Former Saint Augustine's hurdler earns Olympic berth

EUGENE, Ore. - Former Saint Augustine's College hurdler and current Falcon student Bershawn Jackson gained a berth to the 2008 Beijing Olympics with a convincing victory in the 400-meter hurdles final on Sunday (June 29) at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials at Hayward Field. This is the first Olympic berth for Jackson, a Miami, Fla., native who lives and trains in Raleigh, NC, under George Williams, the legendary Saint Augustine's College track and field coach and 2004 U.S. Olympic team coach.

Jackson blitzed the field in the finals, crossing the finish line in 48.17 seconds to beat Kerron Clement (48.36) and Angelo Taylor (48.42), who both are going to the 2008 Olympics as well. The top three finishers advance to the Beijing Games.



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Stillman AD knows all about hard work, challenges

TUSCALOOSA - Curtis D. Campbell, athletics director at Stillman College, came to town with the experience of an administrator, having worked at colleges of various sizes. He also had the experience of jumping from an airplane with a full load of military gear, having serving as a paratrooper in the U.S. Army. So he knows something about responsibility and discipline.

Campbell, 45, got the job on July 1, 2007, becoming Stillman’s fifth AD in three years. He replaced Greg Thompson, head football coach, who served two stints as athletics director.

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JCSU leader prepares to step away

Photo: Dr. Dorothy Cowser Yancy.

CHARLOTTE -- Nearly 50 years ago, Johnson C. Smith University’s 12th president set foot on the campus, first as a student and then years later at a leader. Now, Dr. Dorothy Cowser Yancy says it is time to say good bye. Yancy started at JCSU in 1960, and while at first she was homesick, the school would eventually be her home away from home. Upon graduating in 1964, she knew her time at the university was far from over.

"I left here determined to make Johnson C. Smith University proud of me,” said the first woman to ever be the school’s president. "It was different coming back as interim president. I thought I'd be here for maybe six months because … I figured by September I'd be back in the classroom at Georgia Tech and life would continue. I never expected to be here for 14 years."

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Tavon Waters transferring to FSU

Every athlete dreams of taking their game to the next level. Former Wayne County prep standout Tavon Waters is getting that chance. Waters recently announced that he will be leaving Brunswick Community College, and enrolling at perennial Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association power Fayetteville State University. The move is the culmination of hard work, prowess and perseverance.

"I know that Fayetteville State is a place where I can be successful," said Waters, who played at Goldsboro High and Wayne Country Day. "It's a place where I can help keep the spotlight on basketball. "I have a really close family, and I wanted to go to a place where they could come and watch me play ... a place that would allow me to be close to home."

After completing a successful high school career at Wayne Country Day, the combo-guard weighed all of his collegiate options. Eventually he found a home within coach Walter Shaw's highly-successful program at Brunswick.

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Iverson's ability opens door for playing at Stillman College

TUSCALOOSA Sitting through team meetings and overhearing countless recruiting calls, Iverson Williams couldn’t escape football, no matter how much his father, Ivey, tried to deter him.

Iverson Williams, a junior wide receiver at Stillman College, learned the subtleties of football shadowing his dad, a football coach for 33 years.

Now an assistant head coach at Northwest Oklahoma State University, Ivey Williams is known to Alabama Crimson Tide fans as the running backs coach for Gene Stallings and Mike DuBose from 1994-2000. He coached the same position for the Detroit Lions in the late ’80s.

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A 6-foot-7-inch seaman plays on all-Navy basketball team

Tolbert said he would like to apply to attend Virginia State University on a Navy scholarship, where he could play and finish his education.

NORFOLK, Va. - Seaman Sam Tolbert needed to get to another, quieter compartment in his ship. There was one obvious way: through the bulkhead, a manhole-size cutout about 3 feet off the deck. Tolbert tucked his head, coiled up his 6-foot-7-inch frame and aimed for the hole. Swish.

A train of visitors bumped and rattled through behind him. He explained his deft moves: "I'm used to it." The Navy is not perfectly designed for the big and tall sailor. But for Tolbert, it is a path to further his basketball education.

At 21, he is a two-time member of the all-Navy basketball team. He's a force at military gyms and aboard the amphibious ship Bataan.

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This seaman should be a great acquisition for VSU Trojans Basketball.

SIAC fires commissioner, cites financial mismanagement

The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference has fired William E. Lide, its commissioner for the past five years, citing mismanagement of the league's finances.

A statement released by the SIAC's Council of Presidents said Lide had been suspended since April 15 and was terminated on May 31.

Tuskegee University President Benjamin F. Payton, chairman of the council of presidents for the NCAA Division II conference, said in the release, "the council of presidents regrets very much the necessity to take this action. ... (Lide) brought new energy and imagination to the conference and we certainly wish that we could continue this statement on that note.

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Anthony transfers to Tuskegee University

Former Bastrop High (La.) cornerback Rodney Anthony will play football and run track for Tuskegee (Ala.) University next year. Anthony had a fine season as a redshirt freshman at Southern Arkansas last season, recording 49 tackles, with 4.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

Anthony transferred to ULM last spring, but did not play football. He signed a letter of intent last week to play for Tuskegee where he will be eligible immediately. "I'm relieved to have a place to play," said Anthony. "Not knowing where I was going to school put me under a lot of stress."

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"Tuskegee has been a member of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference since 1913." False! TU is a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Bentley transferring from St. Augustine's College to Middle Tennessee State University for track

After redshirting a year at an NCAA Division II national track and field power, former Brainerd High School speedster Adrian “Buck” Bentley is heading to a Division I career closer to home.

Bentley signed scholarship papers Monday to run for Middle Tennessee State University. He’s leaving Saint Augustine’s College in Raleigh, N.C., with 24 credit hours and a grade point average above 2.6. He was majoring in engineering and mathematics, so he was taking some heavyweight courses.

“He always had the academic ability. He struggled about what is necessary to move on,” said Brainerd coach Mary Sparn, noting that Bentley got behind early in high school. “He is a very bright kid. Actually, he’s not a kid anymore — he’s an adult, and he’s proved that.”

Bentley holds Brainerd records for the 100- and 200-meter dashes and is part of the school’s record 4x100 relay. He won the 100 and 400, helped win the 4x100 and finished second in the 200 in the 2007 TSSAA Class A/AA state meet, leading the Panthers to the team championship.

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Stampeders hopeful sprints out of brother's shadow

The words from his brother will spur Calgary Stampeders hopeful Eddie Montgomery.

Knowing his younger sibling would soon be on his way to the Stampede City to follow his pro football dreams, Tim Montgomery wanted to offer his last bit of support before going behind bars.

"He looked at me and said, 'Do what you've gotta do. You're not in my shadow anymore,' " recalled Eddie Montgomery from his family home in Gaffney, S.C. "I loved to be in his shadow because everybody knew me as Tim's younger brother and I looked up to him, like a father figure as much as a brother."

While Eddie is catching passes and returning kicks at Stamps camp that opens Sunday, his brother -- the former world record-holding sprinter whose fall from grace came at a dizzying pace -- will be in prison

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Salisbury hires Livingstone's Mitchell

Andrew Mitchell doesn't even know who will make up his starting lineup next season. But he is already looking forward to the big games on the Salisbury High girls basketball schedule.

Mitchell, a former star at North Rowan and Catawba and long-time women's coach at Livingstone, was introduced as the new Hornets' leader on Tuesday. It didn't take long for him to bring up the subject of East Davidson.

Most thought Salisbury had the inside track on a state 2A title last season, but a 28-2 season wasn't enough. Both losses came to the Golden Eagles, who eventually won the championship.

Both CCC teams are among the favorites next season, too, and the prospect of big-time basketball excites Mitchell.

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ASU women like their chances

WALNUT, Calif. — The reigning SIAC champion Albany State women’s track and field team is doing a little of their own California Dreamin’ this week.

Taking seven athletes to the NCAA Division II meet that begins today at California State Polytechnic University, ASU coach Kenneth Taylor could not be more optimistic.
After all, his team finished a program-best sixth last season.

“We’re excited about going,” Taylor said. “We’ve got a lot of top-rated athletes, and all of them are going as top-eight performers. Both of our relay teams are even ranked third.”

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Morehouse and Albany State wins SIAC All-Sports competition

The men of Morehouse College and the women of Albany State University captured the SIAC All-Sports Award for the 2007-08 season. This award is Albany State Women's fifth consecutive SIAC Commissioner's All-Sports Award and Morehouse's second in the last five years.

In the women's competition Albany State tallied 44 points after winning conference titles in cross country, volleyball, softball and track and field. They also finished third in tennis. Since the restart of the Commissioner's Cup in 2003 Albany State has won five consecutive awards.

Tuskegee University made a strong push for the title but finished second in the conference competition compiling 27 points. Tuskegee finished first in basketball and tennis, second in cross country.

Clark Atlanta University wrapped up a third place finish compiling 19 points after a second place finish in track and field, and third place finishes in cross country, softball and volleyball. Benedict College (18 points), Miles College (7 points), Kentucky State University (7 points) and Fort Valley State University (4 points) rounded out the scoring.

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FSU Turns to Capel for Classic

Fayetteville State University announced Tuesday the inaugural Felton J. Capel Sr. Celebrity Golf Classic, to be held Aug. 3-5 at Whispering Pines. Capel was joined by several FSU officials and other dignitaries at a press conference held at the County Club of Whispering Pines, where the event will take place.

Officials hope the tournament will become an annual event that will help raise money for student scholarships to FSU. CCWP was chosen as the location for the event because it accommodates 250 golfers at a time -- double the capacity of an average course. The club boasts two 18-hole courses.

Organizers have a goal of raising at least $50,000 in the first event, but they believe the event is limited only by the support it can generate.

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Neal inducted into Hall of Fame

Johnson C. Smith University alumnus Fred “Curly” Neal was among eight inductees at the 45th annual North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame held at the North Raleigh Hilton on May 17. Neal became the 253rd member of the prestigious Hall of Fame and joins the likes of other HOF members from the CIAA such as Sam Jones (1969), Dr. Leroy Walker (1975), Clarence “Big House” Gaines (1978), Bobby Vaughan (1992), John McLendon (1994), and George Williams (2000) to name a few.



While at Johnson C. Smith University, Neal earned All-CIAA honors in 1961 and 1963. In his senior year, he averaged 23.1 points per game and led his team to the CIAA title. Neal went on to play in 6,000 games, over 22 years, with the Harlem Globetrotters. He traveled millions of miles, performed in 97 countries as a dribbling sensation. Neal continues to work with the Globetrotters in their Public Relations Department.

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A man who changed VSU

ETTRICK — Over the past 15 years, the view from the office window of Virginia State University President Eddie N. Moore Jr. has changed. From the third floor, he can look out over the front lawn of Virginia Hall and out to the growing and changing city of Petersburg. Behind him is an equally growing and changing campus.

When asked about his pending retirement at the close of his 17th year, the 61-year-old Moore showed no signs of slowing down. “I feel like I can do my best work over the next two years,” he said.

Earlier this year, the VSU Board of Visitors voted to extend Moore’s tenure for six months — to June 30, 2010 — to allow the enlarged board to become acclimated to their role and the presidential search. Moore said he will not seek an extension to the contract.

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Bowie State and Virginia State wins CIAA All-Sports Awards

DURHAM, NC - The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association presented Bowie State University with the Loretta Taylor Women's All-Sports Trophy and Virginia State University with the C.H. Williams Men's All-Sports Trophy at the Annual Award's Luncheon.

The Loretta Taylor All-Sports Women's Trophy and the C.H. Williams All-Sports Men's Trophy are determined by a point system established to award an institution for achievement in each of their women's and men's programs. The champion is the institution with the most combined total points for all sponsored sports based on their conference finish and the number of CIAA sponsored events.

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Perry High's Burgess signs with Fort Valley State

PERRY --Kim Burgess already had the royal blue and gold of Fort Valley State running through her veins. On Tuesday, she made it official when the Perry High basketball player signed a letter of intent to play at one of the top Division II programs.

"My mom (Paula King) went there," Burgess said. "My grandmother had nine kids and of those nine, seven went to Fort Valley State. So it was kind of natural to go there."
Burgess also got to know the program very well by participating in group and individual camps conducted by the coaching staff.

The one thing that is up in the air is what position she will play. At 5-foot-10, she was a little smaller than the average high school center. But she still managed to finish her senior season with 164 blocks.

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NSU assistant to become head coach at St. Augustine’s College

Photo: Falcons new head basketball coach Lonnie Blow.

Lonnie Blow, Jr., an assistant basketball coach at Norfolk State, is leaving to become the head coach at St. Augustine’s College in Raleigh, a Division II school.
Blow, 48, spent the past two seasons working under former Spartans coach Dwight Freeman and current coach Anthony Evans.

“It’s going to be tough leaving Norfolk State,” Blow said. “We worked really hard and we have the left the program headed in the right direction. But I’m pretty excited. This is a great opportunity for me.”

Blow, who has been an assistant at Hampton University and a head coach at Granby High School, will be introduced today at a press conference in Raleigh.

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JCSU Men's Tennis Signs Robert Butts to NLI

Photo: JCSU head tennis coach James Cuthbertson, Jr.

Westlake HS Standout to Play for Golden Bulls in the Fall

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Westlake (Atlanta, Ga.) high school standout Robert Butts has signed to play at Johnson C. Smith University. Coach James Cuthbertson is elated at the prospect of Robert joining the Golden Bulls.

"Robert will help us contend for top honors in the CIAA Conference," said Cuthbertson. "We are extremely happy. His one handed and two handed backhands are awesome. He is also a good server."`

At Westlake he was tennis team captain and MVP of the tennis team. He also was Mr. SGA, Mr. Orchestra and a member of the student government association, the chorus, and the Future Business Leaders of America. This year's edition of the team will be playing in the state playoffs for the first time in ten years.

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