Howard Football players declared ineligible for season-opening games, including Nations Classic

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Up to 14 Howard University football players have been declared ineligible to participate in season-opening games by the NCAA, the result of the organization’s continuing investigation into the student-athletes’ improper use of their textbook allowances.

“Right now, it’s not a distraction,” Bison Coach Gary Harrell said Thursday. “We understand the situation. Whatever the ruling is, whatever the NCAA’s plan, we have our plan as well.”

The names or the exact number of the players who will miss time were not immediately made available by the school or the NCAA, but those players will miss one to three games, depending on the extent of the violation. Harrell said the affected players will be able to practice while they wait to regain eligibility.

Howard opens the season Sept. 1 against rival Morehouse at RFK Stadium.

Harrell said the list of ineligible players could include sophomore quarterback Greg McGhee, the reigning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference rookie of the year, and senior linebacker Keith Pough, the MEAC preseason defensive player of the year. If McGhee were to miss time, Harrell said quarterback duties would fall to junior Randy Liggins Jr. and freshman Jamie Cunningham. Read More Washington Post

Morris Brown College facing foreclosure

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Morris Brown College is facing foreclosure of its property on Sept. 4, the African Methodist Episcopal Church said Tuesday.

According to a news release, a creditor of the historically black college, a corporation which holds $13.1 million in college bonds secured by its downtown Atlanta property, has called the loans and the college is unable to pay.

In a statement, Preston W. Williams II, chairman of the board of trustees of Morris Brown, said he will announce the school’s formal response on Saturday, Aug. 25, at 1 p.m. at an event on the school’s campus. Leaders are calling for people to gather at the school’s gymnasium to hear the plan and pray for the school’s survival.

Morris Brown College once joined Spelman, Morehouse and Clark Atlanta University among highly acclaimed historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). But in 2002, Morris Brown lost accreditation and federal funding following mismanagement of the school’s finances.

Enrollment numbers, once topping 2,500, have now dropped to around 50 students. Some of the campus buildings are boarded up and abandoned.

Still, Morris Brown continues to function; Wednesday was the first day of classes and the school website posts a full calendar for the year. Read More

 

WSSU Alum Makes the Cover of Popular Charlotte Magazine

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Winston-Salem State University alumnus Donald Cureton Jr. is featured on the latest edition of Charlotte’s The Paradigm Beauty & Barber Magazine.

The 34 year-old Mecklenburg County District Court judge sports a fresh haircut in the cover photo, but Paradigm writer Rashad Phillips says it was his former Garinger High School (Charlotte) classmate’s achievements, not his sense of style, that made Cureton a great candidate for the quarterly publication’s feature story.

The magazine seeks out positive stories about African Americans to offset all the negative media images, and Cureton, a graduate of Howard University School of Law, fit the bill, Phillips said.

“Our magazine’s called Paradigm. We’re trying to be a catalyst for a paradigm shift,” he remarked. “We definitely have to shift that way of thinking so that people can see that these (careers) are possibilities.”

Phillips, an alumnus of Johnson C. Smith University, remembers Cureton as a standout athlete, and said Cureton surprised many when he passed up the chance at college ball glory by opting for an academic scholarship over an athletic one. Read More

NSU Coaches Adrian, Giles Receive Contract Extensions

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Norfolk State University Athletics Director Marty Miller announced Thursday that Spartan football coach Pete Adrian has received a two-year contract extension through the 2015 football season and director of track and field programs Kenneth Giles has received a three-year extension through the 2014-15 school year.

Adrian has led the Spartans to one of the most successful periods in the school’s football history. NSU is 43-36 in seven years under Adrian’s direction and has notched winning records in four of the last five seasons, including three in a row. The Spartans won their first-ever MEAC football title in 2011 and appeared in the Division I FCS playoffs for the first time. Adrian is a two-time MEAC Coach of the Year (2007, 2011) and was named FCS National Coach of the Year last fall by College Sporting News.

Giles, who oversees both men’s and women’s track and cross country programs, has also served as NSU’s head men’s cross country coach for the last 13 years and head men’s track and field coach for the past nine. His men’s cross country program has won the last four MEAC championships and 11 of the last 12. On the track, the Spartan men have swept the conference indoor and outdoor titles the past seven academic years, a MEAC record. Giles’ teams have won 25 MEAC titles in his tenure, giving him 25 MEAC Most Outstanding Coach awards.  Read More.. 

Fisk University’s Convocation and stability.

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On Thursday, August 23rd, 2012, Fisk University held its first chapel service. The sophistication of the institution was represented well with a procession to elegant melodic expressions of Impromptu by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor by way of the organ. Well-dressed men and women, who looked the part of intellectuals, marched in to the tune of Dr. Anthony Williams’s pomp playing. The students were the epitome of Fisk’s tagline, “Cultivating Scholars and Leaders One by One.”

President of SGA, Philippe E. C. Andal’ addressed students with an illustrious speech. He painted a picture of hope. Statisticians and development advisors projected Fisk to be shut down this fall; however, Fisk welcomed its largest class in 5 years with two hundred and sixty seven freshman students. Fisk is currently ranked number 1 among all HBCU’s on Forbes. When listeners heard of his thematic thrust of hope, one could only think about what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”

President Hazel R. O’Leary addressed all the students for the last time as she plans to retire and a new President will be selected in September. She gave advice to the students and stated, “Best you choose your friends wisely.”

The program ended, with their Alma Mater, of course, directed by Dr. Matthew Kennedy, Professor Emeritus of Music. Uplifted voices gracefully sang, “The warm and genial setting sun lights up the hills with mellow hue, where Fisk our Alma Mater stands majestic, dear, old Gold and Blue. Then hurrah and hurrah! For the gold and blue, her sons are steadfast, her daughters true, where e’er we be, we shall still love thee Fisk! Our Alma Mater.”

US: Fox Solutions annouces new East Coast rep

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Fox Solutions announces today the hiring of Paul Jackewicz, the company’s new East Coast Representative for their Packaging and Equipment sales team.

A resident of Rehoboth, DE and a graduate of Delaware State University, Jackewicz has obtained over 30 years of experience in the agricultural and packaging industry. Prior to joining the Fox Solutions team, Jackewicz worked with national and international grower-packers to supply them with vital packaging components such as weighers, baggers, bag closing equipment, various materials and full packing lines.

“Paul brings great value and we are very excited to have him on board,” said Aaron Fox, Vice President, Fox Packaging.  “His expertise and additional manpower will support our team in providing customized solutions that make the most sense for each of our customers across the nation.”

Jackewicz will be responsible for all sales related to Fox Solution’s extensive line of produce handling equipment, as well as the development and maintenance of value-added products that enhance operations across the country. read more…

Ex-Redskin McCants wins workers’ compensation ruling

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Darnerien McCants, a former wide receiver for the Washington Redskins, can pursue workers’ compensation benefits in Maryland for injuries he sustained during games and practices in other states, Maryland’s highest court ruled Thursday.

The unanimous decision comes on the heels of a related ruling Wednesday in a case involving another former Redskins player. The Court of Appeals allowed Tom Tupa, who had been a punter for the Virginia-based team, to obtain workers’ compensation benefits for a career-ending injury suffered in 2005 during warm-ups before a home game at FedEx Field in Landover.

Thursday’s ruling returns McCants’ workers’ compensation claims to the state’s Workers’ Compensation Commission. Commissioners had decided that they had no jurisdiction over McCants’ claims for benefits for injuries sustained in New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

A Redskins spokesman said the team had no comment on the ruling.

David O. Godwin, the lawyer for the team and its insurer, had argued that McCants was not covered under Maryland’s workers’ compensation laws and that the bulk of his work time was spent in Virginia, where players prepare for games. Goodwin could not be reached for comment Thursday.

The court disagreed, noting that McCants played more games in Maryland than anywhere else, and said his practice in Virginia was undertaken so he could compete in games in Maryland and elsewhere.

“The purpose of a football player’s employment with a professional football team is to play in professional football games. It is not, as [the Redskins’ argument] seemingly contends, to practice,” Judge Mary Ellen Barbera wrote for the court. “Football practice is a means to an end — better performance in football games — it is not an end unto itself. Put another way, professional football organizations do not sign ‘skilled football players’ so those players can lift weights and watch game film.” read more…

Howard University Football, Athletics Seek Another Turnaround Season

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The 2012 Howard University Bison football season opener is slated for Saturday, Sept. 1 when Howard University takes on Morehouse College in the AT&T Nation’s Football Classic at 3:30 p.m. in RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.

The Classic renews the college football rivalry between the two teams dates back to 1923 when Howard defeated Morehouse 10-0. Students, alumni and supporters of HBCUs from around the country will gather in the nation’s capital to celebrate the pride, pageantry and tradition attached to the game.

The Howard University football program is undergoing a major turnaround under Head Football Coach Gary Harrell. The new coach has insisted on player accountability and worked to instill team discipline. The hard work is paying off. Last year, Bison football won five games, eclipsing the total of three victories from the team’s previous three seasons. In addition, Bison football won the important “statement games,” including match-ups against Hampton University, Florida A&M University and Morehouse College. Howard also won its homecoming game last year, something the team had not accomplished in several years.

Coach Harrell is making it known that he is happy, but not satisfied with the progress so far and is looking for greater improvement in 2012. To that end, he has updated the team motto for the new season, calling it “Road to Redemption: No Roadblocks. No Shortcuts. No Excuses.”

“Howard has a strong legacy of achievement,” Coach Harrell said. “Every member of Howard University Football accepts the responsibility of representing the program with dignity and pride on and off the field.” read more…

FAMU clubs to resume recruiting members

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Florida A&M University is lifting a ban on student clubs and organizations from recruiting new members.

Former FAMU President James Ammons imposed the ban back in January following the hazing death of drum major Robert Champion and the arrests of several FAMU students on charges of hazing other students.

FAMU’s vice president for student affairs announced Thursday the ban would be lifted next month.

But the university is putting in new academic requirements for members of fraternities, sororities and student clubs. Students must have completed their freshman year with at least 24 credit hours and a 2.0 grade point average. read more…

Hampton University’s Cornrows And Dreadlock Ban: Is It Right?

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Hampton University has found itself in a hairy situation,–literally–thanks to a recent report by Virginia’s ABC news station shining a spotlight on the historically black institution’s ban on cornrows and dreadlocks for male business students.

The mandate, which was put in place in 2001, only applies to a specific group of students enrolled in a leadership course within Hampton’s five-year M.B.A. program. Sid Credle, Dean of the Business School, believes that the hairstyles will prevent students from securing corporate jobs.

“All we’re trying to do is make sure our students get into the job,” Credle told ABC. “What they do after that, that’s you know, their business.”

It’s no surprise that the ruling has been an unpopular one with the student body. Many believe that the braided and twisted ‘dos should have no bearing on their education and professional pursuits.

Uriah Bethea, an incoming freshman at Hampton who wears his hair in deadlocks, told ABC– “I don’t think it should matter what the hairstyle. It’s my life. I should be able to do whatever I want to do.”

This campus controversy is reminiscent of the hair hoopla created a few years ago when a white Glamour magazine editor, who was giving a speech at a New York law firm about the “Dos and Don’ts of Corporate Fashion”, told the group that afros were a “no-no” and that it was “shocking” to believe that anyone would think that a “political” hairstyle like dreadlocks were appropriate for the workplace. The gaff got her six weeks on probation and ultimately resulted in her resigning. read more…

OFF Courses: Bennett College adds to curriculum

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Bennett College, the historically black women’s college known locally for civic engagement, was generous enough to post brief course descriptions online, and a handful stuck out from the more predictable course offerings. — EG

EI 420: Church and Entrepreneurship During periods of unemployment, my friends have joked about creating a church, getting some suckers to join and making livings as a pastors. The course description is more about personal growth through the church and doesn’t seem like a step-by-step guide to starting your own cash cow, instead emphasizing “student self-discovery as means to encourage discernment of the call of service and devise a plan with the potential to make a difference on campus, in the church and community.” Students do get to write a personal mission statement though.

CS 470: Computer and Society It seems each school has a variation on this seemingly basic topic: the significance of computers in 2012. Bennett’s may be a step above the rest, because this course will focus on “social implication of computing (networked communication, gender-related issues, international issues) impacts of computer-based systems upon personal privacy and civil liberties, risks and liabilities of computerbased system [and] economic issues in computing.” Even with the description, the “social implication of computing” may be one of the most vague terms in the catalog. read more…

ASU Lady Hornets Volleyball host ISTAP Collegiate Cup

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The 2012 Alabama State University volleyball season is only a few days away as the Lady Hornets will welcome five teams to the 2012 ISTAP Collegiate Cup. The matches begin Friday, August 24 at 9 a.m. and run through Saturday, with the final match scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

The teams participating in the Collegiate Cup include in-state rival Jacksonville State University and fellow HBCU member Tennessee State University. The University of South Dakota will travel the farthest, coming from Vermillian, S.D. Stetson University will be traveling from DeLand, Fla. and Southland member Southeastern Louisiana University will round out the five teams.

There will be 12 matches, six on both Friday and Saturday, as each team will play four matches. There will be a MVP chosen after the final match along with a six-member All-Tournament team, which will be voted on by the head coaches.

The cost for the Cup will be $5 per day or $8 for a two day pass. There is also a special rate of $1 for high school and middle school volleyball players who show up at the Cup wearing their official game jersey. read more…

Alabama A&M football: Secondary Leans Young

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Brawnski Towns doesn’t pay much attention to the year that is listed next to a player on the roster. Instead, Alabama A&M’s long-time defensive coordinator and secondary coach, pays more mind to what is being done on the field.

That’s why he’s not concerned with his young secondary, which includes junior Derrick Harris at right cornerback, redshirt sophomore A.J. Clark at left cornerback and sophomore Jamel Morris at free safety.  Harris, who started some as a freshman, was a full-time starter last season, while Clark was a part-time starter. Morris played in seven games a year ago as a true freshman.

“They’re young, but they’re ready,” Towns said. “All three of them have played and Harris and Clark have starting experience. Morris had a good spring and he knows what I want out of the free safety position.

“All three of them have improved and they’ve really meshed as a group.”

Harris, a 5-foot-11, 171-pounder, finished eighth on the team last season with 34 tackles and also had four pass breakups. Clark, a converted quarterback, had 27 tackles, one interception and one pass breakup in nine games, while Morris, who has been hampered by a back injury, had four tackles and two pass breakups.

While the trio was happy with their play last season, they’re expecting to make an even bigger impact this season.

“We all got experience last year and that’s how you get better,” said Clark, who has tremendous size at 6-2 and 185 pounds. “We made some plays  last year, but we want to make more plays  this year to impact the game. That’s what we’ve got  to do as a unit.”

Harris has been solid in his two seasons with the Bulldogs, but Clark has a chance to be special, Towns said. read more…

Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic feat. Doug E. Fresh And The Southern University Marching Band

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Doug E. Fresh – “The original human beatbox” – will headline and emcee the halftime show of the 24th annual Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic to be themed “One Love. One Music. One Culture.” – it was announced today by the 100 Black Men of Atlanta, a volunteer community organization focused on education, empowerment and enrichment in African-American youth that presents the game. The halftime show will also feature the award-winning Southern University marching band, dubbed the Human Jukebox.

The Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic is one of the nation’s largest Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) football games and one of the biggest recurring sporting events in Georgia. The iconic HBCU event pits the Florida A&M University Rattlers against the Southern University-Baton Rouge Jaguars on Saturday, Sept. 29 at 3:30 p.m. at the Georgia Dome.

Tickets are now on sale at www.atlantafootballclassic.com, the Georgia Dome ticket office, www.ticketmaster.com or at the participating schools’ ticket offices. Ranging from $10 to $50, the affordable ticket prices ensure fans can enjoy the game and musical entertainment with money left over for food and merchandise. read more…

Concordia Cross Country Coach on leave with West Nile Virus

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Concordia College men’s cross country coach Garrick Larson is on medical leave while recovering from West Nile virus. It’s been a battle of fatigue that Larson appears to slowly be winning.

The veteran coach, who has been at Concordia since 1997, was hospitalized for a week at the end of July after checking himself into the emergency room with a high fever and bad headache.

“I couldn’t tell you how bad it felt,” he said. “I’ve felt nothing close to that in my life and I knew I was in trouble.”

He was diagnosed with West Nile a few days later, a virus that is carried by a certain species of mosquito. Larson contracted a severe version of it, which oftentimes goes undetected or mistaken as the flu for most people.

“Less than 1 percent end up with the severe case,” Larson said. read more…

Tennessee State Faculty Senate leader, Jane Davis taken away in handcuffs from meeting

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Tensions at Tennessee State University reignited Monday as a vocal faculty member opposing university leadership was taken away in handcuffs from a meeting.

After campus police arrested the chair of the Faculty Senate, Jane Davis, on a charge of disorderly conduct, the Senate voted to remove her from her leadership position — a vote she claims is illegitimate.

Davis, an English professor, has been an outspoken critic of several policies and decisions made by TSU interim President Portia Shields, who has clashed with some faculty since her arrival in early 2011.

In July, Davis publicized allegations that school administrators improperly changed 270 student grades last fall. The university said it was correcting a mistake, but Davis and other critics said the school was passing students who hadn’t completed their classes.

Under a new state funding formula, student success is a factor in the amount of money a university receives.

Last week, sociology professor Oscar Miller officially suggested ousting Davis and the Faculty Senate’s executive council from office, and the university surveyed faculty members on the idea. When the online poll closed, 60 percent wanted Davis removed, and 59 percent wanted the board’s executive council to go with her.

Davis said less than half of the faculty voted in the poll.

She was arrested in a meeting Monday of the Faculty Senate and the administration after she refused to stop speaking in her defense about the survey and the calls for her removal. Read More