For The Week of JULY 24 - 30, 2012

Norfolk State picked to repeat in MEAC

NC A&T's Mike Mayhew and Howard's Keith Pough garner top preseason individual honors
NORFOLK, Va., July 20, 2012 - Defending champion Norfolk State took top preseason team honors and North Carolina A&T running back Mike Mayhew and Howard linebacker Keith Pough received top individual honors as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) announced its 2012 preseason football teams at the annual Football Press Luncheon Banquet last Friday afternoon at the Sheraton Waterside Hotel in Virginia. Norfolk State, who earned its rst-ever conference title in 2011 with a 7-1 MEAC mark and 9-3 record overall, was picked as the top team for the 2012 season. The Spartans return 43 student-athletes from last year's team including 13 starters, nine on offense. South Carolina State was picked to nished second followed by Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M. Mayhew was selected as the preseason Offensive Player of the Year and Pough was named the preseason Defensive Player of the Year. All preseason honors are voted on by the MEAC's head football coaches and sports information directors. Mayhew, a native of Charlotte, N.C., led the MEAC in rushing with 1,120 yards on 231 total attempts. He averaged 101.8 yards per game and recorded nine touchdowns. A fth-year senior, Mayhew earned a share of the conference's Player of the Year honor last year. He also ranked third in all purpose yards with 1,222 yards with 93 yards through the air. Pough led the conference in total tackles with 120 averaging 10.9 per game. He posted 71 solo tackles and ranked second in the MEAC in tackles for loss with 21. He also had three sacks, two breakups, 11 hurries, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble. The senior
2012 PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
(First Place Votes in Parenthesis)

Norfolk State Sports photo

LET'S DO IT AGAIN

LOOKIN' TO REPEAT: Coaches pick Norfolk State as the team to beat coming off the Spartans' 2011 title.

1. Norfolk State (11)................... 454 pts. 2. South Carolina State (4) ........ 432 pts. 3. Bethune-Cookman (3) ........... 417 pts. 4. Florida A&M (2) ..................... 354 pts. 5. Hampton (1) .......................... 268 pts. 6. N.C. A&T................................ 216 pts. 7. Morgan State ......................... 198 pts. 8. Howard .................................. 188 pts. 9. N.C. Central ............................116 pts. 10. Delaware State ...................... 78 pts. 11. Savannah State (1) ................ 73 pts. OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Mike Mayhew, Sr., RB, North Carolina A&T DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Keith Pough, Sr., LB, Howard

MAYHEW

FRAZIER REINSTATED AT NC CENTRAL; NEW COACHES AT COPPIN AND KENTUCKY STATE

POUGH 2012 ALL-MEAC PRESEASON TEAMS FIRST TEAM OFFENSE QB Greg McGhee So. Howard RB Mike Mayhew Sr. N. Carolina A&T RB Isidore Jackson Jr. B.-Cookman WR Xavier Boyce r-Sr. Norfolk State WR Travis Tarpley r-Sr. Delaware State TE Joseph Hawkins Sr. Norfolk State C Michael Kay r-Sr. Norfolk State OL Steven Robinson r-Sr. Florida A&M OL Blake Matthews r-Sr. Norfolk State OL Terrance Hackney Jr. B.-Cookman OL Cory Gwinner r-Sr. Howard DEFENSE DL Tony Mashburn Sr. N. Carolina A&T DL Padric Scott r-Sr. Florida A&M DL Richard Ndubueze Sr. Morgan State DL Matthew Davis Jr. Hampton LB Keith Pough r-Sr. Howard LB Jarkevis Fields r-Jr. B.-Cookman LB D'Vonte Grant r-So. N. Carolina A&T DB John Ojo Sr. Florida A&M DB DeVontae Johnson So. Florida A&M DB Travis Crosby Jr. N. Carolina A&T DB D.J. Howard r-Jr. B.-Cookman P Brandon Holdren Sr. Florida A&M PK Everett Goldberg Sr. Norfolk State RS Geovonie Irvine r-Sr. N.C. Central SECOND TEAM OFFENSE QB Damien Fleming RB Antwon Chisholm RB Travis Davidson WR Eddie Poole WR Justin Wilson TE Kris Drummond C Tristan Bellamy C Vincent Harper OL Sam Hammond OL Nathan Isles OL Cameron Williams OL Marquell Rozier DEFENSE DL Xavier Proctor DL Leon Smith DL Harold Love III DL Brandon Young LB Delbert Tyler LB Joe Thomas LB Lyndell Gibson DB Justin Blake DB Kenneth Ridley DB Darius Drummond DB DeCarlos Knight P Jordan Stovall PK Taureab Durham RS Darius Drummond

UNDER THE BANNER

WHAT'S GOING ON IN AND AROUND BLACK COLLEGE SPORTS

BALTIMORE Ashley Preston has been named Coppin State's head volleyball coach. "Ashley is one of the rising young stars in college volleyball, and we were fortunate to hire her," said Derrick Ramsey, CSU's director of athletics. "Ashley was very successful in the classroom and on the court as a student-athlete, and I want her to bring those winning attributes to our Preston program." Preston becomes the 11th head coach in Coppin State volleyball history and will look to make her mark in her second stint as a head coach. Last season Preston led Spelman College to a 9-16 record, which established a school record for wins in a season. She also served as an assistant coach at Loyola (Md.) and Morgan State. "I'm so fortunate that Mr. Ramsey and Coppin State Athletics have afforded me the opportunity to coach in the same conference that I have played in," said Preston. "I love the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and I believe I can make people think twice about Coppin State. I know the Baltimore area and I know I can do great things with the potential Coppin State has . . . This is not just a job; this is my dream to coach at a Division 1 Historically Black College." Preston ranks as one of the top players in Morgan State history. She was a three-time rst team all-MEAC selection from 2004-06 and is the Bears all-time leader in digs with 2,066. She also owns the top three marks in Morgan State history for digs in a season. During her tenure the Bears advanced to the MEAC Tournament championship match in 2006. Coppin State nished the 2011 season with a 5-24 overall record and a 1-11 mark in the MEAC Northern Division, but does return second team all-MEAC selections Ariel Richard and Gabrielle Otero from last season. "We have a lot of work ahead of us this season but a great foundation has been laid from last year and hopefully with some hard work and discipline it will continue to grow," Preston said. FRANKFORT, Ky. Kentucky State University has hired Rob Henry as the Thorobreds new head baseball coach. Henry comes to KSU from Asbury University (KY), where he served as the Assistant Baseball Coach for the 2011 season. During his time at Asbury, Henry helped lead the Eagles to their rst Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC) TournaHenry ment Championship and qualied for the NAIA National Tournament for the rst time in program history. "I am honored and blessed to be named the Head Baseball Coach at Kentucky State University," said Henry. "I am excited about the vision Dr. Hendricks and her administration share for the athletic department, and I look forward to working with a great staff and student-athletes." Henry began his college-coaching career at Kentucky Wesleyan College (1997-2001) where he worked with the inelders and assisted with batting techniques. From 20022006, Henry served as the top assistant coach at Spalding University. Henry also has coaching experience at the NCAA Division I level, having served as the Associate Head Baseball Coach at Cleveland State from 2006-2011. A Lexington, Ky. native, Henry has served as an instructor for the University of Kentucky Baseball Camp each year since 1999. He has also served as an instructor for camps at Mississippi State University (2009), Derby City Summer Collegiate League teams (2002, 2003 and 2005) and has presented at several other camps and clinics. Henry earned his Bachelors in History and Secondary Education (minors in English and Physical Education) from Kentucky Wesleyan College and a Master's in General History from Western Kentucky University.
AZEEZ Communications, Inc. Vol. XVIII, No. 52

NEW VB COACH AT COPPIN STATE:

So. Jr. Sr. r-Sr. r-Sr. So. r-So. Jr. r-Sr. Jr. r-Jr. Jr. r-Sr Sr. Sr. r-Sr. Jr. r-Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. r-Sr. Jr. Sr. Jr.

Florida A&M Hampton Morgan State B.-Cookman Delaware State Savannah State S. Carolina State Hampton S. Carolina State N. Carolina A&T Norfolk State B.-Cookman N. C. Central S. Carolina State B.-Cookman N. Carolina A&T Hampton S. Carolina State Hampton Hampton Morgan State S. Carolina State Howard Hampton Hampton S.Carolina State

linebacker from Orangeburg, S.C., helped Howard to a 4-4 nish in conference play and 5-6 overall record. Hampton led all teams with eight student-

athletes receiving preseason honors including seven on the second team. Florida A&M had ve student-athletes to earn rst-team honors followed by Bethune-Cookman with four.

Notes from Preseason MEAC Football Event

During his speech at the press luncheon, veteran South Carolina State head coach Buddy Pough spoke of the challenge of his 2012 schedule that includes back-toback dates at BCS schools Arizona and Texas A&M (Sept. 15 and 22). Second-year Savannah State head coach Steve Davenport then offered to trade schedules with Pough. His Tigers open at Big 12 champion Oklahoma State on Sept. 1 and then travel to ACC favorite Florida State on Sept. 8.

MINE FOR YOURS

Davenport

Two sophomore quarterbacks were voted by league coaches to the preseason rst and second all-MEAC squads. Howard QB Greg McGhee (6-1, 200) was picked to the rst team and Florida A&M QB Damien Fleming (6-3, 195) was voted to the second team. Was that from a lack of veteran leadership at the quarterback position or are these McGhee Fleming young guns just that good? The shortest presentation at the press luncheon was by Bethune-Cookman third-year head coach Brian Jenkins. His concise and cryptic comment - "You can't misquote silence, but you better pay attention."

NOD TO THE FUTURE

Low Academic Progress Rates (APR) will keep North Carolina A&T and Hampton from postseason play this season. The low scores will also limit practice time during the season for the Aggies and Pirates to 16 hours per week (instead of 20) with the time replaced with four hours of academic activities. A&T got some of its scholarships back but will have no spring football in Broadway 2013. "I've said from Day One to anyone that would listen, 'Our problem isn't a football problem, it's a university problem,'" said a disappointed A&T head coach Rod Broadway. "You bring in 22 freshman, but when do you train them if you have no spring ball. We're going to ght our way thru this and in time we'll be OK."

BEWARE THE APR

A WRY SMILE

A MAN OF A FEW WORDS

HENRY TO LEAD KSU BASEBALL:

Jenkins

A wry smile was noted on the face of Florida A&M head coach Joe Taylor. Was it because he rates his young QB, Damien Fleming, as one of the best he's had in 30 years as a head coach, or that several Div. I transfers are ready to shore up his defense? Or it may be the October release of his new book, "Success is an Inconvenience." The book follows some of his former players and the success they've found after football. "Coaching is more than Xs and Os," said Taylor, who has always said 'coaching is a ministry.'

Taylor

Head Football Coach Henry Frazier reinstated at North Carolina Central

BCSP Notes
FRAZIER ROBINSON SHARP

North Carolina Central head football coach Henry Frazier has been reinstated to his job after being suspended for his role in a domestic confrontation with his wife that led to a misdemeanor assault charge. The school announced his reinstatement Monday and said his legal matter has been resolved but neither he nor the school indicated what the resolution involved. According to WTVD-TV in Durham, court records show Frazier is participating in an abuse treatment program in exchange for a dismissed charge. Frazier, who is in his second season with the Eagles, appeared at a press conference at the school Monday and expressed regret for his actions. "I'd like to apologize to my family, North Carolina Central University and its supporters, my coaches and my players for allowing my personal life to become a distraction to this ne institution," said Frazier. "In a million years I wouldn't have thought something like this would happen to me or my family." The reinstatement is effective July 23. "Coach Frazier is remorseful for the distraction to the university," NCCU Chancellor Charlie Nelms said in a statement. Frazier was charged with assault in May after Morrisville (N. C.) police found evidence of a confrontation between the couple. He was released from the Wake County Jail on $1,500 bond and given a June 22 court date. Reports have also indicated that Frazier has another court date on August 17. "As coach Frazier returns to lead the NCCU football program, I have full condence that he has learned from this unfortunate situation and is working through the healing process with his family," NCCU Athletics Director Ingrid Wicker-McCree said.

this entire situation. It is the hope that with today's actions by the NCAA, the victims can begin to heal. While closure may be far away, perhaps this small measure of justice will aid in moving those affected in a positive direction. The SWAC and its leadership continue to uphold the highest standards among its member institutions and promote exemplary behavior by its administrators, coaches and student-athletes. While the SWAC recognizes the fact that former Grambling State head coach Eddie Robinson is now the NCAA All-Time winningest football coach overall in Division I, the focus remains with the pain suffered by the victims. Coach Robinson's 408 wins came through many years of hard work and mentoring generations of student-athletes. The SWAC is deeply saddened by the turn of events which led to today's actions. The conference reiterates its heartfelt sympathies to the victims and families of these terrible acts.

SWAC Commish Duer Sharp gets extension thru 2015

SWAC issues statement following sanctions levied on Penn State

BIRMINGHAM - With the announcement of sanctions against Penn State University on Monday, the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) acknowledges the decision by NCAA President Dr. Mark Emmert, and the NCAA Executive Committee. The SWAC expresses its condolences to the victims and their families who had their lives so deeply affected by

The SWAC Council of Presidents/Chancellors and chairman George C. Wright, President at the Prairie View A&M, announced Friday that SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp and the conference have agreed to a contract extension through June 30, 2015 Sharp, 42, has been the commissioner of the 10-team league for the last ve years. Under Sharp's leadership the SWAC has negotiated long-term agreements with ESPN, Russell Athletic, Toyota, Coca-Cola and Nike. The conference basketball tournament has also set records for revenue and total attendance two of the last three years. Sharp has served on the NCAA Committee on Academic Performance (CAP) and is currently a member of the Division I Leadership Council.