Video of the Day: Mississippi Valley Vs. Alcorn State (Classic SWAC)

In 2013, it's universally recognized that Jerry Rice is the greatest reciever, if not player, of all-time. But back in 1984, he was just a college senior trying to move his way up NFL draft boards. Here we find a young Rice matched up against Alcorn State's Issiac Holt, who was one of the best defenders in all of college football and later matched up against Rice in the NFL.



Part I


Part II

Part III

Alabama A&M Names Former Lady Vol Head Coach

Though things ended roughly at her last coaching stop, Semeka Randall knows a thing or two about winning. Randall was a stand-out defensive player for the powerhouse Lady Vol women’s basketball program from 1998-2001.  She was a key member on the 1998 NCAA Championship team that went 39-0 and received Kodak and AP All American honors in 1999 and 2000. 

Randall will try to bring that winning attitude and tradition to Alabama A&M, where she was introduced as the new women's basketball coach by athletic director Brian Hicks today.

Semeka Randall named new #AAMU women's basketball coach | al.com al.com/sports/index.s… #THESWAC #HBCU
— Nick Birdsong (@birds_word) May 16, 2013

“I am very happy Semeka Randall is a Bulldog!” Hicks said.  “We expect her to set the tone for our women’s basketball program and take us to the next level.  President Hugine, Dr. Rolle, and the Board of Trustees have been very supportive in our pursuit of excellence in athletics.  This hire is further proof of that support.”

Randall's hire comes a little over two months after she was fired from her position as head coach at Ohio University. Randall was 50-112 during her five year stint as coach. 

Randall is a native of Cleveland, Ohio. She graduated from University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2000 with a degree in Speech Communication. 

After her college career, she played professionally with the Seattle Storm, Utah Starzz, and the San Antonio Silver Stars of the WNBA, in addition to playing internationally during the WNBA off season.

Randall began her coaching career in 2002 as an assistant with Cleveland State University.  By 2004, she was an assistant coach at Michigan State University, and helped the Spartans to the 2004 NCAA Championship game.  She also served as an assistant at West Virginia University from 2007-2008. 


It's not every day you get an apple from the Pat Summitt school of coaching. But Randall is coming off a 6-23 season with the Bobcats, so don't crown the Bulldog champs yet. Hopefully she will yield better results in her second chance as a head coach.

Starting Five: BSU's Jackson Heads MEAC Running Back Pack

As we prepare for the 2013 football season, we're taking a look at the best returning HBCU players at each position. Wednesday we reviewed the top running backs in the SWAC. Today, we check out the top running backs in the MEAC.

Isidore Jackson, Bethune-Cookman

While several players played key roles in Bethune-Cookman's 2012 MEAC championship, Jackson played arguably the most important role. The 5'11, 195 pound back anchored a rushing attack that ran for just under 3,000 yards. Jackson led the conference in rushing with 1,069 yards, and also tied for second with 11 rushing touchowns, including this gorgeous 93 yard run against North Carolina Central. With more than 600 yards separating him and the next leading returning rusher in the conference, Jackson heads into the season as the back to watch.

#FloridaClassic MVPs. Damien Flemming of #FAMU & #BCU RB Isidore Jackson instagr.am/p/SJ3Cici2bp/
— James Bennett (@JBennett863) November 18, 2012

*Bonus* Telvin Hooks, Tennessee State

Okay, so Tennessee State isn't in the MEAC but we can't forget about Telvin Hooks. Hooks had his carries limited due to playing behind 1,400 yard rusher Trabis Ward, but when he got the carries, he made the most of them. The Maitland, FL speedster averaged 5.7 yards per carry last season and should easily pass the 1,000 yard mark with Ward's departure. Hooks will start the season against Bethune-Cookman in the John Merrit Classic before returning to Florida to face FAMU.

Tennessee State Beats Arkansas-Pine Bluff 40-13: Telvin Hooks ran for two touchdowns to help T... bit.ly/W34W4n via @arksports360
— Feeding the Hogs (@FeedingHogs) September 30, 2012

Brendon Riddick, Norfolk State 

  

Riddick started off his redshirt freshman season with a bang, rushing for over 230 yards and four touchdowns. His performance against Liberty in Week Two (150 yards, 3 touchdowns) garnered him Freshman of The Week recognition by College Sports Journal. Unfortunately for Riddick and Norfolk State, those first two weeks would be the highlights for the season as injuries slowed him down while the team finished 2-7 in the final last games. The good news for Norfolk State is Riddick still has three season of eligibility left and should only get better.

Brendon Riddick making a name for himself quickly for #NSU football: www2.timesdispatch.com/sports/2012/se…
— NSU Athletics (@NSUSpartans) September 12, 2012

Andre Clarke, North Carolina Central

Clarke finished with the third most rushing attempts for NC Central last season, but he made a big impact. Clarke was particularly effective in back-to-back wins over Savannah State and SC State, rushing for nearly 200 yards and three touchdowns. Clarke finished with nine touchdowns on the year, despite carrying the ball just 68 times in just nine games as he missed the last three contests due to injury. Look for his production to increase with his carries in 2013, provided he can stay healthy.

Malcolm Williams, Delaware State

Malcolm Williams kind of got lost in the shuffle of Delaware State's prolific passing game last season. DSU lived largely by the pass, and quarterback Nick Elko and receiver Travis Tarpley received most of the attention, but Williams put together a solid year. Williams rushed for just under five yards per carry, and broke off several runs of 30-plus yards. With Elko gone and the quarterback situation still developing, look for DSU head coach Kermit Blount to turn Williams and the other running backs loose in 2013.

Aquanius Freeman, Howard

2012 was a resurgent year for Howard, and it was due in large part to the running game. Freeman's production was inconsistent, but at time spectacular. Over half of his 448 rushing yards came in a 13 carry, 212 yard game that included a 71 yard run and two touchdowns. While he didn't come close to putting up those totals again, he finished with a healthy rushing average of 4.8 yards per carry and 6 touchdowns. He also doubles as a kick returner.

NCCU's Moton Featured In Grantland Satire

In his short time at North Carolina Central, Levelle Moton has become one of the better known HBCU basketball coaches. And as such, he found himself with a staring role in "The Lies College Basketball Coaches Tell Us," a satire piece about what college basketball coaches may be hiding.

If you’ve ascended to a head coaching gig in Divison I, you’ve got some skeletons in your closet at best, actual bodies at worst. What other secrets are the stewards of men's basketball hiding?

B.J. Hill, Northern Colorado: Leaked the new Daft Punk album.
King Rice, Monmouth: Goes to the dealership, but he never cops nothing.
Gregg Nibert, Presbyterian: “Gregg Nibert” is actually a man who died in 1992, but Presbyterian has hired six coaches since then who have taken the name to save money on business cards and other administrative expenses.
Tony Bennett, Virginia: Thinks it’s cute to use “dropped out of space camp” on his OkCupid profile, when in actuality, he was the valedictorian of the 1994 class of Space Camp Florida.
Dave Loos, Austin Peay: Racked up $55 worth of late fees after renting Belly from the Clarksville, Tennessee, Blockbuster and was totally going to return it, but now that the Blockbuster shut down, he wonders if he still has to pay.
Tyler Geving, Portland State: Believes The Wire is neither overrated nor underrated.
Bill Coen, Northeastern: So tired of people complaining about the first Arrested Development album beating Slanted and Enchanted in the 1992 Pazz & Jop poll, that he voted Zingalamaduni no. 1 on his 1994 ballot out of spite.
Chris Mack, Xavier: Made ends meet in the mid-’90s by playing bars as “Hootie Mack,” a Hootie & the Blowfish/Bell Biv DeVoe cover band.
Lennox Forrester, SIU Edwardsville: What he really wants to do is direct.
Billy Kennedy, Texas A&M: Stole a bunch of staplers from Murray State and Murray State could really use those staplers.
LeVelle Moton, North Carolina Central: Is seriously hoping no one gives him shit about these bran muffins not being gluten-free. For crying out loud, he brought enough for everyone at the office. Doesn’t that count for anything?
Andy Enfield, USC: Is worried about how being married to a swimsuit model is reinforcing heteronormative ideals in an alpha male environment, but not really.

While the mention of Moton and the rest of the coaches are in jest, the story was written in response to the  revelation that newly hired Rutgers coach Eddie Jordan actually never graduated from the school, as he claimed on his application. Yikes!

Starting Five: Crowell Tops Talented SWAC Running Back Crop

Isaiah Crowell, Alabama State

Expectations were high when Isaiah Crowell transferred to Alabama State from Georgia last summer. Crowell had SEC Freshman of The Year performance at UGA before legal issues led to his transfer to ASU. He allegedly came to ASU out of shape, but by the end of the season Crowell reminded everyone why he took home SEC hardware. Crowell finished third in the SWAC in total rushing yards (842) and led the conference with 15 touchdowns. With a year in the offense under his belt and his legal issues behind him, the sky is the limit for this talented junior.

Alabama State RB Isaiah Crowell named to named to CFPA preseason watch list | al.com al.com/sports/index.s… #MyASU #THESWAC
— Nick Birdsong (@birds_word) May 14, 2013

Justin Billings, Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Billings struggled with consistency early in his junior year, but by the end of the season he was one of the most important components to UAPB's SWAC Championship run. Billings averaged over 120 yards per game in the season's final three games, coming up with nearly half his 853 rushing yards in that span. With Billings and quarterback Ben Anderson coming back, UAPB should give SWAC defensive coordinators nightmares all season long.

Rakeem Sims, Jackson State

At 5'11, 225 pounds, Sims is the kind of rusher defensive backs and linebackers hate to see coming. Sims rushed for 784 yards, averaging better than five yards per carry while scoring eight touchdowns to lead Jackson State to an appearance in the SWAC title game. He and quarterback Clayton Moore (8 touchdowns) form a potent one-two rushing punch for the Tigers. And then there's...

Tommy Gooden, Jackson State

With Sims and Moore each carrying the ball over 100 times, there were games when Gooden rarely saw the ball. He only had four games where he carried the ball more than ten times, but averaged 90 yards in those four games. Gooden is known for his big play ability, exemplified by an 82 yard run against UAPB in the regular season matchup between the two teams.


*Tie Fred Anderson/Courtney Brown, Prairie View A&M

Despite a disappointing 3-8 finish in 2012, Prairie View A&M's offense was statistically the best in the SWAC. Anderson and Brown were a big part of that, combining for over 1,000 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. At 5'9, 170 pounds, Anderson is the lighter of the two backs, and is a homerun threat every time he touches the ball. At 6'0, 220, Brown is the more powerfully-built back, and he flexed that muscle by running for nine touchdowns last season. This running back duo, combined with a scary two-headed monster at quarterback make Prairie View a team to watch in the SWAC.

Starting Five: Division II (HBCU) Running Backs

This is the fifth post in a series examining the top returning HBCU players at each position. Last week we focused on quarterbacks. This week, we turn our attention to running backs. Below are our top five running backs from Division II HBCUs.

Maurice Lewis, WSSU

Heading into the 2012 season, the biggest question mark for Winston-Salem State was who would fill the void left by All-American running back Nic Cooper. Though Connell Maynor would rely on several backs, Lewis showed he was ready from Day One. He rushed for better than 100 yards in each of his first three starts, helping WSSU go 3-0 in a tough non-conference schedule. Lewis didn't get many reps during the conference season, due to injuries and a passing offense that generally supplied more than enough points.

Lewis showed his worth in the post season, however, rushing for over 100 yards in three of the Rams final five games. With Kam Smith and Jameze Massey gone, Lewis now becomes WSSU's best big-play threat. If he can stay healthy, look for his carries to increase in 2013.


Colon Bailey, Fayetteville State

Like the rest of the Fayetteville State offense, Bailey started the 2012 season out slow. The junior running back failed to rush for more than 80 yards in a single game during the first two-thirds of the season. But he went out with a bang, rushing for over 500 yards and seven touchdowns in a three-game stretch. He was also a secure ball handler, fumbling on just three of his 178 attempts. The 6'0, 200 pound running back also rushed for 10 touchdowns, four more than the Broncos passed for as a team.

Floyd Graves, Miles and Davonta Parker-Johnson, Miles College

Graves (7) and  Parker-Johnson (21) teamed up to give Miles College a devastating 1-2 punch at running back. Graves led the team in rushing with 796 yards and also ran for a team-high 11 touchdowns,and Parker-Johnson wasn't far behind with 690. The duo averaged over 130 yards per game and helped Miles to yet another playoff appearance.


Marquise Grizzle, Shaw

Grizzle was a late addition to Shaw, but his production was right on time. Grizzle originially committed to Division I Murray State, but after failing to meet eligibility standards, decided to transfer to Shaw. He ran for 183 yards in his fourth game, the first of a four-game stretch that included a 229 yard, two touchdown performance against Livingstone. Grizzle finished the season with 803 yards in just nine games. He also performed well in Shaw's Spring Game. Don't be surprised if he vaults himself near the top of this list by the end of his sophomore season. Michael Thornton Thornton finished with the lowest rushing total of anyone on the list, but don't let that fool you. Thornton spent his sophomore season as backup to SIAC Offensive Player Of The Year Derrick Washington. Thornton only carried the ball 64 times, but eight of those resulted in touchdowns. Needless to say, his production should only increase in 2013.

Alabama State's Jenkins Signs With Raiders

The last few weeks have been a lesson in perseverance for Greg Jenkins. The former Alabama State quarterback hoped to hear his name called in last month's NFL Draft, but it didn't happen. Then he had to watch as players like college teammate Terren Jones were quickly signed as undrafted free-agents. But that seems light-years away now as Jones signed a three-year deal with the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.

Former ASU standout Greg Jenkins (@gjenkins2) signs 3-year deal w/#Raiders | al.com al.com/sports/index.s… #MyASU #NFL
— Nick Birdsong (@birds_word) May 13, 2013

God is good! Hasn't hit me yet but I'm OFFICIALLY an Oakland Raider! Filled out all the paper work & signing my Contract now!
— Greg Jenkins (@GJenkins2) May 12, 2013

Jenkins was one of over 60 player participating in Oakland's Rookie Camp. As a player who came in on a tryout-basis with no defined position, Jenkins knew he had to perform well. And obviously he did enough to impress the coaching staff.

Jenkins told Al.com's Nick Birdsong he was determined to take advantage of his opportunity.

"I feel like I gotta represent for Alabama State and the whole SWAC really," Jenkins said. "It really don't matter what school you go to. Man, it's just God's grace, an opportunity. A lot people don't get an opportunity. I just gotta take full advantage of mine." 

Jenkins played quarterback at Alabama State, but may find himself playing receiver, or occasionally lined up at quarterback in a variation of the wildcat. He may also return kicks.