SWAC Preview: 2017 Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils

Courtesy HBCU Sports

Courtesy: HBCU Sports View Photo

Football Preview: Mississippi Valley State

Courtesy SWAC.org

Thu, August 24, 2017

With less than a week before the first game of the 2017 Division I college football season, the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) will be releasing team previews for all 10 SWAC schools each business day for the next couple weeks in the lead up to the kickoff opener between Texas Southern at Florida A&M on Saturday, August 26 at 11 a.m.scheduled be to broadcast on ESPNU. 

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Mississippi Valley State head football coach Rick Comegy isn’t shying away from a road-heavy start to the season against battle-tested teams from around the nation.
The Delta Devils (1-10 overall, 1-8 SWAC in 2016) will open with five of their first six games on the road away from the friendly confines of Itta Bena, Miss. and mixes in some challenging non-conference opponents including a huge test at FCS national powerhouse No. 2 ranked North Dakota State in the season opener on Sept. 2 that will be aired on ESPN3.
“They’re a good football team,” Comegy said. “There’s no doubt about it.  The only thing that we can do is try this thing out and see if our formula works because I know they’ve got a great formula.  But, I want to see if our formula works rather than having to prepare for what they’re doing all the time.”
The schedule continues with a trip to Southern Illinois of the Missouri Valley Conference in week two and then will host the defending SWAC Champions and Celebration Bowl winners Grambling State (ranked #21) in week four.
“That’s the way the schedule is,” Comegy added. “The only thing that I can say right now is we got to get our kids prepared to play football.  And, if we can prepare our kids correctly, then we’ll be alright.  Hard work is the only way that I can answer that.”
In 2016, the Delta Devils ranked ninth in scoring offense with 14.0 points per game, was 10th in total offense (245.3 yards per game), and finished 10th in rushing offense by running for 25.0 yards per contest.  The Delta Devils passing offense was more toward the middle of the pack with 220.3 passing yards per game (fifth in the SWAC).
New quarterbacks have entered the fray at Mississippi Valley State and there could be open competition between transfer Jett Even, senior James Crosby, and freshmen Dewayne Betts and Christopher Fowler.
Running back will be a position of note as the Delta Devils will look to find a dependable option to take some pressure off their new quarterback.  Charlie Crenshaw, Stavonski Wilkes, Kyuntrae Bell and Tyler Brewer could all share that responsibility.  None received more than 32 carries a season ago (Crenshaw).
The offense should also be aided by senior offensive lineman and All-SWAC Preseason Second Team selection Alvin Solomon, who offers some size and skill up front at 6-2 and 305 pounds.
Lining up at receiver will be returning senior Jesse Bryant, who averaged 19.4 yards per catch in 2016.  But again, there will be plenty of opportunities for others to step into a larger role with the departure of top receiver Joshua Banks, who led the team with 48 receptions for 652 yards and five touchdowns.
Mississippi Valley State will have work as a whole in improve in all areas, but should key in on the turnover battle as a way to alleviate some of their troubles.  The Delta Devils were a conference-worst minus 11 in that category as the team forced 20 turnovers, but turned it over on 31 occasions in 2016.
Last season, Mississippi Valley State ranked 10th in scoring defense (45.8 points allowed per game), eighth in total defense (446.1 yards allowed per game), eighth in rushing defense (200.7 yards allowed per game) and eighth in passing defense (245.4 yards allowed per game).
The Delta Devils defense will have to improve their red zone defense as the team allowed opposing teams to score a league-high 37 touchdowns in that situation and tied for the worst red zone defense as it allowed teams to come away with points 89.6 percent of the time. 
The secondary has the potential to be a strength of the team.
Senior defensive back Everett Nicholas leads the Mississippi Valley State defense as he is coming off a season in which he totaled 24 tackles and four interceptions.  Additionally, Mark Pegues shifts to the defensive back position after recording a returning team-high with 63 tackles.
The Delta Devils had two players in all named to the All-SWAC Preseason Team including one First Team selections in defensive back Everett Nicholas and one on Second Team in offensive lineman Alvin Solomon.

Head coach: Rick Comegy; Record at Mississippi Valley State 4-29 (fourth year); Overall 177-115-2 (27th year).

2016 record and finish: 1-10 overall, 1-8 SWAC (fifth in the SWAC East Division)

Returning statistical leaders
Passing: Will Dean (8-of-15, 30 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INTs)
Rushing: Charlie Crenshaw (32 carries, 62 yards, 0 TDs)
Receiving: Jesse Bryant (17 receptions, 194 yards, 2 TDs)
Tackles: Mark Pegues (63)
Sacks: Willie Clay (three)
Interceptions: Everett Nicholas (four)
Potential game breaker: Nicholas.  The redshirt junior ranked in the top 20 in the conference in both interceptions (tied for second with four) and also ranked 17th in passes defended with seven to his credit.  With Pegues shifting to assist him in the secondary, the Atlanta, Ga. native has an opportunity to make even more plays in 2017.
2017 schedule
Sat, Sept. 2 @ North Dakota State, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN3)
Sat, Sept. 9 @ Southern Illinois, 6 p.m.
Sat, Sept. 16 Open
Sat, Sept. 23 Grambling State, 6 p.m.
Sat, Sept. 30 @ Charleston Southern, 6 p.m.   
Sat, Oct. 7 @ Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 6 p.m. 
Sat, Oct. 14 @ Alabama A&M, 3 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 21 Virginia Lynchburg, 2 p.m. (Homecoming)
Sat, Oct. 28 Jackson State, 2 p.m.
Sat, Nov. 4 Texas Southern, 1 p.m.
Sat, Nov. 11 @ Alcorn State, 2 p.m.
Sat, Nov. 18 Alabama State, 1 p.m.

SWAC Football team preview schedule 

Monday, August 14: Alabama A&M

Tuesday, August 15: Texas Southern

Wednesday, August 16: Alabama State

Thursday, August 17: Southern

Friday, August 18: Alcorn State

Monday, August 21: Prairie View A&M

Tuesday, August 22: Jackson State

Wednesday, August 23: Grambling State

Thursday, August 24: Mississippi Valley State

Friday, August 25: Arkansas-Pine Bluff 

SWAC Preview: 2017 Grambling State Tigers

Courtesy Chris Jones / Chris Jones Photography

Courtesy: Chris Jones / Chris Jones Photography View Photo

Football Preview: Grambling State

Courtesy Elizabeth Conley

Wed, August 23, 2017

With less than two weeks before the first game of the 2017 Division I college football season, the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) will be releasing team previews for all 10 SWAC schools each business day for the next couple weeks in the lead up to the kickoff opener between Texas Southern at Florida A&M on Saturday, August 26 at 11 a.m.scheduled be to broadcast on ESPNU.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – On the heels of a largely dominant 2016 campaign that saw Grambling State take its place atop the HBCU football mountain once again, the Tigers head into 2017 as the team to beat in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

The Tigers were a sparkling 11-1 (9-0 SWAC) in 2016, claiming the SWAC football title and a Celebration Bowl victory. Coach Broderick Fobbs’ unit does lose impact players, but for the most part there are enough returning standouts to where the G-men’s talent level is good enough for a title defense.

Starting in the backfield, reigning SWAC Offensive Player of the Year Devante Kincade will again lead the offense at quarterback. Kincade was one of the most efficient signal-callers in the nation last year, throwing for 3,022 yards with a stunning 31 touchdowns to just four picks. Alongside him at running back is perhaps the premier all-purpose weapon in the league in Martez Carter.

With Jestin Kelly having graduated, Carter – who has bulked up compared to last season – stands to be leaned on even more to power the lion’s share of the running game with Lyndemian Brooks offering some pop as well. That said, expect Carter to make an impact all over the place, as he accounted for 1892 total yards (876 rush, 625 return, 376 receiving) and 14 scores on 184 total chances in 2016, good for a first-down-per-touch average.

Grambling State does have fellow lineman William Waddell returning up front, but all-conference performer Trent Scott – who was set to return – may be lost for the season due to injury, so there are four spots still left to sort out.

Jordan Jones remains in place as the top tight end on the team. Along with that, wide receiver is a potential area of concern as nearly 75 percent of Kincade’s yardage and touchdown totals left with the graduation of Arizona Cardinal Chad Williams and Verlan Hunter among others. DeVohn Lindsey projects as the top weapon out wide, but the preseason second-team All-SWAC pick as well as names like Darrell Clark must come along quickly as Grambling looks to remain as potent offensively as they were last season.

Defensively, the Tigers’ strength appears to lie in the back seven as the graduation of 2016 SWAC Defensive Player of the Year Donovan McCray as well as Blain Winston and All-SWAC players Arkez Cooper and Samuel Reese leaves questions up front. Led by Preseason First-Teamer De’Arius Christmas, most of the linebacker corps returns, and the majority of the secondary is also set to return, though it must proceed ahead with All-SWAC defenders Guy Stallworth and Jameel Jackson (graduation)

Head coach: Broderick Fobbs; Record at GSU 28-8 (fourth year); Overall 28-9 (fourth year).

2016 record and finish: 11-1 overall, 9-0 SWAC (Won SWAC West Division, SWAC Championship and Celebration Bowl 

Returning statistical leadersPassing: Devante Kincade (218-of-341, 3022 yards, 31 TD, 4 INT)
Rushing: Martez Carter (116 carries, 891 yards, 10 TDs)
Receiving: Martez Carter (28 receptions, 376 yards, 3 TDs)
Tackles: De’Arius Christmas (69)
Sacks: Deontae Hatter (4.5)
Interceptions: Deaumante Johnson (3)

Potential game breaker: The Defensive Line. On paper, this area has the most to replace from 2016, but reports from training camp indicates that the new faces up front are more than ready to answer the bell, as the D-line is stocked with size, length and athleticism and has looked unstoppable at times in team scrimmages. If this performance carries over into the season, the Tigers’ defense may be better than it was last season and could intermittently carry the team as a potentially explosive offense continues to come together in the early goings of the 2017 slate.

2017 scheduleSat, Sept. 2 @ Tulane 7:00 PM (ESPN3)
Sat, Sept. 9 vs. Northwestern State 6:00 PM
Sat, Sept. 16 vs. Jackson State 6:00 PM
Sat, Sept. 23 @ Mississippi Valley State 6:00 PM Sat, Sept. 30 vs. Clark Atlanta 3:30 PM (Chicago Football Classic in Chicago, Ill.)
Sat, Oct. 7 vs. Prairie View A&M 4:00 PM (State Fair Classic in Dallas, Texas)
Sat, Oct. 21 vs. Alcorn State 2:00 PM
Sat, Oct. 28 vs. Texas Southern 2:00 PM (Homecoming)
Sat, Nov. 4 @ Arkansas-Pine Bluff 2:30 PM
Sat, Nov. 11 @ Alabama State 2:00 PM
Sat, Nov. 25 vs. Southern 4:30 PM (Bayou Classic in New Orleans, La. on NBCSN)

SWAC Football team preview scheduleMonday, August 14: Alabama A&M
Tuesday, August 15: Texas Southern
Wednesday, August 16: Alabama State
Thursday, August 17: Southern
Friday, August 18: Alcorn State
Monday, August 21: Prairie View A&M
Tuesday, August 22: Jackson State
Wednesday, August 23: Grambling StateThursday, August 24: Mississippi Valley State
Friday, August 25: Arkansas-Pine Bluff 

SWAC Preview: 2017 Alabama A&M Bulldogs

Courtesy Sidney Jackson / Alabama A&M

Courtesy: Sidney Jackson / Alabama A&M View Photo

Football Preview: Alabama A&M

Courtesy SWAC.org

Mon, August 14, 2017

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. –  Alabama A&M head football coach James Spady said during the 2017 SWAC Media Day that he loves everything about his football team.
Alabama A&M appeared to be heading into a positive direction as it produced a one-game improvement from a season ago (4-7 overall, 4-5 SWAC) with a second-place finish in the SWAC Eastern Division in 2016.
Now, the Bulldogs return their entire starting offensive line along with a top running back in the conference and signs from their spring games that they may be able to take the next step forward this upcoming season.
“I wanted to see great effort and we got that on both sides of the ball,” coach Spady said.
“Our defense did dominate us offensively, but there were some things that the offense did that I was fired up about.  We converted more third downs than we had.  We grew as an offensive unit in getting the ball to our different weapons and so it was a successful spring.”
Freshman of the Year running back Jordan Bentley looks to build upon his impressive first season where the All-SWAC First Team Preseason selection rushed for 851 yards on 159 carries (5.4 rushing yards per carry) with nine touchdowns. The six-foot, 200-pound back from Guntersville, Ala. was strong enough to finish with the fourth most rushing yards per contest in the conference with 77.4 yards per contest. Among returning players for the 2017 campaign, Bentley holds the second most rushing yards (only behind 2016 SWAC Championship Game Offensive MVP Martez Carter of Grambling State).
As far as the Bulldogs’ offense as a whole, it showed a slight uptick in production, producing 23.8 points per game (good for sixth in the conference).  Alabama A&M ranked ninth in passing offense (188.6 yards per game), fifth in rushing (178.8 ypg), and was sixth in total offense (367.5 ypg).
The Bulldogs will have to look to a new signal caller this season with the departure of De’Angelo Ballard.  Quarterbacks on the roster who could step into that starting role include redshirt junior Damion May, freshman Aqeel Glass and redshirt freshman Dylan Smith.
A key for the Alabama A&M defense in 2017 will be to get more pressure on opposing quarterbacks as no individual Bulldog player ranked inside the top 20 in sacks and the team totaled a league-low nine sacks.
Leading the Bulldogs defense will be senior linebacker Kenneth Davis, who ranked second in the conference in tackles with 98 and had 10.5 tackles for a loss.
In 2016, Alabama A&M ranked eighth in scoring defense (allowed 38.7 points per game), ninth in total defense (460.7 yards allowed per game), 10th in rushing defense (238.8 yards allowed per game) and fourth in passing defense (221.9 yards allowed per game).
The Bulldogs had five players named to the All-SWAC Preseason Team including four First Team selections.  It’s the most in Spady’s tenure.  Bentley (RB), Davis (LB), Tere Calloway (DB), Nick Carden (K) were named as First Teamers while OL Austin Simmons made the Second Team.
Head coach: James Spady (Record at A&M 11-23 (fourth year); Overall 11-23 (fourth year).
2016 record and finish: 4-7 overall, 4-5 SWAC (second in the SWAC East Division)
Returning statistical leaders
Passing: Damion May (1-of-3, 12 yards, 0 TDs, 1 Int)
Rushing: Bentley (159 carries, 851 yards, 9 TDs)
Receiving: Ledarion Heath (22 receptions, 247 yards, 0 TDs)
Tackles: Davis (98)
Sacks: Yurik Bethune, Davis (two apiece)
Interceptions: Calloway (two)
Potential game breaker: R-So Marceles Clash.  The 6-1, 170-pound wide receiver from Altadena, Calif. showed promise this spring and has Bulldogs coaching staff excited for what he may be able to do to alleviate the loss of departing WR Tevin McKenzie, who ranked ninth in the SWAC in receptions (50 catches), fifth in receptions per game (4.5) and totaled 529 receiving yards.
2017 schedule
Sat, Sept. 2 @ UAB 2:30 p.m.
Sat, Sept. 9 @ Vanderbilt 3 p.m.
Sat, Sept. 16 @ South Alabama 6 p.m.
Sat, Sept. 23 Texas Southern 6 p.m. (Louis Crews Classic)
Sat, Sept. 30 Arkansas Pine-Bluff 2 p.m. (Homecoming)
Sat, Oct. 7 @ Southern 6 p.m.
Sat, Oct. 14 Miss. Valley State 2 p.m.
Sat, Oct. 28 Alabama State TBA (Magic City Classic in Birmingham, Ala.)
Sat, Nov. 4 @ Alcorn State 1 p.m.
Sat, Nov. 11 Jackson State 1 p.m.
Sat, Nov. 18 Kentucky State 1 p.m.

SWAC Football team preview schedule

Monday, August 14: Alabama A&M

Tuesday, August 15: Texas Southern

Wednesday, August 16: Alabama State

Thursday, August 17: Southern

Friday, August 18: Alcorn State

Monday, August 21: Prairie View A&M

Tuesday, August 22: Jackson State

Wednesday, August 23: Grambling State

Thursday, August 24: Mississippi Valley State

Friday, August 25: Arkansas-Pine Bluff

MEAC ANNOUNCES MEN AND WOMEN CROSS COUNTRY ACADEMIC HONORS

MEAC ANNOUNCES MEN担 AND WOMEN担 CROSS COUNTRY ACADEMIC HONORS

Courtesy MEAC Media Relations

Thu, October 27, 2016

Courtesy MEAC Media Relations

NORFOLK, Va. — The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) announced today the 2016 Men’s and Women’s Cross Country All-Academic team, including 84 student-athletes who achieved academic success during the 2015-16 school year. The MEAC recognizes student-athletes with a 3.0 or better cumulative grade point average, including sophomores, juniors and seniors, as well as transfer student-athletes, who have been in residence at the institution for at least one year.
“I commend our men’s and women’s cross country student-athletes for maintaining a 3.0 or better grade point average,” said MEAC Commissioner Dennis E. Thomas. “I would also like to acknowledge the academic support staff, faculty, parents and coaches who have contributed to the academic success of these student-athletes.”
Listed below are the 2016 Men’s and Women’s Cross Country All-Academic honorees (by institution):

Bethune-Cookman (9)

Aisha Bowen

Deja Davis

Celina Forte

Alexus Harris

Paije Johnson

Nyajock Pan

Briana Pollock

Nia Ruth

Daniel Kipto

Delaware State (3)

Lauren Woods

Tiffany Woods

Seth Danjoint

Howard (18)

Joppa Banks

Hanah Billups

Aigner Bobbitt

Karen Bolouvi

Simone Counts

Ashley Hale

Jade Hardy

Jasmine Hardy

Mohammad Bah

Kenneth Chigbue

Malik Dennis

Landrie Hatcher

Enyioha Ike-Amaechi

Kahe Kaye

Basil Niccolls

Walter Peacock

Olujimi Scott

Dwight Thomas

Maryland Eastern Shore (7)

Derrick Cheruiyot

Stanley Meli

Khalil Rmidi Kinini

Lenneisha Gilbert

Rachel Halmon

Jennaya Hield

Dypna Umunake

Morgan State (3)

Rachel Bauer

Jada Boyd

Karen Escobedo

Norfolk State (13)

Tasia Baxter

Melisande Corlett

Brianna Hayes

Courtney Kearse

Te’Shaibrah Myles

Shameka Price-Cleare

Jessica Toliver

Devon Booker

Michael-Thomas Brown

Haileyesus Demsie

Thomas Fantaye

Da’Trail Hockaday

Joseph Wanene

North Carolina A&T State (4)

Steve Stowe

Imani Coleman

Miranda Green

Kennedy Thorne

North Carolina Central (17)

Gregory Coward

Victor Dunbar

Timothy Edelen

Malik Hooks

Deandre James

Joseph Osewe

Isaac Roberts

Phillip Robinson-Hayes

Justin Trotman

Jonathan Williams

Maysha Bryant

Natalyia Dunlap

Starbesha Satterwhite

Kiana Seabrook

Jaleesa Smoot

Markiara Staten

Bethany White

Savannah State (5)

Randolph Barrett

Donterious Copeland

Kenneth Nealy

Michael Smith

Elijah West

South Carolina State (5)

Michael Stackhouse

James Williams

Luiza Duarte

Marketa Marcanikova

Claudia Roca

HOWARD PICKED TO WIN MEAC MEN'S BASKETBALL TITLE

Courtesy MEAC Media Relations

Thu, October 27, 2016

Courtesy MEAC Media Relations

Howard senior James Daniel, IIIwas selected Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Men’s Basketball Preseason Player of the Year, the conference announced today.Howard was predicted to win the regular season title.

The preseason poll and all-conference teams are selected by the conference’s head women’s basketball coaches and sports information directors.

Daniel, the 2016 MEAC Player of the Year, led the nation in scoring, averaging 27.1 points per game, and ranked first in the nation in free-throws made (280) for the Bison last season. A six-time MEAC Player of the Week, Daniel recorded nine 30-point games, including a career-high 39 points in the win against William & Mary. He was also named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches 2015-16 Division I All-District First Team. He currently ranks 10^th all-time in scoring amongst MEAC players and needs 377 points to surpass Delaware State’s Tom Davis (1987-91) as the all-time leading scorer. His 21.5 points per game career scoring average ranks second

Howard earned 13 first-place votes and 286 points to be named as favorites for the regular season title. The Bison were 6-10 in conference play and 12-20 overall last year. Howard opens its season on Nov. 11 in Ann Arbor, Mich. against the University of Michigan.

Under the guidance of head coach Kevin Nickelberry, the Bison enter the season with high expectations as it has been 30-plus years since the Bison entered as heavy favorites. During a stretch from 1975-87, the Bison captured three MEAC regular season championships and two MEAC Tournament titles. They also finished in third place or higher in 10 of those 11 seasons. The team’s last MEAC Regular Season and Tournament Championship both occurred in 1992.

In addition to the accolades, the team will also be featured throughout the season on ESPN’s The Undefeated beginning with a forum featuring NBA Hall-of-Famer Oscar Robertson and Howard’s James Daniel, III on Oct. 27 at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

South Carolina State was predicted to finish second with nine first-place votes and 292 points. The Bulldogs made it to the finals of last year’s MEAC Basketball Tournament before falling to Hampton. SCSU recorded a 19-15 overall record and a 12-4 mark in MEAC play.

Hampton, the 2015-16 MEAC Tournament and regular season champions, received two first-place votes and was predicted to finish third, while North Carolina Central was selected to finish fourth. Norfolk State received fifth place with Bethune-Cookman at sixth place. North Carolina A&T State (7^th), Maryland Eastern Shore (8^th), Morgan State (9^th), Coppin State (10^th), Savannah State (11^th), Delaware State (12^th) and Florida A&M (13^th) round out the 2016-17 preseason poll.

Joining Daniel on the preseason All-MEAC First Team is teammate Marcel Boyd, South Carolina State’s Eric Eaves, Bethune-Cookman’s Jordan Potts and North Carolina A&T State’s Sam Hunt.

The 2016-17 MEAC men’s basketball season tips off on Friday, Nov. 11 with 12 MEAC teams in non-conference action.

The 2017 MEAC Basketball Tournament is scheduled for March 6-11 at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Va.

2016-17 MEAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Predicted Order of Finish

As voted on by the MEAC’s head men’s basketball coaches and sports information directors.

(First place votes in parenthesis)

                                        Team                                                  Points
                                        1. Howard (14)                              299
                                        2. South Carolina State (9)              292
                                        3. Hampton (2)                             250
                                        4. North Carolina Central                 234
                                        5. Norfolk State                             203
                                        6. Bethune-Cookman                      182
                                        7. North Carolina A&T State             141
                                        8. Maryland Eastern Shore              140
                                        9. Morgan State                             136
                                        10. Coppin State                            123
                                        11. Savannah State                        121
                                        12. Delaware State                        104
                                        13. Florida A&M                             50

2016-17 MEAC Men’s Basketball Preseason All-MEAC Teams

As voted on by the MEAC’s head men’s basketball coaches and sports information directors.

Preseason Player of the Year: James Daniel, III, Howard
First Team

Name	School	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Cl.	Hometown
James Daniel, III	Howard	G/F	6-0	175	Sr.	Hampton, Va.
Eric Eaves	South Carolina State	G	6-3	195	Sr.	Columbia, S.C.
Jordan Potts	Bethune-Cookman	G	5-10	185	r-Sr.	Columbus, Ohio
Sam Hunt	North Carolina A&T	G	6-2	175	r-Jr.	Greensboro, N.C.
Marcel Boyd	Howard	G	6-10	230	Sr.	Accokeek, Md.

 Second Team

Name	School	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Cl.	Hometown
Patrick Cole	North Carolina Central	G	6-5	210	r-Sr.	Newark, N.J
Edward Stephens	South Carolina State	G	6-2	185	Jr.	Columbia, S.C.
Phillip Carr	Morgan State	F	6-8	200	Jr.	Brooklyn, N.Y.
Devin Morgan	Delaware State	G	5-10	180	So.	Chester, Va.
Bakari Copeland	Maryland Eastern Shore	F	6-6	235	Sr.	Decatur, Ga.

Third Team

Name	School	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Cl.	Hometown
Troyce Manassa	Savannah State	G	6-4	215	Sr.	Mobile, Ala.
Terry Harris, Jr.	Coppin State	F	6-8	205	Sr.	Baltimore, Md.
Jordan Butler	Norfolk State	F	6-6	240	Jr.	Hartford, Conn.
DeAndre Haywood	Delaware State	G	6-2	200	Sr.	Paterson, N.J.
Damon Collins	Howard	G/F	6-5	180	Sr.	Grand Prairie, Texas

Toyota SWAC Football Championship Events announced

The Southwestern Athletic Conference renewed its contract with NRG Stadium for three more years which means the 2016 SWAC Football Championship is set to return to Houston, Texas. The winner of the East and West Divisions will meet for Judgment Day Saturday, Dec. 3 at 3 p.m. CT. Last season, Alcorn State earned back-to-back championships after defeating Southern University in 2014 and Grambling State in 2015. There will be special events around the football championship weekend starting with its annual SWAC Hall of Fame reception Thursday, Dec. 1. On gameday, the annual SWAC Battle of the Bands, featuring performances from the respective division winners, culminates with Judgment Day at halftime.  Traci Steele and Big Tigger will serve as the official host.   Tickets range from $15 - $55 (plus applicable TM fees) and increase of $5 the day of game. The champion will earn the conference title and a chance to play in the annual Air Force Reserve Celebration BowlSaturday, Dec. 17 in Atlanta, Ga. About SWACFounded in 1920, the Southwestern Athletic Conference - made up of historically black colleges and universities - and its members are committed to the philosophy of maintaining intercollegiate athletics as an integral part of the overall educational program. The conference believes in and subscribes to the fundamental principles of amateurism, institutional control, sound academic standards, financial aid, recruiting, and ethical conduct that govern intercollegiate athletics, and the enforcement of rules and regulations as adopted by the NCAA. Sponsoring 18 sports, the SWAC ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of alumni playing with professional sports teams- particularly in football. Thursday, December 1      · SWAC Hall of Fame Reception 6:00 p.m. (Invitation Only) * Friday, December 2      · SWAC Football Championship Press Conference at NRG Stadium 10 a.m. (Media Members Only) * Saturday, December 3     · 2016 SWAC College Expo at NRG Stadium 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.       · 2016 Halftime Battle of the Bands       · 2016 Toyota SWAC Football Championship at NRG Stadium 3:00 p.m.

NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE PREDICTED TO WIN MEAC TITLE

Courtesy MEAC Media Relations

Thu, October 27, 2016

Courtesy MEAC Media Relations

NORFOLK, Va. — Hampton senior Malia Tate-DeFreitas was named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Women’s Basketball Preseason Player of the Year, the conference announced today. North Carolina A&T State was picked to win the regular season title.
The preseason poll and all-conference teams are selected by the conference’s head women’s basketball coaches and sports information directors.
Tate-DeFreitas led the conference in scoring last season, averaging 21.4 points for the Lady Pirates. She ranked seventh nationally in field-goal attempts and 16^th in points per game. Tate-DeFreitas recorded five 30-point games and notched a triple-double of 13 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists against Bethune-Cookman last year. She was also named the 2016 MEAC Player of the Year and BoxToRow’s Player of the Year.
North Carolina A&T State tallied 13 first-place votes and 317 points to earn the top spot. Last season, the Aggies earned a share of the MEAC regular season title with a 12-4 mark and an 19-12 overall record. Also, N.C. A&T State won the MEAC Women’s Basketball Tournament championship with a win over Coppin State. The Aggies open the season on November 11 in Statesboro, Ga. against Georgia Southern.
Bethune-Cookman, the 2016 regular season co-champion, was picked to finish second with 292 points and five first-place votes. The Lady Wildcats recorded an 18-13 overall record and a 12-4 mark in MEAC play.
Hampton (297) received four first-place votes and was predicted to finish third, while Maryland Eastern Shore (216) garnered two first-place votes and Morgan State (201) rounded out the top five preseason predictions.
Florida A&M was chosen to finish sixth, followed by Coppin State  (7^th), Savannah State (8^th), Howard (9^th), South Carolina State (10^th), Delaware State (11^th), Norfolk State (12^th) and North Carolina Central (13^th).
Joining Tate-DeFreitas on the Preseason All-MEAC First Team is Bethune-Cookman’s Kendra Cooper and Kailyn Williams, Maryland Eastern Shore’s Moengaroa Subritzky and Delaware State’s NaJai Pollard.
The 2016-17 MEAC women’s basketball season tips off on Friday, Nov. 11 with 12 MEAC teams in action.
The 2017 MEAC Basketball Tournament is scheduled for March 6-11 at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Va.

2016-17 MEAC Women’s Basketball Preseason Predicted Order of Finish

As voted on by the MEAC’s head women’s basketball coaches and sports information directors.

(First place votes in parenthesis)

Team	Points
1. North Carolina A&T State (13)	317
2. Bethune-Cookman (5)	305
3. Hampton (4)	297
4. Maryland Eastern Shore (2)	216
5. Morgan State	201
6. Florida A&M	174
7. Coppin State	171
8. Savannah State (2)	151
9. Howard	141
10. South Carolina State	131
11. Delaware State	124
12. Norfolk State	92
13. North Carolina Central	46

                 

2016-17 MEAC Women’s Basketball Preseason All-MEAC Teams

As voted on by the MEAC’s head women’s basketball coaches and sports information directors.

Preseason Player of the Year: Malia Tate-DeFreitas, Hampton

First Team

Name	Pos.	Cl.	School	Hometown
Malia Tate-DeFreitas	G	Sr.	Hampton	Harrisburg, Pa.
Kendra Cooper	G	Sr.	Bethune-Cookman	Spring, Texas
Moengaroa Subritzky	G/F	r-Jr.	Maryland Eastern Shore	Auckland, New Zealand
NaJai Pollard	F	So.	Delaware State	Richmond, Va.
Kailyn Williams	C	Sr.	Bethune-Cookman	New Orleans, La.

Second Team

Name	Pos.	Cl.	School	Hometown
Dana Brown	G	r-Sr.	North Carolina A&T State	Willow Springs, N.C.
Braennan Farrar	G	Jr.	Morgan State	St. Louis, Mo.
Kenyata Hendrix	G/F	Sr.	Savannah State	Carrollton, Ga.
Kayla Roberts	F	Jr.	Norfolk State	Miami, Fla.
Kaylah Lupoe	C	Jr.	Hampton	Phoenix, Ariz.

Third Team

Name	Pos.	Cl.	School	Hometown
Keena Samuels	G	Sr.	Coppin State	Upper Marlboro, Md.
K’Lynn Willis	G	So.	Hampton	Detroit, Mich.
Sydni Johnson	G/F	Sr.	Howard	Homewood, Ill.
Taylor Houston	F	Sr.	Bethune-Cookman	Raleigh, N.C.
Tiyonda Davis	C	Sr.	Savannah State	Athens, Ga.