The Wild, Wild SWAC-98

"I didn't expect it. I'm just glad it happened. I just have to keep it going. Southern's been known for good running backs, so I have to keep it going."--Ryan Lewis

"When we threw the ball they (Southern) were there. When we ran the ball they (Southern) were there. Southern's defense was a great defense today."--Bethune-Cookman head coach Alvin Wyatt.

"It's going to take hard work with a hard work ethic. Hopefully luck will land on our side. I feel we are a very talented group when we play as a cohesive unit."--Southern guard Dionte Harvey

A requirement that the school must conduct, in association with the SWAC office, workshops and seminars on SWAC membership and involvement with conference members;

That the school in other ways participate actively and with good faith in all conference activities;

That the administration and leadership of PVAMU take appropriate action to demonstrate its commitment to the values and ideals of the SWAC.

Prairie View A&M must indicate in writing by December 31, 1998 to the conference office its acceptance of and agreement to carry out the conditions of the Council's decision. The probationary period during which the other matters would be monitored shall be in effect for three years. Any violation by PVAMU to any item in these terms shall result in the immediate termination of PVAMU's membership in the SWAC.
"We sincerely regret this turn of events and do so much hope that our decision will enable both Prairie View A&M and the Southwestern Athletic Conference to move forward together," stated William Harris, the president of the SWAC Council of Presidents.
SWAC commissioner Rudy Washington added, "We respect Prairie View's long tenure of membership in the conference and we look forward to the school's continued active membership as we head into the next millennium. We're hopeful that the university will respond positively to the Council of Presidents' actions."
ALCORN, SOUTHERN LIVING UP TO HYPE
When the head men's basketball coaches of the Southwestern Athletic Conference made their annual preseason picks, Alcorn State University and Southern University deadlocked atop the rankings.
Just weeks into the 1998- 99 season, the two teams seem destined for a monumental battle for the right to the title of "Champions of the SWAC."
The Braves of ASU stand at 4-2 overall and 2-0 in the SWAC. Southern is the conference's lone undefeated team, sporting a record of 4- 0 overall and 2-0 against league opposition.
"We're very fortunate to be doing as well as we are, considering that we have injuries to some of our key people," said ASU head coach Davey Whitney. "A few of our first-year players have stepped up, such as redshirt freshmen (Walter) Harper and (Marcus) Fleming. We've been making nominal progress with this being our third year."
This week, the SU Jag- uars will face the likes of Georgia State and Cal-Poly State, both on the road. The Braves will be idle until a road meeting with Oregon on December 19.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff is also undefeated in early SWAC action at 1-0. That league win is the Golden Lions' lone victory in seven outings so far this season.
Among the women, preseason favorite Grambling State has yet to play a conference game but the Lady Tigers stand at 2-2 overall. Alcorn State, Mississippi Valley State and Southern are all 1-0 in the SWAC. Overall, Southern (4-1) and Alcorn State (3-1) sport the best women's records among SWAC teams with Alabama State and Jackson State both holding 4-2 overall records.
The only winless team among the SWAC women is Arkansas-Pine Bluff, which is 0-4 overall.
NCAA LEADERS
Among the men, SU's Devan Clark leads the NCAA in assists (10.0 pg) while teammate Aaron Bates leads in steals (6.0 pg).
The highest ranked SWAC females are PV's Felicia Tarver in rebounds (7th at 12.2 pg) and UAPB's Cherbritta Scott in steals (5th at 4.5 pg).
The Southern and Alcorn men's team are tied for first in the SWAC as of Dec. 7.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Vincent Jones, Jackson St. (6-11, 205, Jr., C, Greenwood, MS): In two games during the week, including a 64-63 win at Southern Miss., Jones averaged 16.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 blocked shots. Against USM he had 14 points, two rebounds, one assist and one block.
The Southern and Alcorn women's team's are tied for first as of Dec. 7.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tameika Hill, Jackson St. (6-1, Sr., F/C, Yazoo City, Miss.): In two games during the week, Hill posted averages of 17.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.0 blocked shots. In a 87-79 win over Texas Southern, she garnered 30 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, three steals and two blocked shots.
MEN'S TEAM NOTES
ALABAMA A&M - Newcomers to the SWAC, the 3-3 AAMU aren't eligible for league titles this year. Says head coach Vann Pettaway, "We're looking forward to playing the SWAC teams. I just hope we can stay on the floor with them."
ALABAMA STATE - The ASU Hornets cracked the won column with a 69-49 win over Montevallo on Dec. 2. The previous game (Nov. 30) against Illinois-Chicago saw ASU blow a 10-point halftime lead en route to a 74-67 defeat.
ALCORN STATE - The ASU Braves have gotten off to an impressive 4-2 start (2-0 SWAC). The team's biggest win came on Dec. 5 as the Braves registered a 75-74 win at SMU. It was Karl Jones' jumper at the Buzzer that provided the one- point edge.
ARK.-PINE BLUFF - Eligible for the SWAC title this year, the UAPB Golden Lions have struggled to a 1-6 mark thus far. However, the team is 1-0 in league play, thanks to a 75- 62 win at home over Miss. Valley on Dec. 7.
GRAMBLING STATE - GSU is the SWAC's lone winless team of the season, having lost four games to the likes of Southeastern La. (77-68), Georgetown (89-61), Northwestern State (66-65) and St. Louis (73-62).
JACKSON STATE - The 2-4 JSU Tigers hope to gain momentum after pulling off a huge 64-63 win at Southern Miss. on Dec. 3. It may be the team's biggest win since upsetting U-Conn in the 1993 NIT.
MISS. VALLEY STATE - The Delta Devils have managed but one win in four tries, that an 80-57 win over Talladega on Nov. 19.
PRAIRIE VIEW A&M - The Panthers are still looking for the magic that propelled them into the NCAA tourney last season. PV is 1-5 despite ranking second in the SWAC in scoring offense with 76.7 points a game.
SOUTHERN UNIV. - The Jaguars are on a roll, sporting an unblemished 4-0 record (2-0 SWAC). SU ranks first in the SWAC in nine of 11 categories, including scoring offense (89.9 ppg), scoring defense (65.3 ppg) and rebounding margin (+4.3).
TEXAS SOUTHERN - Minus hot-shot guard Randy Bolden from its lineup, the 1-5 TSU Tigers are struggling on offense, ranking eighth in the SWAC in scoring offense (61.0 ppg).
MEN'S TEAM NOTES
ALABAMA A&M - The AAMU Lady Bulldogs are 1-2 on the year. The victory was an 89-73 win over Bethune-Cookman on Dec. 5.
ALABAMA STATE - The Lady Hornets have won four straight home contests this season and currently sport a 4-2 overall record. Individually, Nichole Miller leads the team and ranks 9th in the SWAC in scoring (12.7 ppg).
ALCORN STATE - Khadijah Ali dished out 10 assists (tops in the SWAC this season) in the Lady Braves' 68-58 win over NE La. on Nov. 30. The team leads the SWAC in both scoring defense (64.5) and free throw percentage (.647).
ARK.-PINE BLUFF - Juwanna Polk grabbed 20 rebounds (tops in the SWAC this season) in her team's 69-59 loss to Miss. Valley on Dec. 7. In that same game, Cherbritta Scott had nine assists.
GRAMBLING STATE - Defending SWAC champ GSU leads the SWAC in scoring (84.8 ppg), scoring margin (+12.3) and rebounding margin (+15.5). The team scored 107 points in its Nov. 14 win over Texas College, making 42 field goals.
JACKSON STATE - Tameika Hill leads the SWAC in both scoring (20.0 ppg) and blocks (2.17 bpg). In its 103-37 loss versus Oklahoma on Dec. 7, JSU posted just 27 team rebounds and attempted only four free throws.
MISS. VALLEY - Sherry Surney scored 33 points in her team's 69-59 win over Ark.-Pine Bluff on Dec. 7. After leading the SWAC in scoring last season, she's ranked third so far this year with a 17.5 ppg average.
PRAIRIE VIEW A&M - Felecia Tarver led the SWAC in rebounding last season and is tops so far again in 1998-99 with a 12.2 rpg average. The team recorded the lowest number of points by a SWAC team this year in a 93-36 loss to Texas Christian on Nov. 15.
SOUTHERN UNIV. - SU has a three-game winning streak and sits atop the SWAC standings at 4-1. All three wins occurred at home. In its 68-52 win against Texas-Pan American on Nov. 30, SU made 30 free throws, tops in the SWAC this year.
TEXAS SOUTHERN - Sheila Pena is perfect in free throws so far, connecting on 16-of-16, tops in the SWAC. As a team, TSU leads the SWAC in three-point field goals made (5.86), hitting 12 treys in an 87-79 loss to Jackson State on Dec. 5.
8 Dec
Tuscaloosa, AL(OTW)-M.C. Mazique had 14 points and 15 rebounds as Alabama pounded Alabama State 69-48.
Terrance Simmons scored 12 points with seven rebounds for ASU.
Memphis, TN(OTW)-Omar Sneed scored 26 points, and Dinno Daniels had 11 points and eight assists, as Memphis upended Jackson State 73-65.
7 Dec
Pine Bluff, AR(OTW)-Shawn Elridge scored 19 points as Arkansas-Pine Bluff beat Mississippi Valley 75-62.
Faragi Phillips led the Delta Devils with a game-high 23 points.
DATE: DEC. 1, 1998
SWAC VOTES TO CONSIDER FOOTBALL TITLE GAME
BILOXI, Miss. -- The athletics directors here at the Southwestern Athletic Conference's annual Winter Meetings on Tuesday voted to consider holding a football championship game when divisional play starts in the league next fall.
By a unanimous vote, the athletics directors agreed to the championship game concept with the understanding that league commissioner Rudy Washington would have to lobby the NCAA to permit such a contest. If it's implemented, the SWAC title game would be played the second week in December and the winner would advance to the McDonald's Heritage Bowl to play a representative from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
"A SWAC championship game in football would have tremendous financial ramifications," said Washington. "We're excited about this idea and we think with the interest that already exists in football in the SWAC, a championship game would be enormous."
With Alabama A&M University expected to be eligible to compete for SWAC championships after July 1, 1999, the list of teams competing for various championships will increase to 10 teams. Consequently, all of the league's sports will be broken into divisions starting next fall. The new Eastern Division will consist of Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Alcorn State, Jackson State and Mississippi Valley State. The Western Division will be comprised of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Grambling State, Prairie View A&M, Southern-Baton Rouge and Texas Southern.
"I'm looking forward to this new concept," said Mississippi Valley State athletics director Chuck Prophet, who serves as chairman of the SWAC Athletics Directors Committee. "The fact that this proposal passed unanimously indicates the tremendous interest that'll be generated in the championship game."
The first day of the three-day SWAC Winter Meetings started with a special sports information workshop. The league's sports information directors received a refreshers course in the basics of sports information before holding roundtable discussions with several beat reporters who cover the conference. A roundtable discussion was also held with the athletics directors and covered several concerns the sports information directors had relative to the publicity programs at the schools. In the athletics directors meeting, it was noted that while the men's championship game of the 1999 SWAC basketball tournament will be televised live as it has been over the years, it's also likely that the semifinals will also be televised this year.
DATE: DEC. 2, 1998
SWAC WINTER MEETINGS - DAY 2
ATHLETICS DIRECTORS SAY COMPETITIVE
SAFEGUARDS NEED TO BE ESTABLISHED
BILOXI, Miss. -- Concerned that all of the member schools in the Southwestern Athletic Conference aren't currently competing at the desired level of competitiveness, the league's athletics directors on Wednesday asked for a review of this matter, a request commissioner Rudy Washington concurred with.
The athletics directors cited the fact that Prairie View A&M awards only 15 athletic scholarships in football while the other member schools award approximately 63 each.
"I think what needs to be done is for us to implement some competitive safeguards that would ensure that we have minimum acceptable standards for scholarships and other matters that affect our level of competitiveness," noted Washington. "Right now, when we look at accepting new members into the conference, we don't really have a set of competitive safeguards that those schools would have to meet."
The athletics directors also discussed attempting to consolidate seasonal sports schedules as a cost containment measure. The idea would be to let all of the seasonal sports play in the same city in order to cut down on travel costs. A scheduling sub-committee was established to handle scheduling for all sports, effective immediately.
Additionally, Washington informed the athletics directors of his attempts to possibly relocate the league headquarters. Currently headquarted at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Washington noted that requests for proposals have been sent to New Orleans as well as such cities as Atlanta, Ga., Baton Rouge, La. and Houston, Tex. He said an important part of the requirements would be for the new headquarters to include space to house the SWAC Hall of Fame.
In the band directors' meeting, the directors voted that bands should be substantially fined for playing over their required time limits at halftimes of games.
The league's football coaches recommended that the annual SWAC Football Press Tour be narrowed from a five-day event to a one-day affair. Instead of traveling the five or six different cities, the coaches' proposal calls for a one-city stop, that city being New Orleans.
The football coaches also voted to draft a letter to the Council of Presidents that would state ways of improving the level of competitiveness in the conference against other leagues.
The volleyball coaches voted to recommend a new format for the league's postseason tournament. According to their recommended format, only eight of the conference's 10 teams would advance to the double-elimination tournament. The coaches also voted to hold the 2000 and 2001 tournaments at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
Thursday will be the final day of the SWAC Winter Meetings. The athletics directors will convene to receive committee reports starting at 8:30 a.m. The presidents will meet from 1-5 p.m. The key topic on the presidents' agenda is a final resolution of penalties assessed in October against Prairie View A&M for allowing its marching band to perform at a football game in which it was suspended.
DATE: DEC. 3, 1998
SWAC WINTER MEETINGS - DAY 3
PRESIDENTS' DECISION ON PVAMU RENDERED,
WILL BE RELEASED TO PUBLIC NEXT WEEK
BILOXI, Miss. -- The Southwestern Athletic Conference Council of Presidents wrapped up the league's 1998 Winter Meetings here on Thursday by hearing an appeal from officials of Prairie View A&M University on the commissioner's suspension of its athletics program in October.
In executive session, the presidents reached a decision on the matter but cannot release information on their decision until administrators at the university receive written notification. It's expected that an official public release from the conference office will be made on Tuesday, December 8.
In other actions at the Council's meeting, the presidents voted to continue the current five-day format for the SWAC Football Press Tour. The league's football coaches in their meetings had recommended a one-day, one-city tour.
The new format for the SWAC basketball tournament also received the blessings of the Council of Presidents. Starting in 1999, the preliminary round of the men's and women's tournaments will be played on the campuses of the four highest-seeded teams. The final four men's and final four women's teams will advance to Southern University's F.G. Clark Activity Center in Baton Rouge, La. for semi-final action.
Washington's office relocation initiatives were also approved by the Council of Presidents. Requests for proposals have already been sent to such cities as Atlanta, Ga., Baton Rouge, Birmingham, Ala., Dallas, Tex., Houston, Tex., Jackson, Miss., Montgomery, Ala. and New Orleans.
-30- 5 Dec
Baton Rouge, LA(OTW)-Adarrial Smylie had 20 points and 10 rebounds as Southern dumped Southeast Louisiana 90-66.
Jeremy Hall was one of three players to score 10 for the losers.
St. Louis, Mo(OTW)-Virgel Cobbin scored 15 points as St. Louis whipped Grambling 73-62.
Chris Thomas scored a game-high 17 points for Grambling.
Jackson, MS(OTW)-Vincent Jones, a 6-11 center, had 19 points and 11 rebounds as Jackson State routed Tougaloo 90-66.
Jonesboro, AR(OTW)-Eric Beatty had 28 points as Arkansas State upended Alabama A&M 104-76.
Terrance Vanlier scored 14 points for A&M.
Springfield, MO(OTW)-Brian Merriweather poured in 27 points as Texas-Pan American defeated Texas Southern 73-61 in the consolation game of the Pizza Hut Classic.
Center John Rhodes led TSU with 14 points.
Columbia, MO(OTW)-Jackson State guard Tameika Hill scored 30 points with 12 rebounds, as Jackson State beat Texas Southern 87-79 in the consolation game of the Unilever Mid-American Classic.
Candace Williams scored 21 points for TSU.
4 Dec
Columbia, MO(OTW)-Kesha Bonds scored 25 points as Missouri ran away from Texas Southern 93-55. Mizzou shot 61 percent from the floor in the second half.
Candace Williams scored 17 for TSU.
This was the Unilever-HPC-USA Mid-America Classic semi-finals.
Springfield, MO(OTW)-Danny Moore had 16 points as Southwest Missouri beat Texas Southern 77-47.
Ifey Anyanwu scored 10 points for TSU.
Corvalis, OR(OTW)-Deaundra Tanner scored 23 points as Oregon State whipped Arkansas-Pine Bluff 74-56.
UAPB shot 27 percent from the field in the game.
3 Dec
Pittsburgh, PA(OTW)-Issac Hawkins scored 22 points with 17 rebounds as No. 21 Pitt held off pesky Prairie View 78-64. Pitt led by only seven points with just over 11 minutes in the game.
Jochquinn Arch scored a game-high 23 point for Prairie View.
Hattiesburg, MS(OTW)-Roy Dixon a 6-4 guard, scored 16 points as Jackson State edged Southern Mississippi 64-63.
Neil Reed scored a game-high 23 points for USM.
2 Dec
Albuquerque, NM(OTW)-John Johnson scored 25 points to lead 18th ranked New Mexico to a 97-72 rout of Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Lobos jumped out to a 13-2 lead and never looked back, shooting 54% from the floor in the game.
Terrance Duncan scored 15 points for UAPB.
Over 16,000 fans saw the game at The Pit.
Normal, AL(OTW)-Leroy Watkins scored 25 points as Illinois State beat Alcorn 86-73. The Redbirds shot 54% percent from the field in the contest, and led by as many as 25 points in the game.
1 Dec
Beaumont, TX(OTW)-Lamar forward Talia Goudy had 24 points, 12 rebounds, and six steals, as the Lady Cardinals bested Texas Southern 69-66.
Kanesha Randle had 21 points for Texas Southern.
Baton Rouge, LA(OTW)-Dionte Harvey scored 14 points as Southern cruised by West Alabama 79-61. Five Southern players scored in double figures in the contest.
30 Nov
Toledo, OH(OTW)-Toledo forward Greg Stempin scored 18 points as his team dumped Mississippi Valley 85-53.
Faragi Phillips scored a game-high 23 points for the Delta Devils.
Montgomery, AL(OTW)-Bryant Notree scored 26 points to lead Illinois-Chicago by Alabama State 74-67. It was the first time Illinois- Chicago has paid a visit to Montgomery.
Corey Williams scored 18 for the Hornets.
Memphis, TN(OTW)-Jermaine Ousley and Marcus Moody scored 12 points each as Memphis trounced Arkansas-Pine Bluff 86-42.
Houston, TX(OTW)-Ifey Anyanwu scored 24 points as Texas Southern mashed Tougaloo 88-59. The Tigers shot 54 percent from the floor in the game.
Tougaloo guard Dejuan Clark scored 20 points.
30 Nov
SWAC WINTER MEETINGS TO START TUESDAY, PRAIRIE VIEW TO BE HOT DISCUSSION TOPIC
BILOXI, Miss. -- The annual Southwestern Athletic Conference Winter Meetings are slated to begin here today and conclude on Thursday.
The Winter Meetings, the first under new commissioner Rudy Washington, will be conducted at the Biloxi Grand Hotel. Today's agenda features a meeting of the league's athletics directors from 1-5 p.m. and a special sports information workshop from 12 noon until 4 p.m. However, the major discussion topic is likely to occur during the SWAC Council of Presidents' meeting on Thursday, when the presidents are expected to make a final ruling on penalties accessed by Washington in October after Prairie View A&M University permitted its marching band to perform in a game despite a suspension levied by the league.
Washington said the Prairie View A&M situation will be just one of many key items on this week's schedule.
"This is a very important meeting for me," noted Washington. "We're starting now to lay the groundwork for the next millennium. We're taking on an aggressive marketing, promotions and public relations agenda."
Washington said other key topics of discussion will center on the conference's move towards Eastern and Western divisional play in all sports starting next fall, football classics and other promotional contests and NCAA legislation relative to part-time coaches and how that legislation will affect the SWAC.
On Wednesday, the athletics directors will convene again from 8:30-11:30 a.m. The second day of the meetings will also include a committee meeting of the compliance coordinators from the 10 SWAC members as well as meetings of the conference's faculty athletics representatives, senior woman administrators, head football coaches, head volleyball coaches, alumni affairs directors and marching band directors.
On Thursday, the final day of the meetings, the athletics directors will meet again from 8:30 -11:30 a.m. The Council of Presidents will hold their semi-annual meeting from 1-5 p.m.
-30- 28 Nov
New Orleans, LA(OTW)-Sam George threw two third quarter touchdowns to John George to give Southern (8-3)a 17-14 lead, and an eventual 26-14 win in the Bayou Classic.
The Jaguars trailed 14-3 at the half, thanks mainly to two Lionel Hayes-to-Scotty Anderson second quarter touchdown passes (65,44 yards). Steve Wofford of Southern rushed for 104 yards in the game, giving him more than 1,000 yards rushing on the season. Wofford and SU wide receiver John Foreman became the first runningback and wide receiver at the school to gain more than 1,000 yards in the same season.
Grambling finished the season at 5-6.
Southern will next play in the Heritage Bowl on December 26 in Atlanta.
28 Nov
Detroit, MI-Rashaad Phillips scored 15 points as Detroit toppled Texas Southern 72-54. No TSU player scored in double figures.
Normal, AL(OTW)-Terrance Vanlier scored 21 points with 10 rebounds as Albama A&M throttled South Carolina Atate 86-75.
26 Nov
Montgomery, AL(OTW)-Darnell Kennedy ran seven yards for a touchdown and passed to Damon Hodge for a four-yard TD, as Alabama State beat Tuskegee 27-7 in the Turkey Day Classic.
ASU's Johnnie Smith had a 57-yard run in the game.
Tuskegee's Michael Scott rushed for 140 yards.
Kennedy threw for 244 yards.
HOUZAH, MORRIS CAPTURE TOP HONORS
NEW FACES PLENTIFUL ON ALL-SWAC FOOTBALL TEAM
NEW ORLEANS -- The 1998 All-Southwestern Athletic Conference football team has been released and the 50-man unit includes only 11 repeat winners from a year ago.
The team, selected by the league's head coaches, sports information directors and beat reporters, was released on Wednesday, November 26, just prior to the final two regular-season games of the year, the 75th annual Turkey Day Classic between Alabama State and Tuskegee in Montgomery, Ala. (Nov. 27) and the 25th annual Bayou Classic between Grambling State and Southern in New Orleans (Nov. 29).
For a third consecutive season, linebacker Terry Houzah of Mississippi Valley State has captured one of the SWAC's top honors as he has been named the SWAC defensive player of the year. Meanwhile, wide receiver Sylvester Morris of Jackson State made a huge debut onto the All-SWAC team, winning the league's offensive player of the year award. Morris, as well as Larry Dorsey, Houzah's coach, expressed jubilation over the honors.
"Houzah really deserves it," said Dorsey. "He worked hard. He was a guy that played even when things were bad and he kept up his performance through that. That's an indication of the type of person he is. It's been an honor to coach him."
On winning the offensive player of the year award, Morris stated, "It feels great. I never set being named SWAC MVP as one of my goals. As the season progressed, it became a thought. I'll tell you it feels great to receive this honor.
"It's amazing to start off the season the way I did and then accomplish those things," added Morris, who caught 62 passes for a SWAC-best 1,258 yards and 17 touchdowns. "It's nothing but God blessing me. My goal always is to get better. I want to do better next year than I did this year."
The first team All-SWAC offensive unit is a smorgasbord of players from different schools, six teams to be exact.
The tight end hails from Alabama State in the form of Johnny Huggins, a 6-3, 250-pound senior from Zachary, La. who's caught 36 passes for 506 yards and six touchdowns. Teammate Damon Hodge, a 6-2, 195-pound junior from Thomaston, Ala., was named to one of the wide receiver slots. He currently leads the SWAC in receiving with 77 catches for 929 yards and eight touchdowns.
The offensive line is comprised of three repeat first-teamers in Southern stars Chris Williams (6-6, 338, Sr., Houston, Tex.) and Brett Clark (6-1, 281, Sr., Bakersfield, Calif.) along with the mainstay of the line at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Terrance Beadles, a 6-4, 291-pound junior from Atlanta, Ga. The other two first team All-SWAC offensive linemen are David Mason (6-2, 275, Sr., Jackson, Miss) of Texas Southern and Tony Blackshear (6-3, 365, Sr., Meridian, Miss.) of Jackson State.
Jackson State's Mark Washington won first team All-SWAC honors at the quarterback slot. The 6-4, 208-pound junior from San Antonio, Tex. owns the league's highest passing efficiency rating (151.5) and he's thrown for more yards than any of his peers this season (2,232). Washington completed 134 of 257 passes with a SWAC-high 26 touchdowns along with nine interceptions.
The first team running backs are also the two tailbacks who ranked No.1 and No.2 in rushing yards this season, Destry Wright (5-10, 204, Jr., Clarksdale, Miss.) and Rodney Thomas (5-10, 225, Jr., Houston, Tex.). In 11 games, Wright had 267 carries for 1,528 yards and 10 touchdowns, an average of 138.9 yards per game. In 10 contests, Thomas picked up 1,286 yards on 271 carries with five scores, averaging 128.6 yards per ball game.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff's Richard Pena is the first team placekicker. A 5-9, 180-pound junior from Dallas, Tex., Pena connected on 32 of 39 PATs and 10 of 14 field goals for 62 total points.
On the other side of the ball, eight of the nine SWAC schools eligible for all-conference consideration placed players on the All-SWAC first team defensive unit.
The defensive line consists of Charlie Edwards (6-4, 236, Jr., Rembert, S.C.) of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Julius Gardner (6-3, 280, Jr., Prentiss, Miss.) of Alcorn State, Anthony Bonner (6-2, 275, Sr., Marks, Miss.) of Mississippi Valley State and Chris Lazard (6-2, 230, Sr., Opelousas, La.) of Grambling State. Edwards garnered 64 tackles and 7.5 sacks this season while Gardner contributed 41 tackles and 7.5 sacks. Bonner added 57 tackles and three sacks and Lazard led the SWAC with nine sacks along with 30 tackles.
The first team linebackers consist of Houzah along with Charmmarcus Holloway (6-1, 246, Sr., Little Rock, Ark.) of Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Channing Warner (6-1, 232, Jr., Marrero, La.) of Southern. Houzah led the SWAC in tackles with 130 on the year while Holloway ranked second with 95 and Warner fourth with 80 in addition to three sacks.
The defensive secondary is manned by Chris Akins (6-0, 201, Sr., Little Rock, Ark.) of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Levon Edwards (6-0, 200, Sr., Talladega, Ala.) of Alabama State, Scott Harrell (6-0, 185, So., Livingston, Tex.) of Texas Southern and Harold Wooten (6-1, 209, Jr., Memphis, Tenn.) of Jackson State. Akins' five interceptions for 150 yards (2 TDs) were league highs while Edwards ranked eighth in the league in tackles with 75. Harrell had 66 tackles and Wooten amassed 52 tackles.
The first team All-SWAC punter is Southern's Matt Bushart, who has led the conference in punting average practically all of the year. A 6-4, 258-pound junior from Baton Rouge, La., Bushart is the only SWAC punter to average 40 or more yards per punt. Through 10 games, he sports a 45.2 average with long punt of 71 yards.
Joey Jamison (5-9, 160, Jr., WR, Jacksonville, Fla.) of Texas Southern is the league's kick return specialist after totaling 33 punt returns for 505 yards (15.3 avg.) with one touchdown as well as 11 kickoff returns for 399 yards (36.3 avg.) with one score. The 1998 SWAC freshman of the year is Prairie View A&M's Deontay Wilson (5-8, 165, WR, Miami, Fla.). Wilson ranked sixth in the SWAC in receiving with 45 catches for 693 yards and three touchdowns.
The newcomer of the year is Alcorn State's Damon Ford (6-4, 195, QB, Dallas, Tex.). Ford ranks fourth among the conference's passers, completing 124 of 268 passes for 2,164 yards, 18 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Unlike in prior years, the SWAC coach of the year award will go to the head coach of the team which wins the SWAC championship. Inasmuch as Southern has already clinched at least a share of the crown, head coach Pete Richardson will at least share coach of the years honors for 1998. Should the Jaguars defeat Grambling in Saturday's Bayou Classic, Richardson will win the honor outright. If the Jaguars lose, he'll share coach of the year honors with Jackson State coach James Carson.
- THE 1998 ALL-SWAC TEAM FOLLOWS -
SOUTHWESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
1998 ALL-CONFERENCE FOOTBALL TEAM
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
TE: Johnny Huggins, Alabama State (6-3, 250, Sr., Zachary, La.)
OL: Chris Williams, Southern Univ. (6-6, 338, Sr., Houston, Tex.)*
OL: Terrance Beadles, Arkansas-Pine Bluff (6-4, 291, Jr., Atlanta, Ga.)*
OL: David Mason, Texas Southern (6-2, 275, Sr., Jackson, Miss.)
OL: Tony Blackshear, Jackson State (6-3, 365, Sr., Meridian, Miss.)
OL: Brett Clark, Southern Univ. (6-1, 281, Sr., Bakersfield, Calif.)*
QB: Mark Washington, Jackson State (6-4, 208, Jr., San Antonio, Tex.)
RB: Destry Wright, Jackson State (5-10, 204, Jr., Clarksdale, Miss.)
RB: Rodney Thomas, Alcorn State (5-10, 225, Jr., Houston, Tex.)
WR: Sylvester Morris, Jackson State (6-2, 203, Jr., New Orleans, La.)
WR: Damon Hodge, Alabama State (6-2, 195, Jr., Thomaston, Ala.)
PK: Richard Pena, Arkansas-Pine Bluff (5-9, 180, Jr., Dallas, Tex.)
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DL: Charlie Edwards, Arkansas-Pine Bluff (6-4, 236, Jr., Rembert, S.C.)
DL: Julius Gardner, Alcorn State (6-3, 280, Jr., Prentiss, Miss.)
DL: Anthony Bonner, Miss. Valley State (6-2, 275, Sr., Marks, Miss.)**
DL: Chris Lazard, Grambling State (6-2, 230, Sr., Opelousas, La.)
LB: Terry Houzah, Miss. Valley State (6-3, 235, Sr., Rolling Fork, Miss.)*
LB: Charmmarcus Holloway, Arkansas-Pine Bluff (6-1, 246, Sr., Little Rock, Ark.)
LB: Channing Warner, Southern Univ. (6-1, 232, Jr., Marrero, La.)
DB: Chris Akins, Arkansas-Pine Bluff (6-0, 201, Sr., Little Rock, Ark.)*
DB: Levon Edwards, Alabama State (6-0, 200, Sr., Talladega, Ala.)
DB: Scott Harrell, Texas Southern (6-0, 185, So., Livingston, Tex.)
DB: Harold Wooten, Jackson State (6-1, 209, Jr., Memphis, Tenn.)
P: Matt Bushart, Southern Univ. (6-4, 258, Jr., Baton Rouge, La.)
MISCELLANEOUS HONORS
KICK RETURN SPECIALIST
Joey Jamison, Texas Southern (5-9, 160, Jr., WR, Jacksonville, Fla.)
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Deontay Wilson, Prairie View A&M (5-8, 165, Fr., WR, Miami, Fla.)
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Damon Ford, Alcorn State (6-4, 195, Fr., QB, Dallas, Tex.)
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Sylvester Morris, Jackson State (6-2, 203, Jr., WR, New Orleans, La.)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Terry Houzah, Miss. Valley State (6-3, 235, Sr., LB, Rolling Fork, Miss.)
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
TE: Randy Powell, Miss. Valley State (6-4, 210, Sr., Itta Bena, Miss.)*
OL: Gerald Bledsoe, Alcorn State (6-2, 339, Jr., St. Louis, Mo.)
OL: Chad Slaughter, Alcorn State (6-7, 303, Jr., Dallas, Tex.)
OL: Harvey Harper, Texas Southern (6-3, 275, Sr., Missouri City, Tex.)**
OL: Shon Brady, Texas Southern (6-2, 272, Sr., Houston, Tex.)
OL: Montra Edwards, Jackson State (6-4, 350, Sr., Jackson, Miss.)
QB: Darnell Kennedy, Alabama State (6-1, 175, So., Mobile, Ala.)**
RB: Thomas Sieh, Texas Southern (5-11, 215, Sr., Staten Island, N.Y.)*
RB: D.J. Bradley, Texas Southern (5-9, 190, Sr., Ft. Worth, Tex.)
WR: John Forman, Southern Univ. (6-1, 193, Sr., Baton Rouge, La.)
WR: Donald Driver, Alcorn State (6-0, 180, Sr., Houston, Tex.)
PK: Ramon Rivera, Texas Southern (6-1, 190, Sr., Rosemead, Calif.)*
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
DL: Carl Davis, Texas Southern (6-3, 240, Jr., Dallas, Tex.)
DL: Antonio Scott, Prairie View A&M (6-0, 275, Jr., Greenville, Miss.)
DL: Fred Day, Texas Southern (6-3, 310, Jr., Houston, Tex.)
LB: Courtney Miller, Prairie View A&M (6-1, 215, So., Houston, Tex.)
LB: Dwan Epps, Texas Southern (6-2, 232, Jr., Houston, Tex.)
LB: Endrick Claiborne, Southern Univ. (6-2, 226, Jr, Baton Rouge, La.)
DB: Gregory Wesley, Arkansas-Pine Bluff (6-3, 204, So., England, Ark.)
DB: Lee Terry Moore, Alcorn State (5-9, 174, Sr., Clarksdale, Miss.)
DB: Anthony Carr, Prairie View A&M (5-9, 144, So., Houston, Tex.)
DB: Calvin Spears, Grambling State (6-1, 185, Fr., Baton Rouge, La.)
P: Ronnie McCoy, Texas Southern (6-0, 185, So., Houston, Tex.)
*These players won first team All-SWAC honors last season.
**These players won second team All-SWAC honors last season.
+Starting this year, SWAC coach of the year honors in all sports go to the head coach of any
team which wins the league championship. Pete Richardson of Southern is assured of at least a
share of coach of the year honors in football as his Jaguars have already clinched at least a share
of the crown. If SU beats Grambling on Saturday, he'll win the honor outright. If SU loses, he'll
share the honor with James Carson of Jackson State.
25 Nov
Lorman, MS(OTW)-Reuben Stiff had 18 points, seven rebounds, six steals, and five assists, to lead Alcorn by Prairie View 85-72.
Jocquinn Arch of Prairie View led all scorers with 34 points.
24 Nov
Grambling, LA(OTW)-Richard Taylor had 15 points as Northwest Louisiana State tripped Grambling in overtime 66-65.
Thomas Dodd and Chris Thomas scored 15 each for Grambling.
El Paso, TX(OTW)-Sharif Fajardo had 20 points (14-15 free throws) as Texas-El Paso won an 84-63 foul ridden ballgame from Jackson State.
Timmy Marks scored 18 points for the Tigers.
A total of 58 fouls were called in the game, and 67 foul shots were taken.
23 Nov
Baton Rouge, LA(OTW)-Dionte Harvey scored 35 points (12-16 field goals, 6-9 3-pointers, 10 steals) as Southern kicked Prairie View 103-76.
Jocquinn Arch scored 23 for PV.
Oxford, MS(OTW)-Marcus Hicks scored 17 points as Ole Miss drubbed Alabama A&M 89-45.
Miguel Smith scored 13 for A&M, which shot 26 percent from the floor in the game.
Lorman, MS(OTW)-Marcus Fleming scored 11 points as Alcorn silenced Texas Southern 72-56.
Ifey Anyanwu scored 10 for the Braves.
The Women
Lorman, MS(OTW)-Tukeya Mackey had 19 points and 12 rebounds as Alcorn knocked off Texas Southern 81-58.
Texas Southern center Tanesha Randle scored 14 points for TSU.
21 Nov
Jackson, MS(OTW)-Mark Washington threw for four touchdwon passes and Destry Wright ran for two more, as Jackson State soared by Alcorn 56-26. Three of Washington's TD passes went to Sylvester Morris (24,6,12 yards). JSU (7-4, 7-1) awaits the NCAAs.
Alcorn's Damion Ford threw for four touchdowns. Three of his TD passes were to Rennard Reynolds. The Braves finished the season at 5-6.
Pine Bluff, AR(OTW)-Quarterback Rod Robinson ran for a TD and passed for another as Arkansas-Pine Bluff defeated Alabama A&M 27-24.
The Lion win offset a 288 yard total offensive day for A&M quarterback Roland Hayes, who passed for 202 yards.
UAPB finished the season at 8-3 and 5-2. A&M closed out the year at 6-5.
Nashville, TN(OTW)-Leon Murray threw for 227 yards and a touchdown as Tennessee State beat Texas Southern 28-14. It was a non-league game for both teams. The winners (9-2) await the NCAA playoffs.
Texas Southern runningback D.J. Bradley finsihed his career with 122 yards rushing. The losers finished the season with a 6-5 record.
Basketball:
Baton Rouge, LA(OTW)Dionte Harvey scored 25 points (5-5 3-pointers) as Southern racked up Texas Southern 87-65 in an early SWAC battle.
It was the opener for both teams.
Ifey Anyanwu scored 17 points for TSU.
Pine Bluff, AR(OTW)-Chris Green scored 28 points as Arkansas-Little Rock edged Arkansas-Pine Bluff 86-80.
Shawn Elridge had 27 markers for UAPB.
Washington, DC(OTW)-Anthony Perry scored 22 points to lead Georgetown over Grambling 89-61.
Jimmy Lawson scored 19 points (8-12 FGs) for Grambling.
Normal, AL(OTW)-Alabama A&M forward Terrance Vanlier had 42 points and 14 rebounds as the Bulldogs edged Tuskegee 104-103 in overtime.
Women:
21 Nov
San Marcos, TX(OTW)-Texas Southern center Kanesha Randle had 19 points and 19 rebounds as TSU skunked Texas-Pan American 91-54.
Cara Steed scored 16 points for the losers.
20 Nov
San Marcos, TX(OTW)- Forward Empress Drane had 13 points and 12 rebounds as North Texas State wrecked Texas Southern 76-41 in the Southwest Texas State Classic.
TSU center Kanesha Randle had nine points and 11 rebounds.
19 Nov
Itta Bena, MS(OTW)-Faragi Phillips had 18 points (4 of 5 3-pointers) as Mississippi Valley State beat Talladega 80-57.
Talladega forward Rennie Harris had 12 points and 15 rebounds in the contest.
Both teams shot under 40 percent from the floor in the game.
New Orleans, LA(OTW)-Ledaryl Billingsley scored 16 points as Tulane took apart Prairie View 85-39.
The Panthers shot 28 percent from the floor in the game. No Prairie View player scored in double figures.
19 Nov
GEORGE EVANS TABBED AS THE SWAC'S NEW
COORDINATOR OF MEN'S HOOPS OFFICIALS
NEW ORLEANS -- George P. Evans, respected as one of the South's top game officials, has been hired as the new coordinator of men's basketball officials for the Southwestern Athletic Conference. His appointment will become effective with the 1999-2000 season.
Evans, a native of Selma, Ala., has worked as an official in the SWAC since 1979. He also calls basketball games in several other conferences, including the Big 12, Conference USA, the Ohio Valley Conference, the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and the TransAmerica Conference. Additionally, he has worked as an officials' observer for the Southeastern Conference and as an NCAA tournament official, advancing from the first round to the Sweet 16.
"We're happy and fortunate to have someone with Mr. Evans' credentials join our staff as a coordinator of officials," said SWAC commissioner Rudy Washington. "His knowledge of the game as well as the experience he has gained as an official on different levels in the collegiate ranks should allow him to bring new ideas into the position. We're confident that he'll do a tremendous job for us."
In addition to his experience as a game official, Evans currently excels as the superintendent of the Dallas County School System in Selma. In that capacity, he oversees a $26 million budget, more than 700 employees and a student enrollment of 5,121. He also has experience as a principal, program director, teacher and coach of four sports in the Dallas County School System. Evans, married and the father of three, is a graduate of St. Mary's College in Dodge City, Kan. He said he's excited to take on this new challenge.
"I'm very excited and proud to have been selected as the coordinator of men's basketball challenge of coordinating and working with Commissioner Rudy Washington, the personnel at each university, the officials and all SWAC personnel at the appropriate time. I plan to continue to move the officiating program to the level of success and excellence as started by Lawrence Collins, who devoted many years and hours toward that goal."
-30- 18 Nov
Lorman, MS(OTW)-Reuben Stiff scored 13 points as Alcorn beat South Alabama 62-44.
Darian Evans scored a game-high 20 points for the losers.
Tulsa, OK(OTW)-Marcus Hill scored 16 points as Tulsa racked up Jackson State 84-45.
JSU shot 28 percent from the field.
Alabama A&M beat Alabama-Huntsville 83-70.
17 Nov
Final SWAC Volleyball Stat Leaders
KILLS
Kim Young-Grambling 5.07 (avg) (725 total)
ACES
Nalinya Davis-Southern-1.0 (avg) (89 total)
BLOCKS
Yolanda Hudson-Grambling-2.05 (avg) (262 total)
ASSISTS
Romishian Perkins-Southern-11.37 (avg) (864 total)
Digs
Fornestra Horner-Mississippi Valley-2.85 (avg) (279 total)
17 Nov
Jackson, MS(OTW)-Bart Hyche scored 20 points as Mississippi State clubbed Arkansas-Pine Bluff 105-53. Shawn Elridge scored a game-high 23 points for the Lions, who shot 25 percent from the field for the contest.
Fayetteville, AR(OTW)-Pat Bradley scored 14 points as 19th ranked Arkansas trounced Alabama State 73-43. Nobody scored in double figures for the Hornets.
Hammond, LA(OTW)-Maurice Clark scored 20 points as Southeast Louisiana defeated Grambling 77-68. Ken Haynes of Grambling led all scorers with 23 points. Haynes also had 10 rebounds.
In other action involving a SWAC team, Texas College defeated Prairie View 77-75.
17 Nov
Marcus Mann, a former standout 6-8 center from Mississippi Valley State University, is playing ball in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA). Mann is currently on the roster of the La Crosse (WI) Bobcats.
14 Nov
Baton Rouge, LA(OTW)-Jermaine West scored on a one-yard run in the fourth quarter to pace Southern (7-3, 7-0) to a 20-14 win over Texas Southern. The win clinched a tie for first in the SWAC, as well as a Heritage Bowl birth for the Jaguars. Steve Wofford had 113 yards rushing for the winners.
Texas Southern runningbacks Thomas Sieh and D.J. Bradley rushed for 151 and 125 yards respectively. The significance of this is that both runners eclipsed the 1,000 yard rushing mark in the same season. Sieh had a 92-yard TD run in the contest for the Tigers (6-4, 4-4).
Itta Bena, MS(OTW)-Darnell Kennedy ran for two touchdowns and passed for another as Alabama State beat Mississippi Valley 41-13. Kennedy's TD pass was a five-yarder to Damon Hodge.
Valley quarterback Melvin Williams had a 15-yard run for the Delta Devils.
Jackson, MS(OTW)-Quarterback Mark Washington threw three touchdowns to lead Jackson State by Prairie View 31-12. JSU (6-4, 6-1) edged closer to an NCAA playoff appearance.
Destry Wright had 157 yards rushing for the winners.
Normal, AL(OTW)-Kelly Fields rushed for two TDs to lead Alabama A&M to a 21-12 win over Alcorn. Both of Fields' scores were in the first half.
Alcorn's Damion Ford threw a 42-yard TD pass to Donald Driver for one Brave score.
San Diego, CA(OTW)-Rodney Beaudin scored on TD runs of three and one yards, as Grambling (5-5) beat Winston-Salem State 35-28 in a non-league contest.
Winston-Salem State quarterback Tory Woodbury threw three touchdown passes for WSSU.
Basketball
Birmingham, AL(OTW)-Willie Mitchell scores 18 points with eight rebounds as Alabama-Brimingham defeated Alcorn 70-57.
Karl Jones and Reuben Stiff had 12 points each for the losers.
14 Nov
SOUTHERN UNIV. WINS SWAC VOLLEYBALL TITLE
MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- The Southern University Lady Jaguars, the No.2 Western Division seed, beat Prairie View A&M University, the No.1 Western Division seed, 15-10, 7-15, 15-8, 10-15 and 15-13, to win the 1998 Southwestern Athletic Conference volleyball championship here at the Joe L. Reed Acadome on the campus of Alabama State University.
The title is the Lady Jaguars' third-ever in the sport. All have come under head coach Nathaniel Denu, who expressed disappointment in his team's play during the regular-season. Denu said he was surprised with his team's performance in the tournament.
"I wasn't sure as to how we'd play in the tournament but one thing we did was prepare well," said Denu. "We watched a lot of game film on Prairie View and as the (championship) match went on, we made the proper adjustments."
For the first time ever, this season the SWAC tournament champion receives an automatic berth to the NCAA playoffs. The team selections will take place November 29 with first round action slated for December 3-6. Denu says the chance to be the first team to represent the conference in the NCAA tournament was a motivating factor his team used throughout the SWAC tourney.
"We just wanted to be a part of history," said Denu. "This is a great honor for us."
SU's Nalinya Davis, a junior who hails from Baton Rouge, La., was name the most valuable player of the tournament. She said winning the 1998 SWAC championship eases the disappointment of losing to Grambling State in the 1997 title game.
"During the regular-season last year, we beat GSU four-out-of-five games and we thought that we'd beat them and represent the SWAC in the (NCAA) play-in game against Morgan State," said Davis, who's a 3.8 student who plays the cello and speaks fluent Spanish. "Tonight, I just think we really wanted to win. It was a great team effort and we're excited about going to the NCAA's."
1998 SWAC VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT OFFICIAL RESULTS
DAY ONE RESULTS
(November 12, 1998)
Arkansas-Pine Bluff def. Jackson State, 15-6, 15-12, 12-15, 16-14
Grambling State def. Alcorn State, 15-3, 15-8, 15-9
Southern Univ. def. Miss. Valley State, 10-15, 15-6, 15-13, 15-6
Alcorn State def. Texas Southern, 15-9, 15-9, 8-15, 16-14
Prairie View A&M def. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 15-7, 15-10, 15-11
Alcorn State def. Jackson State, 13-15, 15-6, 15-7, 16-14
Texas Southern def. Miss. Valley State, 16-14, 15-5, 15-12
DAY TWO RESULTS
(November 13, 1998)
Prairie View A&M def. Grambling State, 7-15, 15-12, 5-15, 16-14, 15-8
Southern Univ. def. Alabama State, 15-10, 15-6, 15-9
Texas Southern def. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 15-9, 15-2, 15-10
Alcorn State def. Grambling State, 4-15, 10-15, 15-12, 15-9, 15-13
Alabama State def. Texas Southern, 15-13, 15-4, 16-14
Southern Univ. def. Prairie View A&M, 15-10, 13-15, 16-14, 18-16
DAY THREE RESULTS
(November 14, 1998)
Alabama State def. Alcorn State, 5-15, 15-12, 11-15, 15-10, 15-8
Prairie View A&M def. Alabama State, 11-15, 15-2, 15-3, 15-8
Championship Match:
Southern Univ. def. Prairie View A&M, 15-10, 7-15, 15-8, 10-15, 15-13
THE 1998 SWAC VOLLEYBALL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Jacqui Butler and Eula Kador (Alabama State); Crystal Morris and Millicent Sylvan (AlcornState); Shanequa Reed (Arkansas-Pine Bluff); Kim Young (Grambling State); Chanel Henderson
and LaMonika Hurst (Prairie View A&M); Nalinya Davis, Chanan Newman
and Remeshian Perkins (Southern Univ.); Candice Randolph (Texas Southern)
THE 1998 SWAC TOURNAMENT MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Nalinya Davis, Southern University
THE 1998 SWAC VOLLEYBALL COACH OF THE YEAR
Nathaniel Denu, Southern University
13 Nov
Jackson, MS(OTW)-Jackson State will try to move closer to an NCAA playoff appearance with a victory over Prairie View Saturday. The Tigers (5-4, 5-1) are led by runningback Destry Wright who has gained 1,184 yards so far. JSU quarterback Mark Washington has thrown for 1,826 yards and 19 touchdowns. Tiger wideout Sylvester Morris has 52 catches for 1,052 yards. He is averaging 116.9 receiving yards per game, fourth nationally.
13 Nov
Former Texas Southern Track Coach Funeralized
Houston, TX(OTW)-Funeral Services will be held for former Texas Southern track coach Stan Wright Friday, Nov 13, a 6 p.m. in the University Auditorium on the campus of Texas Southern University, 3100 Cleburne Avenue. Visitation hours are from 1-4 p.m. at Mabrie Memorial Mortuary in Houston.
Texas Southern's football team will visit Southern University this Saturday. Southern (6-3, 4-3) has won 14 straight SWAC games. The last SWAC team to beat Southern was Texas Southern (6-3, 4-3), two years ago in Baton Rouge.
Texas Southern runningbacks Thomas Sieh (161 carries for 980 yards and 11 touchdowns) and D.J. Bradley (157 carries 955 yards and 11 touchdowns) will both probably go over the 1,000 yard mark this Saturday.
Southern's Steve Wofford and John Foreman are poised for some history as well. Wofford, an All-SWAC runningback and SU's all-time leading rusher, needs only 117 yards on the ground to become the first Jaguar to post back-to-back 1,000 yard rushing seasons.
Foreman needs only 140 yards in receiving to pass the 1,000 yard mark, and become the first receiver in school history to go over the 1,000 yard mark.
Both Wofford and Foreman are trying to become the first pair of Jaguar players to compile over 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season.
THREE-TIME CHAMP GSU SEEKS CONTINUED DOMINANCE
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Grambling State Lady Tigers, winners of the 1995, 1996 and 1997 Southwestern Athletic Conference volleyball championship titles, will enter the 1998 conference tournament as the No. 3 seed in the SWAC's Western Division.
The SWAC tournament is scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday, November 12- 14, at the Joe L. Reed Acadome on the campus of Alabama State University. Play begins at 9 a.m. each day. The tournament is free to the general public.
GSU, 28-10 overall and 5-3 in the SWAC, will be led yet again by two-time SWAC player of the year Kim Young, a senior outside hitter/middle blocker. Head coach Frederick Payne believes that Young will turn in another stellar performance during tournament play.
"By this being her last year, I think Kim is going to go out with a bang," said Payne. "She has the love of the game and she gives 100 percent every time she steps out onto the court. She is known on campus as the Air Jordan of volleyball."
Young also reaped tournament MVP honors for the second consecutive time last season.
Senior Shanitria Davis (outside hitter/middle blocker), junior Yolanda Brown (outside hitter/middle blocker), and sophomores L'Kesha Howard (middle blocker/outside hitter), Daniela Malveaux (setter) and Yolanda Hudson (setter) are the other players whom Payne believes will help GSU in winning a fourth straight time.
"The SWAC championship has never been won by a school four times in a row. We are planing to be the first school to do so," said Payne.
Texas Southern's three title reign of 1989-1991 ended in 1992 when Prairie View A&M won its first and only volleyball title. And as this year's No. 1 Western Division seed, PVAMU, 16-12 overall and 7-1 in the SWAC, is poised to pull a similar feat it accomplished against TSU in 1992.
"In order for Prairie View A&M to win the 1998 SWAC volleyball championship, our team must collectively be mentally focused. We must put together one of the best defensive outcomes of the year," said head coach Jocelyn Adams. "We will have to minimize errors and take advantage of what other teams give us. We must step up to the challenge!"
Junior setter Jacqueline Thompson and sophomore outside hitters Chanel Henderson and LaMonika Hurst represent PVA&M's strength and leadership. Adams believes their collective performances are what will greatly enhance PVA&M's chances of winning the title.
"If these three young ladies, along with their support staff, are mentally and physically ready to play, PVA&M will finish very high in this year's tournament," said Adams. "With the addition of key players to our team, we have matched up pretty well with conference opponents this season. In my opinion, all teams match up pretty well, and no one team is dominating."
Volleyball has been a part of the official SWAC ledger since 1986. No Eastern Division team has won a title in the sport. But heading into this year tournament with a 5-0 record against conference opponents (12-21 overall), No. 1 Eastern Division seed Alabama State has a good chance at winning the title.
"I believe that our players are motivated to become SWAC champs because they are really working hard to reach that goal," said head coach Sonia Price. Price lists sophomore middle blockers Jacqui Butler and Hakika Booker-Wright as the team's leaders, and junior defensive specialist Nikia Bynum and junior hitter Bashia Woody as the team's motivators.
"We must get 100 percent from the team if we are to win the SWAC championship," said Price. "We must overcome anything that will hinder us as a unit."
* * * * *
GSU'S YOUNG WINS THIRD STRAIGHT MVP AWARD
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Two players from three-time Southwestern Athletic Conference volleyball champion Grambling State University were named to the 1998 All-SWAC team here Thursday, November 12. The 12-member team was headed by GSU senior Kim Young, who reaped SWAC player of the year honors for the third straight year. The All-SWAC team is comprised of the six top vote- getters from the league's Eastern Division and the six top vote-getters from the Western Division.
Joining Young on the Western Division team is junior Yolanda Brown. Prairie View A&M's LaMonika Hurst (So.) and Chanel Henderson (So..), Southern U.'s Chivonne Fair (Jr.) and Texas Southern's Candice Randolph (So.) round out the Western Division team.
Alabama State sophomore Jacqui Butler was the top vote-getter in the Eastern Division. She's joined on the team by Alcorn State's Crystal Morris (Jr.) and Millicent Sylvan (So.), Jackson State's Patrease Coleman (Sr.) and Mississippi Valley State's Luci Dudley (Jr.) and Kinesha Lawrence (Sr.).
The 1998 season marks the first time that the SWAC has recognized both a newcomer and freshman of the year in the sport of volleyball. PVAMU's Henderson won newcomer of the year honors and Alcorn State's Brand'e Moore was named freshman of the year.
THE 1998 WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL ALL-SWAC TEAM
Eastern Division
Jacqui Butler, Alabama State (6-2, So., Middle Blocker, New Orleans, LA)
Crystal Morris, Alcorn State (5-10, Jr., Outside Hitter, Fort Worth, TX)
Millicent Sylvan, Alcorn State (6-1, So., Middle Blocker, LaPlace, LA)
Patrease Coleman, Jackson State (5-11, Sr., Middle Blocker, E. St. Louis, Mo.)
Luci Dudley, Miss. Valley State (5-8, Jr., Setter/Outside Hitter, Birmingham, AL)
Kinesha Lawrence, Miss. Valley State (6-3, Sr., Outside Hitter, Birmingham, AL)
Western Division
Yolanda Brown, Grambling State (5-10, Jr., Outside Hitter, New Orleans, LA)
Kim Young, Grambling State (5-11, Sr., Outside Hitter, E. St. Louis, Ill.)
Chanel Henderson, Prairie View A&M (5-8, So., Outside Hitter, San Antonio, TX)
LaMonika Hurst, Prairie View A&M (5-8, So., Outside Hitter, San Antonio, TX)
Chivonne Fair, Southern Univ. (5-8, Jr., Middle Blocker, Houston, TX)
Candice Randolph, Texas Southern (5-10, So., Middle Blocker, Houston, TX)
Newcomer of the Year
Chanel Henderson, Prairie View A&M
Freshman of the Year
Brand'e Moore, Alcorn State (5-11, Fr., Middle Blocker, Hazelwood, MO)
Player of the Year
Kim Young, Grambling State
-30-
7 Nov
Pine Bluff, AR(OTW)-Terry Smith and Chris Akins each had 45-yard TD interception returns as Arkansas-Pine Bluff skunked Praire View 30-0. The Lions (7-3, 6-2) limited PV to seven yards rushing in the contest.
Itta Bena, MS(OTW)-Quarterback Damion Ford and wide receiver Donald Driver hooked up for two second half touchdown passes as Alcorn (5-4, 3-4) beat Mississippi Valley 22-19. MVSU actually led 13-0 at the half thanks in part to a 69-yard punt return by Kwnazaa Golden.
Grambling, LA(OTW)-Vyron Brown rushed for 192 yards and two touchdowns as Grambling kicked Alabama State 31-6. If Grambling wins the rest of their games, they would have their first winning season since 1994.
6 Nov
Pine Bluff, AR(OTW)-Funeral services for Gabriel Walker, a distance runner on the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff's track team, who was killed on November 1 from a gunshot wound, will be at 11 a.m., November 7, at the Camden (Ark) Fairview Junior High Auditorium.
Walker, a 20-year old sophomore nursing major, was fatally shot at an off-campus fraternity Halloween dance when shots were fired into Townsend Park Recreational Center, striking Walker in the head and injuring two other persons.
"He was a tremendous worker," said UAPB track coach U.S. Grant. He had an excellent season for us last year, running No.2 consistently. He was a practice person in that you never had to bother with him. He was the type of young man who would help everybody. He had a car and if anyone needed to go anywhere, he would take them. He was that type of person."
During his freshman season, Walker ran a seasonal best 1:52.6 in the 800-meter run and timed a 4:01.02 in the 1600 meter run.
4 Nov
After a threat of physical torture by some Alabama State fans, Sentry Shorts would like to make a correction on the Magic City Classic. Alabama State did win the football game 34-28. It was not the other way around as reported by Sentry Shorts earlier. Oops.
3 Nov
SWAC Volleyball
SWAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
LaMonika Hurst, Prairie View A&M (5-8, So., Outside Hitter, Houston, Tex.): Hurst compiled a .322 hitting percentage in a week that saw the Pantherettes go 2-2. She collected 56 kills, 17 errors and 121 total attacks along with 18 service aces, 16 digs and eight blocks.
JACKSON STATE RETAINS MEN'S CC TITLE,
GRAMBLING AND JSU WOMEN END IN TIE
Lorman, Miss(OTW) -- For a third consecutive year, the Jackson State University Tigers captured the 1998 Southwestern Athletic Conference men's cross country championship.
For the first time in 14 years, the JSU Lady Tigers garnered a piece of the women's league title, tying Grambling State University, which won for a fourth straight time.
The 1998 SWAC cross country championships were held here at Alcorn Trails on the campus of Alcorn State University. The women's race covered 5,000 meters (3.1 miles) while the men ran a course of 8,000 meters (5.0 miles).
"(David) Rop is the heart of our men's team," said JSU head coach Willie McCoy. "I hope he can graduate so we can have him one more year. He's an honor student with nearly a 4.0 average. "Rop is talented," added McCoy. "I can take credit for our man who finished fifth today because this was the first time he's run. But I can't take credit for Rop. He's just talented." Rop, a 5-8 senior from Nairobi, Kenya, captured league MVP honors after finishing ahead of the pack with a time of 24:22. He said the key to his continued success is a simple one -- hard work.
"I trained hard, running in the morning every day," said Rop. "It was easier this year than it was last year. The competition wasn't as tough as it was a year ago." Three other JSU Tigers finished among the top 12 finishers in the race, all of which received all-tournament as well as all-conference honors.
Victor Tanui, a 5-9 junior from Eldoret, Kenya, crossed the finish line in second place for the second straight year with a time of 25:24. Justus Nyamweya, a 5-6 junior from Nairobi, Kenya, was clocked at 26:04, good enough for fifth place, while Tony Mutsume, a 6-0 sophomore from Nairobi, Kenya, came in seventh at 27:28. JSU's fifth scorer was Clifton Sisk, a 5-10 freshman from Davenport, Iowa who came in 36th with a time of 30:37.
As a team, the Tigers scored a meet-high 50 points, 20 points ahead of second place finisher Grambling State, which came in second with 70 points. The remainder of the field saw Prairie View A&M finish third (85 pts.), Alabama State fourth (100), Southern fifth (127), Alcorn State sixth (134), Arkansas-Pine Bluff seventh (159), Mississippi Valley State eighth (177) and Texas Southern ninth (219).
In the women's division, Grambling State and Jackson State finished in a dead heat for first place with 59 points apiece. Host Alcorn State came in just two points behind GSU and JSU with 61 points.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff finished fourth among the women with 100 points and was followed by Southern in fifth place (124 pts.), Alabama State in sixth place (155), Prairie View A&M in seventh place (157), Texas Southern in eighth (194) and Mississippi Valley State in ninth (208).
"It feels good to be champs once more," said GSU head coach Bertram Lovell. "I wish that we would have won it outright.
"When it comes to championships, everybody tends to rise to the occasion," added Lovell. "We should be back next year because we have a young team with only one starter."
Grambling's top scorer was 5-5 senior Ebony Anderson of Atlanta, Ga., who finished third with a time of 20:03. The other GSU Lady Tigers who scored included 5-5 sophomore Christina Brown of Lake Charles, La. (20:13, 4th), 5-3 freshman Shuntica Crawford of Atlanta, Ga. (20:55, 9th), 5-4 sophomore Keisha Guillory of Lake Charles, La. (21:59, 20th) and 6-0 freshman Victoria Broussard of Lake Charles, La. (22:15, 23rd).
Jackson State's co-champion team was paced by Natasha Beaumont, who captured most valuable runner honors with a meet-best time of 19:31.
"Our key to tying for first place was Beaumont and our other runners pacing off of her," said McCoy, who also coaches the JSU women's team. "She's finished first in every meet this year that involved SWAC teams. She also won at Delta State. She had a pretty good year, but I felt she'd be better on the track."
JSU's other scoring runners included 5-4 freshman Patricia Robinson of Tallahassee, Fla. (20:42, 8th), 5-5 freshman Julia Sawney of Hyattsville, Md. (21:08, 10th), 5-4 sophomore Michelle Luedke of Scottsdale, Ariz. (21:50, 19th) and 5-4 junior Michele Meraz of Scottsdale, Ariz. (22:05, 21st).
31 Oct
Final Weekend In Deadly Ocotber
Jackson State Cools Off Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Little Rock, AR(OTW)-Jackson State quarterback Mark Washington continued his fine play, throwing for four touchdowns and running for two, as Jackson State (5-4, 5-1) edged Arkansas-Pine Bluff 41-34. The win snapped a five-game winning streak for UAPB, and put Jackson State in the driver's seat for an NCAA playoff birth.
Washington's longest TD pass was to Sylvester Morris for 71 yards. Washington threw for 352 yards in the game.
Rod Robinson threw for a TD and ran for another for the losers. UAPB is now 6-3 overall and 5-2 in the SWAC.
Houston, TX(OTW)-For the second consecutive week, Texas Southern exploded in the fourth quarter. This time they scored 27 points to go on and defeat Grambling 41-24. The barrage was keyed by a 14-yard TD run by D.J. Bradley and a 54-yard TD punt return by Joey Jamison. Bradley rushed for 141 yards and three touchdowns in the game for TSU (6-3, 4-3). It was their Homecoming.
Grambling quarterback Lionel Hayes threw for 403 yards and three TDs in a losing effort. Grambling fell to 3-5 overall and 3-3 in league play.
Birmingham, AL(OTW)-Darnell Kennedy threw for two touchdowns as Alabama State beat Alabama A&M 34-28 in overtime in the Magic City Classic.
Damon Hodge had 224 yards in receptions for the Hornets.
Curtis Donnell rushed for touchdowns of 20 and 11 yards for Alabama A&M .
Itta Bena, MS(OTW)-Mississippi Valley scored 24 first half points as they best Prairie View 38-6. It was the first win of the season for the Delta Devils. Quarterback Melvin Williams and running back Herbert Fry rushed for TDs for the winners.
JSU AND GSU READY TO DEFEND CROSS COUNTRY TITLES
LORMAN, Miss. -- On paper at least, the same two teams which captured last year's Southwestern Athletic Conference cross country championships will be the favorites to do so again in 1998.
The league's annual men's and women's cross country championships are slated for Monday, November 2 at Alcorn Trails on the campus of Alcorn State University. The women's 5,000-meter run (3.1 miles) will begin at 10 a.m. with the men's 8,000-meter run (5.0 miles) following 30 minutes following the completion of the women's race.
"We have enjoyed hosting the meet and we would like to do it again if the opportunity comes up again," said ASU head coach Alecia Shields-Gadson. "It's a lot of work and a great challenge, but after hosting it last year, I'm up for the challenge. What's made it a lot easier is that I have received a lot of help from university officials, especially the grounds crew."
Last year, the Jackson State Tigers captured the men's crown for a second consecutive year as the team landed six individuals among the top nine finishers. The marquee performer was David Rop, who capped a banner season with a first place time of 24:18. In addition to winning the SWAC title, Rop finished first in all but one of last year's regular-season races, including meets at LSU and Alabama.
So far this season, Rop hasn't performed up to last year's standards, but his coach still feels that he'll win MVP honors again come Monday.
"Rop hasn't been running as well as he did last year," said JSU head coach Willie McCoy. "His best showing was in the Alabama Invitational, where he finished second. We expect him to go back to the nationals again this year."
Besides Rop, only two more of JSU's top finishers from last year's championship squad are back. Also back are 5-9 junior Victor Tanui, whose 27:11 time was good enough for seventh place a year ago, and 6-0 sophomore Tony Mutsume, who finished eighth with a time of 27:17. "We expect the greatest challenge from Grambling," noted McCoy. "They seem to be the only team running fairly well right now. If it wasn't for a lean year in the conference, our team mightbe in trouble."
Grambling State finished third in last year's men's championship behind Jackson State and Southern. The Tigers return each of their top five finishers from last year's meet and seven runners overall. Back are 6-3 junior Carlos Robinson (26:29, 4th), 6-2 junior Vernon Pellum (27:48, 11th), 5-7 sophomore Marvin Beharry (28:40, 18th), 6-2 junior Donald Robertson (28:51, 23rd) and 5-8 sophomore Antonio Johnson (29:11, 25th). Antwon Dussett, a 5-11 junior (30:39, 38th) and D'Anthony Smotherman, a 5-5 sophomore (31:17, 42nd) are also back for this year's championship.
While Grambling State seems to be the favorite to capture the women's title, host Alcorn State as well as Jackson State certainly have the talent to be considered viable contenders. Grambling returns three of the top nine finishers from its 1997 championship team, including 5-5 senior Ebony Anderson. Last season, Anderson was one of three GSU Lady Tigers to finish first, second and third. Her time of 20:43 landed her MVP honors. Teammates Christina Brown (20:50,3rd) and Kesha Guillory (21:43, 9th) are also back to help GSU defend its title.
"It's going to be kind of tight, like it is every year," said GSU head coach Bertram Lovell, whose Lady Tigers are gunning for a fourth straight SWAC title. "We won't just roll over and die. Who wants it most? That's what it'll go down to. We stand a good chance if they all hold up." While he's hopeful that his Lady Tigers can repeat, Lovell said everyone had better take notice of Jackson State and Alcorn State.
Alcorn State finished third in last year's meet behind both Grambling State and Southern. The Lady Braves have performed admirably in 1998, thanks largely to the fact that all of the team's five top finishers from last year are back along with six of the eight runners who finished last year's championship.
Thelma Slack, a 5-7 junior, is the top ASU performer from the 1998 women's championship. She finished eighth last year with a time of 21:35. Also back are 5-7 junior Leaha Thomas (22:15,11th), 5-4 senior Maranda Holmes (22:55, 13th), 5-5 sophomore Lakesha McDonald (23:29, 17th), 5-4 sophomore Malissa Poole (23:58, 19th) and 5-5 junior Laniece Blue (25:26, 28th). "I don't know at this time (how Alcorn State will do) and I don't want to speculate," said Shields-Gadson. "All I want for our team to do is to go out and compete."
As for Jackson State, the team's rise to preeminence has been remarkable. Just a year ago, the Lady Tigers finished a distant sixth place in a seven-team field, some 136 points out of first place. This year, the team has played like champions.
"Our women are pretty good," admitted JSU's McCoy. "We were rolling right along until Alcorn beat us by one point. Up until then, we were undefeated. We expect to do well." JSU's road to evolving into a top contender for the women's crown came via the recruiting route. The team's roster includes just one player who finished last year's race -- 5-6 senior Nikki Pearce, who came in 36th a year ago with a time of 26:58. This year, newcomers Natasha Beaumont, a 5-4 junior, and Patricia Robinson, a 5-4 freshman, are the key play makers. Beaumont finished first at both the JSU and Alcorn State invitationals while Robinson came in third in both of those meets.
30 Oct
Jackson State and Arkansas-Pine Bluff will meet in Little Rock, AR., this Saturday in a game which has NCAA playoff implications. UAPB, behind quarterback Rod Robinson is the hottest team in the SWAC. The Lions (6-2, 5-1) have won five straight games, all on the road. A win Saturday would put them in second place with one league game left (against Prairie View), and keep their league title hopes alive.
Jackson State (4-4, 4-1) needs a win to keep their playoff and SWAC title hopes alive. JSU has won four out of its last five games. Tiger wide receiver Sylvester Morris has set a school record with 12 touchdown receptions in the season. This broke a record of 11 set by Willie Richardson (1962) and Harold Jackson (1966). Morris' 946 yards in receiving leaves him 281 yards short of 1,227 set by Willie Richardson in 1960.
26 Oct
SWAC Volleyball Stats
Through 25 Oct:
Individual Stats-Per Game Averages:
Hitting: Kim Young--Alcorn---.376
Kills: Kim Young-Grambling-4.68
Aces: Elicia Warner-Alabama State-.58
Blocks: Chivonne Fair-Southern-2.1
Assists: Romishan Perkins-Southern-9.8
Digs: Fornestra Hamer-Mississippi Valley State-2.6
As of 25 Oct Alabama State led the East (9-19, 3-0). Prairie View led the West (13-10, 4-0).
The SWAC Player of the Week is Yolanda Brown of Grambling. An outside hitter, Young had 87 kills, 28 errors, 34 digs, 22 blocks, six service aces, and two assists. She also had 151 total attacks. with a .391 hitting percentage
24 Oct
The Fourth Weekend Deadly October
Lorman, MS(OTW)-Justin Mattingly kicked a 19-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, with no time reamining, as Southern escaped Alcorn 29-28.
Alcorn's Damion Ford, threw for 339 yards and four TDs.
Southern maintained sole possession of first place in the SWAC with the win.
Grambling, LA(OTW)-Mark Washington threw for 370 yards and seven touchdowns to lead Jackson State by Grambling 68-35.
Lionel Hayes threw three TD passes, all to Silas Payne.
Houston, TX(OTW)-D.J. Bradley rushed for 155 yards and two fourth quarter TDs as Texas Southern (5-3, 3-3) beat Mississippi Valley State 38-19. The win snapped a three-game losing skid for the Tigers.
MVSU quarterback Melvin Williams hooked up with Kwanzaa Golden for two TD strikes (38, 29 yards).
Delta Devil linebacker Terry Houzah had 18 tackles in the game.
Valley is 0-8.
Langston, OK(OTW)-Arkansas-Pine Bluff quarterback Rod Robinson ran for a touchdown and threw for another as UAPB stopped Langston 24-6. It was the fifth straight win for the Lions, and all of them have come on the road. Robinson passed for 211 yards in the game for UAPB (6-2).
In other games involving SWAC teams, Miles beat Alabama A&M 24-20 and Panhandle State beat Prairie View 16-13.
21 Oct
New Orleans, LA(OTW)-By a unanimous vote, the Appeals and Constitution Compliance Committee of the Southwestern Athletic Conference has upheld the league commissioner's September 21 ruling suspending the marching band of Prairie View A&M University for two consecutive games, following a September 19 altercation in Beaumont, Tx.
In upholding the commissioner's ruling, the Appeals and Constitutional Committee unanimously found that the commissioner acted properly and within the scope of his authority.
Prairie View A&M's appeal went before the committee here on Tuesday.
17 Oct
Third Weekend In Deadly October
Baton Rouge, LA(OTW)-Steve George threw for 316 yards and four touchdowns as Southern beat Jackson State 33-28. The win gave the Jaguars (5-2, 5-0) sole possession of first place in the SWAC. Two of George's passes were to John Foreman.
Destry Wright recovered a fumble in the end zone for one Jackson State score. JSU quarterback T.C. Taylor threw an 81-yarder to Sylvester Morris for another Tiger score. JSU is 3-4 overall and 3-1 in SWAC action.
Shreveport, LA(OTW)-Oscar Bullard ran for three TDs as Arkansas- Pine Bluff (5-2, 5-1) beat Grambling 54-33. It was the fourth straight win for the Lions. All of the wins have come on the road.
Lionel Hayes threw for 343 yards and three TD passes for Grambling (3-3, 3-1).
Lorman, MS(OTW)-Alcorn (3-3, 2-3) won its third straight game, polishing off fading Texas Southern 21-14. Damion Ford threw a touchdown pass and ran for another one for the Braves. Rodney Thomas rushed for 145 yards an a TD for Alcorn. Thomas put the winners up 21-7 with a 15-yard TD rush in the third quarter.
D.J. Bradley rushed for 211 yards and two TDs for TSU (4-3), who lost their third straight game. Texas Southern is now 2-3 in league play. It was Homecoming for Alcorn.
Prairie View, TX(OTW)-Darnell Kennedy accounted for 210 yards in total offense as Alabama State (2-5, 2-4) beat Prairie View (1-6, 1-5) 30-20. Kennedy threw two TD passes to Damon Hodge.
DeMarcus Peterson had two scoring receptions for PV.
15 Oct
Southern will host Jackson State in a big SWAC contest in the third weekend of Deadly October. Jackson State runningback Destry Wright is averaging 135. 3 yards per contest, second in the league. JSU wide receiver Sylvester Morris is second in the conference in receiving, averaging 17.6 yards per catch. Morris has had 30 catches for 583 yards and six touchdowns in his last four games.
Southern's Steve Wofford is the SWAC's fourth leading rusher, averaging 104.7 yards per game. Jaguar Endrick Claiborne is the fourth leading tackler in the league with 51 (22 solos).
Jackson State leads the league in total offense. Southern is the most penalized team in the league. Both teams are undefeated in conference play. The winners will have control of their own destiny.
Elsewhere in the SWAC, Grambling is 3-2, and 3-0 in conference action.
However the G-Men will play Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Jackson State, and Texas Southern the next three weekends.
13 Oct
SWAC Hoops
The SWAC Basketball Media Day will be held in Baton Rouge, LA, at the Baton Rouge Hilton on October 21, 1998. Players and coaches will be available to the media form 4 p.m to 6 p.m. At 6 p.m there will be a reception. At 7 p.m there will be a banquet. The guest speaker will be former Southern and NBA great Bob "Butterbean" Love.
Love played 11 seasons in the NBA, eight with the Chicage Bulls.
He led the Bulls in scoring for seven straight years and was a three-time NBA All-Star. He is the second all-time leading Bulls scorer behind Michael Jordan. For more info contact the SWAC office at 504-523-7574.
10 Oct
Second Weekend of Deadly October
Hayes Turns Southern Every Way But Loose
by Bryan Steven Follins
Normal, AL(OTW)-You know your team is in trouble when the opponent runs three basic plays 90 percent of the time, and your squad cannot stop those plays. Saturday Southern was in trouble all day long. It came in the form of a triple-option attack engineered by Alabama A&M quarterback Roland Hayes. The magnificent Hayes rushed for 193 yards on 25 carries (7.7 yards per carry average) and three touchdowns, as the Bulldogs upset the Jaguars 33-27. It was A&M's Homecoming. Over 21,000 people saw the game.

"We played hard. Our young offense is getting better. We moved the ball and executed the option"--Alabama A&M head coach Ron Cooper.
"Bad game. We'll bounce back next week. They (A&M) kept us off balance, but it was nothing we did not practice against all week. We can't make excuses."--Southern linebacker Channing Warner.

"He's (Wilhite) through for the year. It's the same injury he sustained last year and that's really a big setback for him. He's a tremendous athlete and to have this kind of setback is tough." --Texas Southern head coach Bill Thomas speaking of James Wilhite.

"This a serious matter. We're working to resolve it as amicably as we can and in the best interest of the conference."--Alabama State president and president of the SWAC Council of Presidents, Dr. William Harris.

"I'm happy to see the Council of Presidents stand steadfast on ensuring that our members adhere to the rules and regulations set forth in the SWAC Constitution and Bylaws. I'm confident that we'll resolve this matter appropriately."----Rudy Washington

"We were extremely disappointed to see Prairie View A&M blatantly diregard the rules and regulations of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Because of this, we had no alternative but to assess this severe penalty."--SWAC Commissioner Rudy Washington

"We attempted to work with officials of Prairie View A&M, even to the point of paving the way to possibly let the band perform on October 3 if certain conditions were met."--SWAC Commissioner Rudy Washington

"The (offensive)line came up big tonight. Right now our number one goal is to win the SWAC."--Arkansas-Pine Bluff wide receiver Kevin Williams
"We felt like we could run the football. We had seven players out on defense. That is why we tried to control the ball."--Arkansas-Pine Bluff head coach Lee Hardman

"We executed everything well. We practiced getting the ball to the A-backs. All of our A-backs have speed."-Kelly Fields.
"We wanted to get the ball to our running backs, (Archie) Turner, Kelly Fields. We wanted to play good defense, eliminate penalties." --Alabama A&M head coach Ron Cooper.
"We had a plenty of time to move the ball. We turned the ball over three times in the red zone."-Morris Brown head coach Joe Crosby.

"It's imperative that we send the right message out and that the message is that such incidents won't be tolerated at our games. We've been in consultation with officials at both universities and we've received assurances that this matter is being fully investigated and will be dealt with appropriately on their respective campuses."--SWAC Commissioner Rudy Washington

"Anytime you get a victory it's good. We did what we had to do to win. We locked well and our special teams play kept us in good field position on offense."--TSU head coach Bill Thomas

"Well, it's a W, and anytime you can get a W, you gotta feel good. We got a lot of work to do, we made a lot of mistakes today."--Texas Southern head coach Bill Thomas."

"Stats are all good, but I taste the agony of defeat. We came up with the short end of the stick."--Prairie View defensive back Quincy Fuller

-"The biggest question mark now is getting coaches in. Student-athletes are helping out now. The rest of us left have been doubling our duties."--Mississippi Valley head coach Larry Dorsey.

"Blacks in the South own more land. By owning more land, you develop roots."--Jackson State head basketball coach Andy Stoglin.

Stoglin thinks that people in the South (Black and White) tend to take Black colleges for granted.
"If many whites took a closer look, they would appreciate Black colleges more," he added.
"I lived in renthouses (as a youth in Phoenix)", he pointed out. "I had no roots. Look at my job record."
Before Stoglin began his stint at Jackson State, he coached for a year in the Persian Gulf. Before that, he spent three years as an assistant at Arkansas. Before that, he spent one year as an assistant at Oklahoma State. Before that, two years at Southern (head coach). Before that one year as an assistant at San Diego State. Before that, a year as an assistant at Cal-Poly Pomona. This is only to name a few stops. Each time he moved, he made more money, but that was not the point.
Conclusion

"I was moving up, but I was still moving," explained Stoglin. He says he almost left Jackson State a few years back to go to Tennessee State. This move would have brought him more money, but something other than money was a factor.
He said that John Thompson (Georgetown head basketball coach) and Nolan Richardson (Arkansas head baskeball coach) advised him to stay put. They said if he kept moving around people would start to think something was wrong with him. So, he took their advice, advice that was not regretted.
Stoglin valued his time he spent as an assistant to Richardson at Arkansas. He explained that a Black coach winning at a White school in the South could trigger something.

"If we could win at Arkansas, it would open doors for Blacks (coaches) in the South. Larry Finch (former Memphis head coach), Wade Houston (former Tennessee head coach), Leornard Hamilton (Miami head coach), and Tubby Smith (Kentucky head coach), I think all of those coaches were directly affected by Nolan's success at Arkansas"--Andrew Stoglin

The same can be said for Andy Stoglin, in more ways than one.
27 Jun
SWAC Football Media Tour...
New Orleans, LA(OTW)-The 19th annual SWAC football media tour will began Monday, July 13, and last through Friday, July 17. The schedule is as follows:
Mon., July 13-(11 a.m.)Coaches press conference at Pine Bluff, AR Convention Center. 12:30 p.m.-Luncheon on Arkansas-Pine Bluff's campus.
6:30 p.m.-(Shreveport, LA)Informal press conference at Holiday Inn- Riverfront, followed by banquet at same location.
Tue., July 14-(5 p.m.)Dinner with one-on one media interviews in the Tiger Layer on Texas Southern's Campus in Houston, TX. Formal press conference in the Tiger Room on TSU's campus at 7 p.m.
Wed., July 15-(5:30 p.m.)One-on-one media interviews in student union on campus of Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA. Banquet to follow in same location at 6:30 p.m.
All times are central standard time.
Thu., July 16-(4 p.m.)Press conference in the Green Room of the Acadome on Alabama State's campus. Banquet in Banquet Room of Acadome to follow at 6 p.m.
Fri., July 17-(6 p.m.)Press conference/one-on-one interviews at the Holiday Inn-Southwest in Jackson, MS
Southern baseball players Marcellous Manuel and Wendell Simmons have signed pro baseball contracts. Manuel, a 5'10, 160 pound outfielder, has signed with the Chicago White Sox. Manuel is playing with the White Sox's single A team in Tuscon,AZ. Manuel was a senior. Simmons, a 6'0, 185 pound pitcher has inked with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Manuel, a sophomore, is assigned to the Dodgers' single A team in Yakima, WA.

Southern University linebacker Derrick Robinson has signed a free agent contract with the Oakland Raiders.
Southern University 1998 Student-Athlete Graduates:
Allissia Brunson-B.S.
Patrick McCrea-B.A.
Nakia Hogan-B.A.
Robert Valdez-B.A.
Melissa Fontenot-B.S.
Hector Hernandez-B.S.
Malachi S. Hull-B.S.
Peter A. Sheppard IV-B.A.
Kweli Armstrong-B.S.
Michael Green-B.S.
Alec Hawkins-B.S.
Cecilia Wooten-B.S.
Robert Bronson-B.S.
Joseph Ingrams-B.S.
Haskin Payne III-B.S.
Jerome Jacob-A.S.
Truest Bradley-B.S.
Monica Dorsey-B.S.
Sabrina Johnson-B.S.
Vincent Shaw-B.S.
Mershon Smith-B.S.
Shanteri White-B.S.
Danny Donaldson-M.A.-Health Care.
Isiaka O. Akanbi-M.S.-Physics.
11 Jun
Houston, TX(OTW)-Haskel Buff has been named as assistant head football, linebacker, and special teams coach at Texas Southern. Buff comes to TSU from Texas A&M-Kingsville. During Buff's three seasons at the school, it won three Lone Star Conference championships and made three straight appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs. Buff was linebacker coach at A&M-Kingsville.

"We are very happy to have Haskell on board here at Texas Southern. He comes to us from Texas A&M-Kingsville which is a top-notch Division II program, and we know that he will do an excellent job for us."--TSU head football coach Bill Thomas

The 1998 Major League Baseball Draft...
Southern's Terrance Hill was picked in the 18th round by the Boston Red Sox. Hill is a left-handed pitcher.
Three players from Texas Southern have been picked. They were shortstop Auntawn Riggins, grabbed in the 22nd round by the Toronto Blue Jays, Jessie Gutierrez, a catcher, chosen in the 44th round by the San Diego Padres, and Sonny Garcia, taken in the 47th round by the Baltimore Orioles. Garcia is a right-handed pitcher.
21 May
New Orleans, LA(OTW)-Rudy Washington, former head of the Black Coaches Association, has been named the new SWAC commissioner effective July 1, confirmed a source in New Orleans. Washington's term is four years.
20 May
New Orleans, LA(OTW)-The annual SWAC Spring Meetings will commence today with several items on the agenda. A recommendation for a sight for the 1999 SWAC basketball tournament, realignment of schools as a result of league expansion, and the acceptance of Alabama A&M as an affiliate member of the conference, will be the main topics of discussion. The conference will also pay tribute to retiring commissioner James Frank with an invitation-only dinner Thursday. Frank has been the commissioner for the past 15 years. The announcement of a the new commissioner will be made on Thursday.
The spring meetings will last until May 22.
16 May
Cape Girardeau, MO(OTW)-Southeast Missouri scored seven runs over the last three innings to defeat Southern 10-3 in NCAA Baseball Play-In action. The lost eliminated the Jaguars from post season play. The Indians won the best two-out-of three series 2-0. Southeast Missouri had 14 hits, three by Charlie Marino and Steve Lowe. Kyle Yount and Marino had two RBI for the winners.
Lincoln Williams had two hits for the Jaguars, and Alva "Kione" Thompson had a homerun for Southern.
Indian pitcher Ryan Spiller went nine innings, giving up only four hits, to get the win.
Artis Gordon took the loss for Southern.
15 May
Cape Girardeau, MO(OTW)-Southeast Missouri leftfielder Charlie Marino snapped a 4-4 tie with an RBI double in the bottom of the seventh inning, as the Indians edged Southern 5-4 in NCAA Baseball Play-In action Friday. The play-in is a best two-of-three, with game two Saturday at 1 p.m. central standard time. Southeast Missouri led 4-1 going into the the top of the seventh. The Jaguars came off the deck in the top of the seventh, scoring three runs to tie the game. The inning was keyed by homers off the bats of catcher Alva "Kione" Thompson and leftfielder Franco Blackburn.
Indian pitcher Dan Huesgen got the win in relief.
Southern's Terrance Hill took the loss, pitching a complete game.
13 May
Southern University will enter its NCAA Baseball Play-In series this Friday featuring Alva "Kione" Thompson. Thompson led the Jags in hitting (.384)and home runs (14). Thompson is a catcher.
Southeast Missouri is led by Kyle Yount with a .346 batting average and pitcher Ryan Spiller, 10-1, 2.34 ERA.
11 May
Southern University will visit Cape Girardeau, MO. to play Southeast Missouri State University in a best two-of-three NCAA Baseball Tournament play-in series starting Friday night. Southeast Missouri, of the Ohio Valley Conference, made it into the play-in by winning the OVC baseball tournament this past weekend.
Southern will be playing the OVC champions for the second time in the last three years. In 1996, the Jaguars lost to Austin Peay, two games to one, in a play-in series at Austin Peay.
1998 Alabama A&M Football Signees:
Cedrick Jackson-QB-6-4, 210, Huntsville, AL.
Melvin Gideon-RB-5-7, 165, Huntsville, AL.
Cedarric Collins-DL-6-3, 200, Huntsville, AL.
Brandon Emerson-Guard-6-3, 255.
1998 Southern University Women's Basketball Signees:
Ruth Buck-5-10-Port Gibson, MS.
Keisha Johnson-5-10-Memphis, TN.
Tonya Williams-5-11-Brookhaven, MS.
6 May
Houston, TX(OTW)-1998 Texas Southern's Men's Basketball Signees:
Harold Boston-guard-6-6, 185, Terry, MS.
Eddie Stewart-center-6-11, 315, Spring, TX.
Demonse Williams-G-6-1, 195, Fayetteville, AR.
Baton Rouge, LA(OTW)-Kevin Franklin, a defensive back for Southern, has signed a free agent contract with the Oakland Raiders. Franklin is a 5-9, 170 cornerback.
New Orleans, LA(OTW)-The 1998 SWAC Hall of Fame Inductees are: Marshall Leonard Bell, Warren Braden, Alonzo Bradley, Clem Daniels, Lawrence A. Davis, Sr., *Eddie Robinson, Jr., Purvis Short, Levi L. Washington, and Davey Whitney. Inductions will take place on May 22.
*-Robinson is the youngest individual ever inducted into the SWAC Hall of Fame. He is 27.
Baton Rouge, LA(OTW)-The 1998 Southern University Hall of Fame inductees are: Leon Bedford, James Blackwell, Rudolf Dinvault, Samuel Hughes, Alvin Jackson, George McGee, and Horace Moody.
25 Apr
Des Moines, IA(OTW)-Yuan Hunt finished second in the women's long jump in the Drake Relays Saturday. Hunt, the NCAA's top long jumper, had a mark of 20'08.50 Saturday.
25 Apr
Aldine, TX(OTW)-Ramon Rivera kicked field goals of 20 and 57 yards Saturday in an intra-squad scrimmage for Texas Southern University. The lone touchdown in the scrimmage came on a seven-yard run by running back Charles Tyler. Jeff Kirklin rushed for 68 yards on nine carries for the day. He was the leading rusher. Wideout Joseph Jamison caught two passes for 58 yards in the scrimmage.
Defensive lineman Byron Clark had one sack and two fumble recoveries in the game.
No official score was kept.
24 Apr
Houston, TX(OTW)-Texas Southern University will have its spring football game Saturday, 25 Apr, 3 p.m. at Thorne Stadium (Aldine).
17-19 Apr
New Orleans, LA(OTW)
The Jackson State Lady Tigers won their third straight SWAC Golf Golf championship, shooting a 680. JSU's Naomi Wallace won her third straight individualist medalist title with a two-day total of 152.

"I haven't been playing very well lately, but I always seem to play well during this tournament."--JSU's Naomi Wallace

Wallace is a native of West Point, New Zealand.
Jackson State's men's squad won their 10th straight golf championship. The Tigers shot a total of 866. The closest team was Alabama State with 966. JSU players finished in the top five slots, led by Chris Register who shot 215. Register is a sophomore from Bude Cornwell, England. JSU's Kevin Newell, Hugh Smith (218), Milton Carswell (220), and Simon Smart (223), rounded out the top five slots.
Southern University captured the men and women's outdoor track and field championships. The men were led by several first place performers. Vernon "D.J." Pitcher (400 meter hurdles-51.95 & 110 meter hurdles-14.61) and Robert Earl Wilson (400 meter-45-99), John George (200 meters-21.10) and Endrick Claiborne (javelin-185'-11) were other winners.

"We had no distance people. Everything we did was in the sprints. It was just amazing. Our surprises were getting places in the pole vault and winning the javelin."--Southern head coach Johnny Thomas

SU finished with 207 total points. Prairie View was second with 178 points.
The SU women finished with 184 points. Erica Burrell finished first in the 100 (11.88) and 200 (24.41) meters. Dana Jones won the high jump (5-05)and javelin (113-06) for the Lady Jags.
Jackson State's Paul Ndachi earned men's high point track honors (40 points). Ndachi won the 10,000 meters, 5000 meters, 1500 meters, and the 3000 meter steeplechase. Grambling's Juan Womack and Prairie View's Ronald Nelson tied for high-point field honors with 21 points.
Texas Southern's Yvette Mayers was the women's high point (40) track performer, winning the same races as Ndachi. Millicent Sylvan of Alcorn was tops in individual field points (21).
Grambling was second with 163 points.
Southern also won the baseball championship title, beating Jackson State 11-7 Sunday. The Jaguars (31-12) got to the finals defeating Alabama State 11-4 (Apr 17), and Jackson State 14-8 (Apr 18).
After a loser's bracket win over Grambling, 20-12, Jackson State played Southern again, winning 5-4 Sunday, thanks to a game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth by Louis James. The teams battled again Sunday to decide the championship, with Southern winning 11-7. The Jags used a four-run fifth inning to salt the game away. Javier Witherspoon, the Southern shortstop, was 2-for-5, with a home-run and four runs batted in in the contest.
Prairie View won the SWAC championship in softball.
The Lady Panthers defeated Alabama State 9-1 in the championship game. PV finsihed last in the SWAC West last year.

"Last year we finished at the bottom of the Western Division. So, to come from the bottom to the top is truly an accomplishment within itself. Nobody expected us to be here or get to this point as conference champions. We've proven to everyone that we're the best team in the SWAC."-Prairie View head coach A.D. James.

PV won all of its games including a 10-2 pasting of Mississippi Valley and 5-4 decision over Southern. Leslie West pitched the Panthers to victory in the championship game.
16 Apr
Houston, TX(OTW)-Texas Southern's Juan Hunt is a long jump favorite in the SWAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships this weekend in New Orleans, LA. Hunt has jumped over 20 feet in all of her outdoor meets this season. She took first at the Southern University Pelican relays with a mark of 20'05.00.
Teammate Yvette Mayers, won the 1500 meter run at the same meet with a time of 4:38.44.
30 Mar
New Orleans, LA(OTW)-Southern University was leading the SWAC West with a 20-9 record (13-3) in conference. Jackson State led the East with a 17-16 mark (13-2) in league action. Southern's Alva Thompson was the SWAC Batter of the Week, hitting .556 with two home runs, four doubles, and 10 RBIs. Thompson is a catcher. Jackson State's Demetrius Mitchell was the SWAC pitcher of the week.
Prairie View's softball team was 14-0, (7-0 conference) as of Mar. 30. Texas Southern's Shelia Pena was the SWAC Batter of the Week, hitting .444 with eight hits and four RBIs. Shondalett Chatfiel of Alabama State was the pitcher of the week.
Houston, TX(OTW)-Texas Southern's women's long-jumper Yuan Hunt qualified provisionally for the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the Texas Southern relays last weekend. Hunt finished second with a personal best of 20'11-1/4.
Mary Onyali and Cheryl Dickey, two TSU Olympians participated in the event. Onyali, running with the Reebok Track club, won the 100 meter dash, and Dickey, running with Nike USA, set a meet record in the 100 meter high hurdles with a record time of 13.12.
Houston Westbury's Girl's high school team won the women's meet. O.D. Wyatt's Boys team won the men's high school meet.
22 Mar
Lorman, MS(OTW)-Alcorn State opens spring football practice Monday under first-year head coach Johnny Thomas. New assistant coaches at Alcorn will be offensive coordinator Roger Totten, offensive line coach Riley Murry, Jr., and defensive line coach Tyrone Jones. Defensive coordinator Mario Kirksey and defensive back coach Anthony Woolfolk return from last year's squad.
17 Mar
New Orleans(OTW)-Ex-Grambling football coaching great Eddie Robinson will be honored by the SWAC in a banquet to be held in New Orleans, Friday, March 20. Some of the attendants at the event will be NCAA executive director Cedric Dempsey, New York Yankee principal owner George Steinbrenner, SWAC commissioner James Frank, present Grambling head football coach Doug Williams, plus many more. The banquet will be held at the New Orleans Airport Hilton in Kenner, LA., and will start at 7 p.m. central time.
13 Mar
The Midwest:
Oklahoma City, OK(OTW)-Paul Pierce and Raef LaFrentz combined for 45 points and 20 rebounds as Kansas trounced Prairie View 110-52 in opening round action of the NCAA Tournament. Pierce had 25 points and LaFrentz had 20 points and 15 rebounds. Kansas set school tournament records for points, rebounds (68), and margin of victory (58 points). It was the second most lopsided victory margin-wise in NCAA tourney history.
Tamarron Sharpe scored 16 points for the outmanned Panthers. PV shot 23 percent from the field in the game.
It was the third straight year that a Historically Black College drew Kansas as an opening round opponent in the NCAA tourney. Last year, the Jayhawks beat Jackson State. The year before last, they beat South Carolina State.
13 Mar
The Midwest:
Lubbock, TX(OTW)-Alicia Thompson scored 39 points as Texas Tech beat Grambling 87-75 in opening round NCAA Women's Tournament action. Tech led by as many as 21 points in the second half, but saw Grambling cut the lead to 76-70 with just over three minutes to play in the game.
Demetrice Smith led Grambling 16 points.
The game was played on Tech's home court.
11 Mar
Prairie View, TX(OTW)-Prairie View guard Tamarron Sharpe comments on the past season:

"It's great to be a part of history, being on the first Prairie View team to win a SWAC Tournament title and go to the NCAA Tournament. My grandfather and father are both Prairie View graduates. They're happy and proud that we won the SWAC tournament and will be playing in the NCAA Tournament."

Prairie View is the second oldest public institution of higher education in Texas, second only to Texas A&M. The school has produced more African-American three-star generals than any other higher education institution in America. Prairie View is known as one of the nation's top producers of African-American engineers.
11 Mar
Three SWAC athletes have been selected to attend the 1998 NCAA Foundation Leadership Conference May 25-28 at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, FL. They are:
Tameka Parham and Marcus Taylor of Alcorn, and Marian L. Williams of Jackson State.
8 Mar
The NCAA Division I Tournament. All games times eastern standard:
Men:
Prairie View will play top-seeded Kansas in Oklahoma City Friday at 10:20 p.m. This is the second straight year that a SWAC team has drawn Kansas in the opening round.(time to be listed later).
Grambling's women will play at Texas Tech in opening round action Friday at 9:30 p.m.
7 Mar
Dallas, TX(OTW)-Prairie View came from 20 points down in the second half to beat Texas Southern 59-57, in the finals of the men's SWAC tournament. The Panthers automatically qualify for the NCAA Division I tournament, they're first trip in the school's history. Trailing 41-21 at the half, the Panthers (13-16) held TSU scoreless for the first seven minutes of the second half, while going on a 20-6 run. PV's King Whetstone tied the score with a free throw with 1:47 left in the game. Kevin Bell gave the Panthers the a 56-54 lead at the one minute mark. They never trailed after that.
Tamarron Sharpe led Prairie View with 18 points.
Russell Evans topped TSU in scoring with 14 points.
Even though it was a history making evening, this will be the second straight year that the regular season conference champion will not be rewarded. It will also be the second consecutive year that a team with a losing record will represent the SWAC men's squad in the NCAA tournament.
In women's action, Grambling defeated Jackson State 63-54 to win the women's tourney title and earn an automatic bid to the NCAA tourney.
6 Mar
Dallas, TX(OTW)-Tamarron Sharpe scored 31 points (11-16 FG from field in the game) as Prairie View beat Alabama State 65-61. The Panthers will advance to the finals against Texas Southern on Saturday.
Terrance Simmons scored 17 for the Hornets.
Dallas, TX(OTW)-Randy Bolden scored 14 points as Texas Southern edged Grambling 48-45 in men's semi-final action. TSU will play Prairie View in an all-Texas final Saturday.
Kenneth Haynes scored 19 points for Grambling.
5 Mar
Dallas, TX(OTW)-Kevin Bell, a 6-6 senior from Las Vegas, NV, fired in 20 points, as Prairie View fired up second-seeded Jackson State 60-58, in SWAC quarterfinal tournament action. PV, seeded seventh, won the game despite being outrebounded 44-25. It was the first time the Panthers have advanced in the SWAC tourney since 1986.
Trent Pulliam scored 12 points for Jackson State.
Dallas, TX(OTW)-Jasuan Moncrief scored 22 points as Alabama State ran over Southern 82-59 in SWAC quarterfinal tournament action. ASU shot 61 percent from the field for the game. The Hornets will play Prairie View in semi-final action Friday.
Adarrial Smylie scored 17 points for the Jaguars.
Dallas, TX(OTW)-Thomas Dodd had 24 points and 10 rebounds as Grambling edged Alcorn 74-73 in SWAC quarterfinal tournament action.
Brian Adams scored 14 points for the Braves.
In the nightcap, top-seeded Texas Southern eased by Mississippi Valley 72-57.
Randy Bolden scored 30 points for TSU, which will play Grambling in the semi-finals Friday.
Valley's Kenyon Ross closed out a brilliant career with 24 points and 13 rebounds.
28 Feb
Houston, TX(OTW)-Prairie View shot 64 percent in the second-half enroute to a 95-72 mauling of SWAC regular season champ Texas Southern. PV led by as many as 31 points on two occasions in the second half. The Panthers were led by Tamarron Sharpe, who scored 25 points in the game.
Randy Bolden scored 14 points for the winners.
Texas Southern will be the number one seeded men's team going into the SWAC tourney in Dallas starting Thursday, March 5. They will play eight-seeded Mississippi Valley.
Lorman, MS(OTW)-Karl Jones scored 21 points as Alcorn beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff 84-73.
Fred Luckett scored 18 points for UAPB.
Women's action in the SWAC tourney will begin on Wednesday, March 4th.
21 Feb
Lorman, MS(OTW)-Grambling State's women totaled 4,217 points, winning the first SWAC women's bowling championship. The Lady Tigers finished the season undefeated at 9-0.

"We're very proud of our young ladies for the hard work they put forth both in the tournament and during the regular season. It means a lot to the team, to Grambling State University, and to our community to win the inaugural SWAC bowling championship. We hope our success continues in the future."--Grambling head coach Barbara Lewis."

Grambling's Lashawn Moore and Richella Whitfield led the five woman all-tournament team with pin averages of 164.25 and 162.00 respectively.
Tamika Parham of Alcorn State, Bertha Grimes of Mississippi Valley, and Tiffany Reeder of Prairie View rounded out the all-tournament team.
26 Feb
Southern lost a non-conference game at McNeese State 77-74. Dionte Harvey scored 18 for Southern in a losing effort.
23 Feb
Houston, TX(OTW)-Texas Southern(13-14, 12-3) clinched the regular season SWAC title with a 101-83 thumping of Alcorn State. Randy Bolden and Leland Redmond led five Tigers in double figures, scoring 15 points each. TSU led by as many as 25 points in the game at 44-19 in the first half.
Karl Jones scored 21 points for Alcorn. (13-14, 7-8)
Prairie View, TX(OTW)-Tamarron Sharpe scored 23 points as Prairie dumped struggling Southern.
Dionte Harvey scored a game-high 27 points for Southern.
Montgomery, AL(OTW)-Corey Williams scored 23 points as Alabama State dumped Mississippi Valley 93-82. the Hornets shot 56 percent from the floor.
Cedric Foster scored 24 for MVSU.
In other SWAC action, Jackson State upended Grambling 79-72.
Mississippi Valley receives Conditional Division I Certification status by the NCAA:
Mississippi Valley State University received a designation of certified with conditions. Before Mississippi Valley can be considered for full certification, the institution will have to delineate further its gender-equity plan beyond its stated goals, with specific attention to resource allocation. A revised gender-equity plan must be submitted that includes (at a minimum) the following elements: (a) intended end results, (b) individuals or offices that will be responsible for taking specific actions, and (c) the specific timetables for completing the work. Additionally, Mississippi Valley must develop a comprehensive, written institutional plan to ensure that adequate resources are available to implement the initiatives outlined in the university's revised gender-equity plan.
A designation of certified with conditions means that a college or university generally operates its athletics program in substantial conformity with the Division I operating principles but problems were identified that were serious enough that full certification is withheld until those problems have been resolved.
The above was a statement issued by the NCAA on Mississippi Valley's athletic program. All 308 Division 1 institutions will have to certify in the next five years.
21 Feb
Houston, TX(OTW)-Texas Southern clinched at least a tie for first place in the SWAC, edging Southern, 85-82. TSU led by as many as 17 points (60-43) in the second half, but Southern cut the lead to two (84-82) with 11 seconds left on a four-point play by Jackie Mitchell. LeLand Redmond made a free throw, and Southern's Devan Clark turned the ball over with five seconds left, as the Tigers hung on. Six Texas Southern players scored in double figures with Randy Bolden and Redmond leading the way with 17 each.
Dionte Harvey scored 32 points for the Jaguars (14-10).
TSU (11-14, 11-3) can win the SWAC title with a victory over Alcorn Monday night.
Montgomery, AL(OTW)-Chris Thomas scored 15 points to lead an improving Grambling squad by Alabama State 69-52. The G-Men shot 57 percent from the field in the game.
Corey Williams scored 17 for ASU.
In other SWAC action, Alcorn beat Prairie View 72-63.
18 Feb
Grambling, LA(OTW)-Jarod Mix scored 16 points as Grambling edged Arkansas-Pine Bluff 71-70.
Patrick Chambers and Terrence Duncan scored 19 each for UAPB.
Lorman, MS(OTW)-The Alcorn Relays will be held March 7, at the Henderson Track and Field stadium. 27 Mississippi and Louisiana high schools will participate in the event. Colleges participating will be Alcorn, Alabama State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Grambling, Jackson State, Mississippi Valley State, Prairie View, Southern, Texas Southern, and Hinds(MS)Community College.
16 Feb
Jackson, MS(OTW)-DeCarto Draper scored 22 points as Jackson State knocked off Southern 98-95 in overtime. It was the second straight loss for Southern. Adarrial Smylie led the Jaguars with 27 points and 10 rebounds.
Itta Bena, MS(OTW)-Cedric Foster pumped in 26 points as Mississippi Valley ambushed Texas Southern 79-70. Ifey Anyanwu had 16 points and 10 rebounds for TSU.
Grambling, LA(OTW)-Craig Thomas had 17 points and 13 rebounds as Grambling knocked off Prairie View 76-73. Tamarron Sharpe had 22 tallies for PV.
Montgomery, AL(OTW)-Terrance Simmons scored 18 points and added 13 rebounds as Alabama State whipped Alcorn 73-54.
Ronnie Jackson scored 13 points for Alcorn.
14 Feb
Montgomery, AL(OTW)-Jasuan Moncrief and Terrance Simmons scored 14 points each as Alabama State shocked Southern 78-68. Adarrial Smylie scored 18 for Southern.
Grambling, LA(OTW)-Thomas Dodd, a 6-10 center, had 19 points as Grambling upset Texas Southern 76-74. TSU's Russell Evans scored 22 points.
Itta Bena, MS(OTW)-Cedric Foster poured in 35 points as Mississippi Valley State whipped Prairie View 79-72.
Saladin Bilodeau had 22 tallies for PV.
Jackson, MS(OTW)-Michael Hall scored 17 as Jackson State avenged an earlier loss to Alcorn, winning 73-60.
Orko Guyton had 14 for Alcorn.
Both Southern and Texas Southern remained virtually tied for first in the SWAC.
12 Feb
Prairie View, TX(OTW)-Saladin Bilodeau scored 17 points as Prairie View upended Arkansas-Pine Bluff 78-66.
Terrence Duncan, a 6-7 swingman from UAPB, led all scorers with 22 points.
12 Feb
Lorman, MS(OTW)-Alcorn State will host the inaugural SWAC Women's Bowling Championships Feb. 20-21. The championships consists of the two top teams from the Eastern and Western Division. The Lady Braves won the right to host the championships by posting an 8-0 overall and conference record. Mississippi Valley (8-2, 6-2) placed second in the East. Grambling (first) and Prairie View (second) will represent the West. Grambling will play Valley and Alcorn will play Prairie View Friday (Feb 20). The two winners will meet for the crown on Saturday.
"Our ladies bowled great all season," said Alcorn head coach Anthony Woolfolk. "We are excited about hosting because it is on the lanes that we play our home matches on. Latosha Hill, of Jackson, MS., has been our leader this season with a 180 average, and we hope to continue winning."
11 Feb
Houston, TX(OTW)-Texas Southern (11-12, 10-1) took dead aim on the SWAC regular season title, beating Arkansas-Pine Bluff 89-62, and winning its fifth straight game. It is the longest winning streak at TSU since 1995. Russell Evans led the winners with 18 points.
Fred Luckett scored 18 for UAPB (3-19, 2-10).
9 Feb
Baton Rouge, LA(OTW)-Ronnell Williams scored 27 points as Southern trounced Mississippi Valley 108-69.
Cedric Foster scored 17 for the Delta Devils.
Southern now finishes the season with its last five games on the road.
Houston, TX(OTW)-Texas Southern beat Alabama State 75-65 to remain in a first place tie with Southern. Randy Bolden scored 34 points for TSU.
Jasuan Moncrief had 18 markers for ASU.
Prairie View, TX(OTW)-Forward Kevin Bell had 19 points and 11 rebounds as the Panthers whipped slumping Jackson State 75-65.
Trent Pulliam scored 16 points for the Tigers.
Lorman, MS(OTW)-Reuben Stiff had 18 points, eight assists, and six steals as Alcorn whacked Grambling 87-74.
Chris Thomas had 18 points for Grambling.
7 Feb
Houston, TX(OTW)-Randy Bolden scored 16 points, as Texas Southern dealt a near fatal blow to Jackson State's regular season's title hopes, winning 73-71. Leland Redmond had 11 assists for TSU.
Trent Pulliam scored 17 points for the losers.
Prairie View, TX(OTW)-Kevin Bell scored 15 points as Prairie View edged Alabama State 62-60.
Terrance Simmons had 15 markers for the Hornets.
Lorman, MS(OTW)-Karl Jones scored 15 points as Alcorn edged Mississippi Valley State 79-76.
Cedric Foster scored 24 points for MVSU. Kenyon Ross scored 15 points with 10 rebounds for the Delta Devils.
In other SWAC action Southern kept pace with Texas Southern by upending Grambling 104-70.
5 Feb
Prairie View, TX(OTW)-Tamarron Sharpe scored 24 points(11-13 field goals for the game)as Prairie View whacked Wiley 107-87.
4 Feb
Greensboro, NC(OTW)-Dionte Harvey scored 22 points as Southern beat UNC-Greensboro 93-79. The Jaguars shot 58 percent from the field in the game.
Pine Bluff, AR(OTW)-Kenneth Haynes scored 21 points as Grambling defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff 77-66. Patrick Chamber scored 21 points for UAPB
2 Feb
Pine Bluff, AR(OTW)-Cedric Foster checked in with 33 points as Mississippi Valley whipped Arkansas-Pine Bluff 85-75. Kenyon Ross had 18 points and 15 rebounds for the winners. Damon Horton and Marcus Swygart scored 15 points each for UAPB.
31 Jan
Prairie View, TX(OTW)-Leland Redmond scored 25 points as Texas Southern defeats Prairie View 82-74 in overtime. Tamarron Sharp scored 17 for PV.
Baton Rouge, LA(OTW)-Dionte Harvey scored 30 points as Southern decked Alcorn 91-74. Both Southern and Texas Southern remained in a virtual tie for first place. Reuben Stiff scored 20 for Alcorn.
Montgomery, AL(OTW)-Roy Dixon scored 23 points as Jackson State 62-55. Terrance Simmons had 19 points for the Hornets.
Grambling, LA(OTW)-Mark Meredith scored 25 points as Grambling edged Mississippi Valley 86-81. Kenyon Ross scored 22 for the losers.
13 Dec 97
Bloomington, IN(OTW)-Wisconsin-Green Bay shoots 56 percent from the floor for the game as they whip Alcorn 80-62. Reuben Stiff led the Braves with 13 points.This was the consolation game in the Indiana University tournament.
Montgomery, AL(OTW)-Terrance Simmonsscored 14 points as Alabama State edged Auburn-Montgomery 68-66.
Syracuse, NY(OTW)-Guard Donnie Carr scored 27 points as LaSalle edged Texas Southern in the consolation game of the Syracuse tournament. Randy Bolden scored 24 points for TSU.
Fort Worth, TX(OTW-Lonnie Cooper scored 32 points as Lousiana Tech got by Mississippi Valley 83-65 in the consolation round of the TCU basketball tournament. Kenyon Ross scored 14 for the losers.