) program on Monday, based on the final standings of the 2009-10 Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup.
The Directors’ Cup is presented annually to the best college programs in NCAA Divisions I, II, III and the NAIA. The Pirates wound up 125th in the overall rankings with 131.88 points. Most of those points came thanks to the women’s basketball program, as well as the indoor and outdoor track & field teams.
- 526 words - MEAC, Hampton Pirates, Florida A&M Rattlers, SWAC, Delaware State Hornets, Norfolk State Spartans, South Carolina State Bulldogs, Morgan State Bears, Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, Howard Bison, North Carolina A&T Aggies, Winston-Salem State Rams, Grambling State Tigers, Southern Jaguars, Jackson State Tigers, Alabama State Hornets, Alabama A&M Bulldogs, Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions, Prairie View A&M Panthers, Texas Southern Tigers, Alcorn State Braves, Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils Legend gets his due
Jeffries reflects on his journey through college football history before Hall of Fame induction
Willie Jeffries, his wife, Mary, and two of his children have a road trip on tap this week to South Bend, Ind.
It’s not a pilgrimage to Notre Dame.
No, Jeffries is going to take his appointed place in the College Football Hall of Fame. The 2010 Enshrinement Festival runs Saturday and Sunday.
“It is quite an honor for me,” said Jeffries, whose 29-year college coaching career netted a 179-132-6 record, including a 128-77-4 mark in 19 seasons during twostints at South Carolina State, his alma mater.
“Being inducted into the college football hall of fame is the apex of my profession. In all my years of coaching, I never thought about any halls of fame, especially this one. There is no greater honor for a coach.”
Ammons wants FAMU athletic facilities upgraded
After running non-stop through a long list of new constructions or renovations projects that will take place on the campus of Florida A&M, university president James Ammons finally took a breath.
Then, he went on with another list that’s just as important.
FAMU looks to get athletic program out of the red
If indeed it takes a village to raise a child, then Florida A&M President James Ammons might be on to something to help his athletic program get out of the red.
While FAMU has made great strides during the past year to reduce its athletic department’s deficit by almost $1 million, Ammons believes that if coaches recruit more local athletes they’d eventually help gate receipts that could put more bodies in the Lawson Center and Bragg Stadium on game days.
FAMU President Ammons still looking for program's next AD
James Ammons knows exactly what he’s looking for in the two finalists for Florida A&M athletic director.
And, it’s not someone with a strong coaching background.
Former NCCU Assistant Returns Home After Stint at Coastal Carolina
DURHAM, N.C. – After seven seasons on the football coaching staff at Coastal Carolina, Antoine Rivens returns to North Carolina Central University as the tight ends and offensive tackles coach for the Eagles.
Rivens is no stranger to NCCU, as he spent four seasons (1999-2002) with the Eagles as assistant head coach and offensive line coach under head coach Rudy Abrams.
- 379 words - MEAC, Independents, Big South Conference, Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, North Carolina Central Eagles 2010 North Carolina Central Season Preview
For the past three years, the North Carolina Central University football program has undergone a transformation, from back-to-back conference champions and NCAA Division II playoff participants to new Division I-FCS members experiencing the harsh realities of a team in transition.
Heading into their fourth year as a Division I competitor, the fledgling Eagles, who have endured thousands of miles of travel to road contests against nationally-ranked opposition, are now battle-tested, mature, experienced and ready to soar.
Turf Dispute Could Impact MEAC/SWAC Challenge Field Conditions
You thought the mud debacle at the Citrus Bowl was bad?
Just wait. The long-anticipated installation of artificial turf could be caught up in a legal tangle, potentially damaging the hopes of putting in the new turf in time for the 2010 season.
NCCU settles into MEAC
DURHAM – For the past three school years, the N.C. Central athletic program has been like a one-man band, traveling wherever it could to get a gig while just trying to make ends meet.
Today, however, the Eagles have landed.
SSU football player arrested on drug charges
Savannah State University football player Byron Leggett was arrested Saturday and charged with possession of a drug-related object for use, driving under the influence in a less safe manner (drugs) and driving too fast for conditions, according to Savannah-Chatham police.
Leggett, a rising senior wide receiver and graduate of Savannah High, was booked into the Chatham County jail.
Letter from President of Black College Sports Network to HBCU Conferences
Open Letter to the HBCU Conferences - Please Post & Pass Along
The following letter was sent to each of the HBCU Conference Commissioners on Thursday 24 June 2010 . As an Alum & Fan I was concerned about the direction in which HBCU sports were headed. As a business man I am disappointed with the process and conduct as a whole in regards to the way that ” our business” was being managed. With that in mind and in an effort to assist with the correction of our path I reached out to the leaders of the CIAA, MEAC, SIAC, & SWAC. This gesture was to offer assistance in creating an aggressive plan that will benefit ALL HBCU’s athletically and academically!!! I am pleased to say that I have gotten positive, open-minded responses from most of the commissioners and we are now into the next phase of planning a summit.
- 1407 words - FCS News Articles, MEAC, Florida A&M Rattlers, SWAC, Delaware State Hornets, Norfolk State Spartans, South Carolina State Bulldogs, Morgan State Bears, Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, Howard Bison, North Carolina A&T Aggies, Winston-Salem State Rams, Grambling State Tigers, Southern Jaguars, Jackson State Tigers, Alabama State Hornets, Alabama A&M Bulldogs, Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions, Prairie View A&M Panthers, Texas Southern Tigers, Alcorn State Braves, Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils, HBCU Classics FAMU football coach Taylor makes push for new turf at Bragg
ALACHUA – Joe Taylor concluded his off-season fund-raising tour Friday night, announcing that a fund has been set up at Florida A&M to pay for the installation of artificial turf inside Bragg Stadium. Taylor said he expects to have sufficient money to have the turf in time for the Rattlers’ first home game on Oct. 2.
Former Howard Bison Standout Elected Mayor of Trenton, N.J.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Tony Mack, a former three-sport student athlete at Howard University, has been elected the mayor of Trenton, NJ.
FAMU not in support of reviving Heritage Bowl
A plan that was discussed by the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference as recently as March to revive the Heritage Bowl under a new name doesn’t appear to have majority support from schools in the conference, including Florida A&M.
Participating in the game would require the MEAC champion to forfeit its automatic berth to the NCAA playoffs and that is the major sticking point by the schools that will likely veto the idea. It calls for the Heritage Bowl, which was last played in 1999 to be revived as the Legacy Bowl.
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