Twelve named to latest Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Fame class

Posted by Michael Livingston II
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Twelve figures from Grambling State University’s athletic lore — including four-time NFL Pro Bowler Albert Lewis, NBA first-round selection Aaron James, and former baseball coach and athletic administrator Wilbert Ellis — will be part of the fourth-annual Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Fame induction class this summer.

“The Legends Hall of Fame provides the recognition and notoriety that should have come to those individuals who made great contributions to the university a long time ago,” said Pro Football Hall of Famer Willie Davis, an inaugural Grambling Legends inductee. “There’s nothing in life more gratifying than being recognized and honored for those things they did on the field.”

Additional details on the banquet will be announced soon.

The complete list of honorees includes: Clyde Parquet, baseball; Jake Reed, football; Albert Lewis, football; Alphonse Dotson, football; Trumaine Johnson, football; Wilbert Ellis, contributor; Howard Willis, basketball; Bertram Lovell, track and field; LaChandra Leday Fenceroy, women’s basketball; Preston Powell, football; Aaron James, basketball; and Essex Johnson, football.

Lewis, before embarking on a legendary 225-game NFL career, was first-team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference at cornerback for Grambling in 1981-82, leading the team in interceptions in ’81 with seven. A stellar performance earned him a starting position by popular vote in 2002 on the 50th anniversary All-Time Senior Bowl Team. Inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2004, Lewis recorded a staggering 42 interceptions and 123 passes defensed while playing for the NFL’s Chiefs and Raiders. He was selected to the Pro Bowl over four consecutive seasons beginning in 1987.

Twice named All-America, James was a three-time all-SWAC selection and earned freshman of the year honors from the league in 1971. He would lead the NCAA in scoring during the 1973-74 season with an astounding 32.1 points per game. In all, James scored 2,251 career points for the Tigers before becoming a first-round draft pick for his hometown team, the National Basketball Association’s New Orleans Jazz in 1974. He averaged 10.8 points per game for the Jazz over five seasons. Later this year, James will also become the 20th Grambling product to be inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

Reed was a first-team All-SWAC honoree in 1990, and second team in 1989, leading all Grambling receivers as a senior with 954 yards and a 20-year average per catch. He was invited to the Senior Bowl in 1990, one of just 17 from Grambling to receive that honor, then played 12 seasons in the NFL with the Vikings and Saints — helping New Orleans to its first-ever playoff win. He had four 1,000-yard pro seasons, with a career-high 85 catches in 1994 receptions at Minnesota.

Ellis, a prime force behind the opening of the Eddie G. Robinson Museum on campus, served for 43 seasons as an assistant and then head baseball coach at Grambling before retiring in 2003. He also served a lengthy stint as an athletic administrator at GSU. In 2006, the same year he joined the museum effort, Ellis was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame — an honor recognizing 737 victories at Grambling. Ellis had also served for 17 seasons as an assistant to inaugural Grambling Legends inductee Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones, the program’s first baseball coach and its second school president. Jones retired with more than 800 wins, as well, many of them with Ellis beside him on the bench.

Dotson was Grambling’s first All-America first team, earning the honor from the Consensus All American-Newspaper Enterprise Association. He was a first-team All-SWAC tackle in 1964, and honorable mention in 1963, before becoming a second-round pick by the Green Bay Packers. He played for the Chiefs, Dolphins and Raiders in a career that spanned 1965-1970.

Lovell just led the Grambling State men’s track team to its sixth title in the last seven tears, claiming the 2011 SWAC outdoor championship at Tad Gormley Stadium. He came into the season having already collected a staggering 27 titles at Grambling, and now has been named SWAC track coach of the year 28 times.

Johnson was the 1980 and ’82 SWAC offensive player of the year, when he had 1,000 yards while averaging 14 years a catch. Johnson was also first-team All-SWAC in 1981. Grambling won the conference championship in 1980, as Johnson entered the school record books with 16 touchdown receptions.

Powell, a 1961 draft pick by the Cleveland Browns, helped Grambling to its first-ever SWAC football championship in 1960 as a running back. Leday Fenceroy won Division I women’s scoring honors with a 30.4 average as a senior at Grambling. Willis was the 76th overall pick by the New York Knicks in the 1960 NBA Draft, after helping Grambling to a pair of SWAC titles beginning in 1958 under inaugural Grambling Legends inductee Fredrick C. Hobdy. Essex Johnson, a defensive back at Grambling, played eight pro seasons as a running back for the Bengals and Buccaneers, leaving Cincinnati as the club’s career rushing leader. Clyde Parquet ranked first in the country with a 0.66 ERA in 1961, as Grambling began a series of four runs to the national NAIA baseball tournament through 1967.

The Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Fame was founded by former Super Bowl MVP Doug Williams, former NFL Pro Bowl MVP James “Shack” Harris and a host of former Grambling greats who say they want to help ensure their alma mater’s most storied athletic accomplishments are remembered into posterity.

(SportsNOLA)

LEADERS>>>Followers AT HBCUs

Posted by Robert Hoggard
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“Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.”

— Jack Welch

Do you have a vision? Are you honest, and understanding? Are you strong, independent, and willing to FOLLOW, listen and help others?

Where are our leaders?

Have the people with these characteristics at our HBCUs faded into the background or conformed to what is “cool” rather than stepping out and being different.

Has the title lost its significance?

I asked a sophomore who attends a HBCU how she sees the leaders on her campus. She was quiet and then said, “I really don’t see many leaders, only clicks.”

I asked a recent graduate of a HBCU leadership was exemplified when she attended college,” I felt like a lot of people talked but did nothing, there were a few who shined and set an example for me personally, but not many.”

How does this outlook affect our HBCUs? The answer is simple- our entire race may suffer because those who have the abilities to uphold the standards are not living up to it. Who will the next generation look up to?

To attend a HBCU means so much. The first day you step on the yard, you are a role model to somebody. You in some way shape or form give hope to someone who may someday attend a HBCU.

Of course every campus may go through a “dry spell” but how long should that last? How long should students who attend HBCUs continue to repeat the cycle?

It must stop….how can you help?

Form an understanding of who you are as a leader and exactly what you can do is important. Growth is important. Everyone can’t be the boss someone must sit back and follow. Followers determine if the leader is making an impact, they trust their leader, are confident in their decisions, inspired, and see the bigger picture. They are a key component of the vision.

Everyone possesses or can possess qualities of a leader.

As more and more HBCUs are under the threat of closing and racial tension continues to show its ugly head leaders are needed even more to stand up, and if you’re brave enough…

follow.

I charge all the leaders to rise to the occasion and make a GREAT impact on your perspective campuses, communities, and your fellow institutions…if not now…when?

Norfolk State to inaugurate president Friday

Posted by Michael Livingston II
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When Norfolk State University President Tony Atwater says his students are riding the tide, he’s speaking literally and metaphorically.

The new light rail system called The Tide opened not long after he became president last summer, with two stations on campus that are allowing students greater opportunities to explore the city.

“They’re riding The Tide for free,” he said of NSU’s fee agreement with Hampton Roads Transit, “and I think having a good time.”

The stations have become “a very exciting piece of symbolism” about where Atwater said he sees the campus heading — an urban university less inwardly focused and more engaged as “a steward of place” for the region.

After eight months on the job, Atwater said one of his major goals is to strengthen “outreach to external publics.” He wants to establish the university as a resource for the community while developing corporate and civic partnerships.

“There’s a need to brand or rebrand the university in terms of its centers of strength and academic character,” he said. His goal is to make the Spartans — which will compete in the NCAA basketball tournament for the first time — known for more than athletics.

Atwater will be inaugurated Friday as NSU’s fifth president after a week of events that he said will focus on a theme of “rededication and reaffirmation for educational attainment.”

Atwater previously was president and chief executive officer of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and also served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Youngstown State University in Ohio.

But he is not new to Virginia. An “Air Force brat,” he lived in the Hampton area as a small child when his father was assigned to Langley Air Force Base. His father’s assignments took the family from Germany to Okinawa, and eventually back to Virginia.

Atwater, who has an identical twin brother, graduated from high school in Roanoke and received an associate’s degree at Virginia Western Community College.

He earned a bachelor’s from Hampton University and a doctorate from Michigan State University.

Read more at The Richmond Times Dispatch

Newly appointed president Juliette B. Bell of University of Maryland Eastern Shore gets warm welcome

Posted by Michael Livingston II
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Juliette B. Bell made rounds on the campus of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore on Wednesday, greeting an assembly of hundreds of supporters, taking accolades at a luncheon in her honor and mingling at an evening reception on campus.

Bell was named last week as the 15th president at the historically black university on Maryland’s Lower Shore emerging as a leading institution of training in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The current provost and vice president at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, takes the helm as UMES president on July 1, but there was no better day than Wednesday to showcase the renowned biochemist and scholar before UMES and Lower Shore communities.

“Happy Pi Day,” Paul S. Trotter, president of the UMES National Alumni Association, told an assembly of several hundred university officials, faculty and students as well as community leaders. He was referring to the March 14 holiday that commemorates the mathematical constant pi, a date reflecting 3/14 in month/day date format since 3, 1 and 4 are the most significant digits of the decimal form. Trotter, a mathematics major and retired meteorologist, said he was confident that Bell would “want solutions.”

“This is an important day in mathematics,” he said.

Bell commended contributions by former UMES President Thelma Thompson, who stepped down in August after more than nine years. “There’s much here to build upon and to grow with,” said Bell, flanked by her husband, Willie Jr., a son, daughter-in-law and two young grandchildren.

Jesse Williams Sr., an alumnus and president of the UMES Board of Visitors, likened Bell’s launch from humble beginnings to prominence to his own growth through the years.

“What I loved about Dr. Bell is that she did it the old-fashioned way — she earned it,” said Williams, a retired vice president at the Goodyear Co. “She paid her dues and she believes in hard work.”

Toni Morrison Cancels Plans to Write a Memoir

Posted by Michael Livingston II
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Novelist Toni Morrison tells fans in Ohio she canceled plans to write a memoir because “there’s a point at which your life is not interesting.”

Toni Morrison (Kris Connor/Getty Images)

The Plain Dealer reports that Morrison, a native of nearby Lorain, says she signed a contract for her next book to be a memoir but later canceled it, saying she’d rather write fiction.

The 81-year-old Morrison, in a wheelchair, says she doesn’t travel well and called it a “double bonus” that she was able to see family during her visit.

(Associated Press)

FAMU awards nearly $300K in scholarships

Posted by Michael Livingston II
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Telisha Marshall’s parents said she always had dreams of helping others.

“When she was little, she wanted to be a pediatrician,” her mom April Marshall said.

Telisha, 18, moved closer to her dreams recently when she received a Distinguished Scholar Award from Florida A&M University (FAMU) worth $56,044 during the school’s 2012 Miami Scholarship and Recruitment Reception held in north Miami-Dade County.

She “was actually surprised” when her name was called, she said. “I was like, ‘Me?’”

More than 100 guests turned out for a reception at Miami Carol City High School, 4375 Nw 173rd Dr., Miami Gardens, when FAMU officials handed out 15 scholarships worth more than $277,000. Recruiters from the university’s colleges and schools discussed their programs and FAMU Vice President for Student Affairs William Hudson Jr. related his personal story.

“Attending FAMU was the best decision I made in my life,” Hudson said. “To be the best, you have to want to be the best. You have to make sacrifices. What FAMU taught me is if you persevere you will succeed. I was never the smartest person in my class; I just worked hard. FAMU has many people who have many stories.”

Shadae Tomlinson is looking forward to writing her own story. She received a George W. Gore Scholarship worth $8,000 during the reception.

“When my name was called, it kind of caught me off guard,” said Tomlinson, who plans to major in nursing. “I am honored and really appreciate this scholarship.”

Hudson, who also awarded scholarships in Broward County the same day, March 3, told the students that FAMU is a place where each of them will have the opportunity to discover what they can become.

Telisha Marshall’s father Leon told her to make the most of that opportunity and to stay focused and “keep her eyes on the prize” when she makes her way to “the Hill” in the fall to major in pharmacy.

“I want to have an experience at FAMU,” said Telisha, a student at the School for Advanced Studies in Miami. “I feel like it’s more than receiving a good education, I want to embark on internships. I want to be a well-rounded person.”

Among other award recipients, the Presidential Scholarship Award went to Jabria Blackmon, Shakara Davis, Jazmine Alexander, Xerron Mingo and Iqueena Hollis, all of Miami-Dade; and to Rudolph Ford, Sabrina Smith, Leighton Gray and Khambrel Stephens, all of Broward County.

The George W. Gore Scholarship was presented to Miami-Dade students Ashly Andrews, Azimaa Neilly, Michael Trotman, Christopher Johnson, Randall King, Sean McClain, Cazre’ Hill and Alexis Johnson.

The Distinguished Scholar Award went to Telisha Marshall of Miami-Dade and Alana Smith of Broward County.

(South Florida Times)

Prairie View A&M Releases 2012 Football Schedule

Posted by Michael Livingston II
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Prairie View A&M University Athletic Director Fred Washington today announced the 2012 Panther football schedule. The Panthers will play an action-packed 11-game slate in 2012 highlighted by a contest at the defending FCS National Champions, nine Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) games, four football classics, two on-campus contests and the return to the Golden Triangle area of Texas for the first time since 1998.

The Panthers kickoff the 2012 season on Saturday, Sept. 1 against state and conference rival Texas Southern in the 28th edition of the State Farm Labor Day Classic as it returns to Reliant Stadium in Houston after a one-year hiatus at 7 p.m. For the second straight season, the rivalry will feature a new but familiar face as second-year head coach Heishma Northern will square off against longtime friend and new TSU head coach Darrell Asberry.

On Sept. 8, the Panthers will make the short trek down the highway to the Golden Triangle as they’ll meet Lamar University of the Southland Conference for the first time since 1985 in Beaumont, Texas. In addition to the first meeting between both teams in nearly 27 years, the Panthers will return to the city of Beaumont and Provost Umphrey Stadium for the first time since 1998.

One week later on Sept. 15, Prairie View A&M travels to Huntsville, Ala. for a 6 p.m. match-up at Alabama A&M in the third annual Lewis Crews Classic before closing out non-conference play with a game at defending 2011 FCS National Champion North Dakota State on Sept. 22 in Fargo, N.D. The month of September concludes on Sept. 29 as the Panthers step back into SWAC play with a trip to Jackson, Miss. for a meeting at Jackson State.

The annual State Fair Classic in the Cotton Bowl kicks off the month of October as PV will square off against Grambling State in Dallas on Oct. 6. After a much-deserved weekend off on Oct. 13, the Panthers make their Blackshear Field debut on Oct. 20 as Alcorn State comes to town in a homecoming showdown at 2 p.m. One weekend later on Oct. 27, Prairie View will participate in the third annual Shreveport Classic at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, La. against divisional foe Southern University.

The schedule’s homestretch begins on Saturday, Nov. 3 as the Panthers return home to Blackshear Field to face Alabama State. The Panthers will honor their 2012 senior class during the contest in addition to the third annual PV Marching Storm Band Appreciation Day. The season concludes on the road for consecutive weekends as the Panthers will travel to Mississippi Valley State on Saturday, Nov. 10 and Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday, Nov. 17.

“This is one of our most competitive schedules we’ve had in quite some time,” said Northern. “From the opening week to the final week, we’re going to have to bring our ‘A’ game to the field as we have two solid non-conference teams plus our league foes. I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead.”

Panther fans will have an opportunity to get an early jump on the action for next season as season tickets for the 2012 season will go on sale April 15. For more information and to see finalized game times once they’re available, log on to the department’s official athletic website at www.PVPANTHERS.com.

(TSPN Sports)

2012 Spring Fest Week at Hampton University Activities Set

Posted by Michael Livingston II
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Hampton University’s Spring Fest Week is April 1-April 6. The week’s theme is “Let The Games Begin.” Several events are scheduled and open to the public, including a comedy show with Spoken Reasons, Billy Sorrells and India Craig-Galvan, a step show against Norfolk State University, and a concert with Melanie Fiona, Trina, Big K.R.I.T, Future and Y.G. Please reach out to the HU Office of Student Activities at 757.727.5691 for ticket information.

Sun., April 1 Gospel Concert featuring Sixth Mount Zion Temple Choirs 7 p.m. Ogden Hall Free

Mon., April 2 Cookout and Car Show Noon Outside Student Center Free

Tues., April 3 Miss Hampton University Fashion Show 7:30 p.m. Student Center Ballroom $7 in advance with school ID $10 VIP $15 at the door

Wed., April 4 Comedy Show featuring Spoken Reasons, Billy Sorrells, and India Craig-Galvan 7 p.m. Ogden Hall $10

Thurs., April 5 Concert featuring performers Melanie Fiona, Trina, Big K.R.I.T., Future, and Y.G. 7 p.m. HU Convocation Center $15 for all students, $20 for general public $25 show day

Fri., April 6 Step Show featuring Fonzworth Bentley as host 7 p.m. HU Convocation Center $15 for all students with ID $20 for general public $25 at the door

High School Day All Day Campus wide Free

(Hampton University)

Norfolk State Looking to Bust Brackets in March Madness Opening Round

Posted by Michael Livingston II
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Norfolk State and Hampton are among the fiercest of Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference rivals, but the Spartans hope to emulate the Pirates on Friday in the NCAA tournament.

NSU (25-9) reports to Omaha, Neb., as the No. 15 seed in the West Region. The MEAC champion Spartans take on second-seeded Missouri (30-4), champion of the Big 12 Conference.

Norfolk State's Kyle O'Quinn (right) celebrated with teammates after they won the MEAC championship game over Bethune-Cookman last weekend.

The last time a No. 15 seed eliminated a No. 2? Hampton did it in 2001, beating Iowa State 58-57 in Boise, Idaho. The University of Richmond became the first No. 15 seed to knock off a No. 2 when the Spiders dumped Syracuse in 1991. It has been done on two other occasions: Santa Clara over Arizona in 1993, and Coppin State over South Carolina in 1997.

When video from the most memorable NCAA tournament upsets roll through March, count on seeing Steve Merfeld, HU’s coach in 2001, sprinting from his bench with fists raised in celebration, being hoisted from behind by 6-foot-8 reserve center David Johnson.

Spread eagle in a dark suit, heels pointed to the roof, the 5-8 Merfeld took the ride of his life. Johnson kept telling him, “I gotcha, coach! I gotcha, coach!”

Asked this week what advice he would give the Spartans before they take the court vs. Missouri, Merfeld, now a Creighton assistant, said, “The most important factor is believing that you will win. Without that, you stand no chance. All 68 teams are in the Big Dance for the same reason. They all are good. At this time of the year, anything can happen. Make the most of this great opportunity.”

Hampton was carried by 6-foot-9 Tarvis Williams, who had 16 points, 13 rebounds and 6 blocks vs. the Cyclones. He hit the winning shot from the baseline with 6.9 seconds left. Norfolk State also leads with a potent big man, 6-10 Kyle O’Quinn (15.9 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 2.7 bpg), and he doesn’t sense that the Spartans will be intimidated by Missouri.

“It’s not like we just played a MEAC schedule, and now this is the first time we step out of conference against (a quality program),” said O’Quinn. “We went down to the wire against some of the bigger schools, and actually beat some schools that did well in their conferences.”

Outside of MEAC competition, the Spartans beat Drexel, TCU, Eastern Kentucky and Toledo, among others. NSU fell to Marquette 59-57 in the championship game of November’s Paradise Jam.

“We’re going in with confidence,” O’Quinn said of the Spartans’ NCAA tournament approach.

Win or lose, the 2011-12 school year will be recalled as perhaps the finest in NSU athletics history. The Spartans upgraded from Division II to Division I for 1997-98, and won their first MEAC football championship in the fall before capturing the league’s hoops title and making their first appearance in the NCAA tournament bracket.

(Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Joli Robinson Out as NCCU Women’s Head Basketball Coach

Posted by Michael Livingston II
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N.C. Central has parted ways with 16-year women’s basketball coach Joli Robinson after a 3-27 season, her fifth straight losing campaign.

NCCU won just one conference game in its return to full NCAA Division I and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference status. That left the Lady Eagles in last place at 1-16, 3-27 overall.

NCCU athletics director Ingrid Wicker-McCree announced Monday that Robinson’s contract, which expires June 30, will not be renewed.

(The Herald Sun)

Kony2012: The Infamous Warlord Exposed

Posted by Qiyas Smith
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The most infamous viral video in history, “Kony2012” has caused a major stir.

With more than 100 million views in six days, the 30-minute movie about Ugandan rebel leader Joseph Kony quickly made its way across the world.

“I think people only care about Kony because it was on CNN,” said Dalisha McClain, a senior criminal justice major at Grambling State University.

The film made by Invisible Children Inc. a San Diego-based activist organization,is aimed to jumpstart U.S. efforts in helping bring about the arrest of Joseph Kony, leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army’s (LRA) a Ugandan guerrilla terrorist group. While initially enjoying strong support, the LRA brutally turned on its own supporters to supposedly purify the Acholi people and turn Uganda into a theocracy.

“Kony’s 26-year war began in northern Uganda where tens of thousand of children were abducted to be soldiers, wives or porters,” according to csmonitor.com.

Thousands more who fought in LRA wars were permanently disfigured.

An estimated 66,000 children became soldiers and two million people have been internally displaced since 1986.

Although the movie spawned a global debate on the intentions of Invisible Children’s documentary and social media campaign, little reaction has come from the victims of the conspiracy.

Kony was the first suspect indicted by the Intenational Criminal Court in 2005, and faces 33 charges- including murder, rape and abduction. He has evaded capture.

“Invisible Children and Kony2012’s director, Jason Russell, have been criticized for over-simplifying the conflict’s causes and for spending more money on management, media and movies than on grass-roots projects,” according to the Invisible Children website.

“How would we ever be able to have so much global attention to come to us on an issue which has been running for almost three decades and which still needs more attention on a daily basis,” said Victor Ochen, director of a Ugandan charity.

Both Ochen’s brother and cousin were kidnapped by the LRA and are still missing.

“That film has put Kony’s name on people’s lips,” Ochen continued.

“The film is not without its challenges, but the more people get connected directly to the victims, and the more that people understand what Kony did here, and what he may still be doing in other countries, the more everyone can work together for real, long-lasting peace,” added Ochen.

“We are encouraged by this outpouring of international support for our continuing campaign to eliminate the threat posed by the LRA to all countries and communities,” said Fred Opolot, a spokesman from the office of Uganda’s president, Yoweri Museveni.

“Uganda welcomes all campaigns which seek to raise awareness and highlight the plight of people affected by the LRA.”

Although the scheme has come to the forefront, it is imporant to know that the LRA is no longer active in Uganda.

“It must be clarified that at present the LRA is not active in any part of Uganda,” said Opolot.

“The LRA has retreated to dense terrain within bordering countries in the Central African area. They are a diminished and weakened group with numbers not exceeding 300.”

Invisible Children has responded to many of its critics: “The Kony2012 campaign … supports the deployment of US advisers and the provision of intelligence and other support that can help locate and bring Kony to justice, but also increased diplomacy to hold regional governments accountable to their basic responsibilities to protect civilians from this kind of brutal violence.

“Importantly, the campaign also advocates for broader measures to help communities being affected by LRA attacks, such as increased funding for programs to help Kony’s abductees escape and return to their homes and families.”

Even though a vast amount of the GSU community is not fully aware of the Kony2012 campaign, a lot of students are. “The fact that children were abducted from their homes and turned into sex slaves and fighters is obscured,” McClain said. “The fact that the United States wants to intervene is slightly annoying because we have problems equivalent to Kony. There are young American children that are abducted and mistreated from their families everyday and no one seems to care.”

Watch “KONY2012” by Invisible Children below

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc&w=610&h=340]

Howard Lady Bison Takes on UVA in WNIT

Posted by Michael Livingston II
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The Howard University women’s basketball program continues to make great strides under the leadership of head coach Niki Reid Geckeler as they prepare for the 2012 Women’s National Invitational Tournament against the Cavaliers of the University of Virginia on Thursday, March 15 at 7 pm in the John Paul Arena in Charlottesville, VA.

Geckeler came in with a formula for success and unquestionably, it is working.  It all started three years ago when she brought in the current starting lineup, which consists of five juniors.

As freshmen, the group grew as the season progressed and made it to the semifinals of the MEAC Tournament before they lost to South Carolina State.

The group matured and showed marked improvement last season, advancing to the championship final before losing to eventual champion, Hampton University.

This season, the group took yet another quantum leap, achieving numerous milestones along the way.

The team, which tied the school record for wins in a season at 24, played perhaps the most challenging schedule in the storied history of the program.  The Lady Bison began the season in the Preseason WNIT and faced Number 1 ranked Baylor.  The Lady Bears won by a lopsided margin, but it proved to be beneficial to the Howard team as the season would progress.

The Lady Bison went on to play St. John’s from the Big East and Ohio State from the Big 10, both of whom were ranked in the preseason poll.  Howard would go on play five teams which are playing in the NCAA tournament.

Despite the losses, the exposure to that level of competition helped when Howard later went on to post road victories over Wake Forest of the ACC and Seton Hall from the Big East.  The Lady Bison were able to parlay those wins into both a nine-game, and a 11-game win streak.

Much of the success had to do with the team’s defense, which is ranked among the tops in the nation in scoring defense and in three-point shooting defense.  Moreover, the Lady Bison have been able to take care of the ball, averaging only 13 turnovers per game to rank in the Top 10 in the country in that statistical category.

Read more at Howard-Bison

Gallery: 2012 Saint Paul’s College Founder’s Day Banquet & Convocation

Posted by Michael Livingston II
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Nothing can stop an HBCU with a mission. Saint Paul’s College needs to raise $3.5 million by June or else the doors of this HBCU will close forever. Nevertheless, SPC honors tradition, hosting its annual Founder’s Day Banquet and Convocation.

Fatal Case of Trayvon Martin Shooting Still Unsolved, Headed to State Attorney

Posted by Michael Livingston II
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A case involving the fatal shooting of an unarmed Florida teen, which has sparked outrage and calls for justice, is in the hands of the state attorney’s office.

Police say Trayvon Martin, 17, was returning from the convenience store to his father’s home in Sanford, Florida.

A neighborhood watch captain, George Zimmerman, 28, saw the teen and called 911 to report a suspicious man, authorities said.

The 911 dispatcher told Zimmerman not to confront Martin, but by the time police arrived, the teenager lay dead with a gunshot wound in the chest, said Bill Lee, the Sanford police chief. He was carrying a small amount of cash, some candy and an iced tea.

Zimmerman told police he shot Martin in self defense, authorities said.

“When you add it up, it just doesn’t even make sense,” said Ben Crump, the Martin family’s attorney. “Trayvon Martin, a kid, has a bag of Skittles. (Zimmerman) had a 9 mm gun. Trayvon Martin didn’t approach George Zimmerman, George Zimmerman approached Trayvon Martin. So how can he now assert self defense?”

(CNN)

Shaw University Falls to West Liberty in Atlantic Regional Finals

Posted by Michael Livingston II
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Malik Alvin had 28 points and Tony Smith had 19, but it wasn’t enough as #7 Shaw fell to #3 West Liberty in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Final held at the ASRC on the campus of West Liberty.

The Bears conclude their season with a 27-4 mark, having gone deeper into the NCAA Tournament than any team at Shaw since the 2001-2002 season.  West Liberty, 32-2, now advances to the Elite Eight being held at Highland Heights, KY.

Shaw held West Liberty’s high-powered offense to only 89 points.  The Hilltoppers average over 103 points per game and have hit triple digits in 20 of their contests this season.  But the Bears could not answer WLU’s ten-point run early in the second half.

“We’re somewhat similar teams in that we’re very spurt-y,” said Shaw head coach Cleo Hill, Jr.  “Their spurts are different because they’ll go for a three and we tend to look inside first.  We had a spurt to close the first half and take the lead, but after they took the lead in the second, we never had a second spurt.”

The Hilltoppers shot 45.8 percent from beyond the three-point arc and 52.5 from the field as a whole.  The Bears, who average over 50 percent from the field, hit only 42.9 percent of their shots, and hit only four of 13 from beyond the arc.

“They really did have a home court advantage,” said Hill.  “Not only was the crowd behind them, but they had a lot of bounces fall their way.”

The Bears did outrebound WLU 42-35, but it was West Liberty’s Keene Cockburn who controlled the airspace above the rim with six blocks, compared to Shaw’s four.

Shaw actually quieted the raucous home crowd early in the game when they broke on top to an 8-3 lead in the first 90 seconds of play.  WLU answered with five straight to tie.  With the score tied at 10, the Hilltoppers had a 12-2 spurt, building a 22-12 lead with 14:34 left in the first and bringing the crowd back into the game.

Alvin then scored eight straight points to trim that lead to only two.  The Hilltoppers answered with seven straight points, rebuilding their lead to nine.

With 5:18 left in the first and with the score 40-31 in favor of WLU, Junius Chaney hit a layup that started a 12-2 run for Shaw, and took them into the locker room at the half with a 43-42 lead.

The Bears managed to hold their lead the first three minutes of the second half.  With 16:30 left in the game, Alvin hit a layup that gave the Bears a 51-47 lead.

 

WLU’s Cedric Harris – the tournament MVP – hit a jumper to trim the Shaw lead to two and after a Tim Hausfeld steal, Alex Falk hit a three from well beyond the arc to give the Hilltoppers a 52-51 lead.  Shaw would never regain the lead.

By the 12:59 mark, WLU had extended their lead to ten after a pair of threes from C.J. Hester.   With 5:35 left on the clock, Alvin made an old-fashioned three-point play, cutting the Hilltopper lead to three.  WLU responded with another scoring run – this one for six points – and put the game out of reach.

Smith and Chaney both had double-doubles on the night.  Smith coupled his 19 points with 12 rebounds while Chaney had 13 points and ten rebounds.  Derrick Hunter led the Bears with three assists.

Harris finished the game with 26 points and eight assists.  Hester had 16, Falk had 14 and Hausfeld added another 13.  Hester had ten rebounds for a double-double  Harris had eight assists to lead the Hilltoppers.

Joining Harris on the All-Tournament Team were Falk and Hester from WLU and Alvin and Karron Johnson from Shaw.

(CIAA)