SPORTS/The Charlotte Post
Thursday, Januaryr 18,1996
Fob the week of January 16 through January 22
ROBINSON
AWARD
WINNER
ROE: Norfolk State wide
receiver surprise winner
as top biack college
football player.
T SPANNS TWO-SPORT STARS AT
JACKSON STATE
UNDER THE BANNER
WHAPS GOING ON IN AND AROUND BLACK COLLEGE SPORTS
HOT SHOTS: Two black college players are
among the top four scorers in NCAA Div. I basketball.
Hampton University 6-2 guard
Jafonde "JJ" Williams with a
26.5 points per game average trails
only Bubba Walls of Austin Peay
(27.2). Williams has scored over
30 points in three of the last five
games getting 39 against Marshall,
38 against Dayton and 31 and five
assists vs. Iona. Meanwhile Texas
Southern guard KevinGranger's
JJ'S J: Is on, to the
tune of 26.5 ppg.
25.7 average is fourth best in the USA amd tops in the
SWAC. The 6-4 guard is shooting 47 percent from the field
and 79 percent from the free throw line. Granger also
averages 4.5 assists and 6.5 rebounds. Mississippi Valley
6-9 center Marcus Mann's 12.4 rebounds per game is fourth
best in the country while Coppin State's Allen Watson is
seventh best nationally in assists at 7.5 per game.
TIGERS GET COLE: This week Tennessee
State will name L. C. Cole, an assistant at Cincinnati, as the
school's new football coach. The press conference to introduce
Cole is scheduled for Jan 16. The decision to hire Cole was
apparently made by TSU President James Hefner who said
Cole "was a very good fit for our program." Cole's selection
must be approved by the Tennesse Board of Regents. Cole
played collegiately at Nebraska finishing in 1980. He has
worked as an assistant at Eastern Michigan, Morgan State
and five other colleges. He replaces Bill Davis, who resigned
after a 2-9 season.
LOSING RANDY: Texas Southern outstanding
point guard Randy Bolden has left the team for unspecified
reasons. Bolden, whose 20.5 points per game average was
the second best in the SWAC, left the team following a 83-
81 loss to Alabama State Monday in Montgomery. TSU
coach Robert Moreland said Bolden returned to his Jackson,
MS home with his parents. "Randy needed a coach like me
to better himself as a basketball player," said Moreland.
"Obviously he didn't see it in the same light."
ALREADY FAMOUS: Three former black
college football players are among 15 finalists nominated for
induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Defensive end
L. C. Greenwood, an Arkansas-Pine Bluff product, is
among the nominees for the second year. Greenwood played
12 seasons (1969-81) as part of the Steel Curtain defense of
the dominant Pittsburgh Steelers teams of the '70s. Wide
receiver John Stallworth, an Alabama A&M product, was
also a key member of the Steeler dynasty (1974-87) and
retired asthe Steelers all-time leader in receptions. Grambling
grad Charlie Joiner is also on the ballot for the second time.
Joiner played 16 years in the NFL for the Houston Oilers
(1972-75) Cincinnati (1972-75) and San Diego (1976-86).
He retired as the NFL's all-time leader in receptions. Since
then his record has been broken by James Lofton, Art Monk
and Jerry Rice.
THE STAT CORNER
WHO ARE THE BEST PERFORMERS IN BLACK COLLEGE SPORTS
LONGEST CURRENT
WOMEN'S HOMECOURT
WINNING STREAKS
1. Connecticut
44
2. Stanford
23
3. Texas Tech
22
4. Alcorn State
20
5. Grambling State
19
6. Jackson State
19
7. Toledo
17
SOURCE Conference Reports
O AZEEZ Commuokatioos, Idc. VOL. 2, NO. 22
1995-96 BLACK COLLEGE BASKETBALL (Results, Standings and Oustanding Players)
SCORES
JANUARY 13,1996
Alabama A&M 99, Kentucky St 75
Albany St 79. Ft Valley St 77
Alcorn St 69, Jackson St 68
Clark Atlanta 87, Morris Brown 68
Coppin St 92, Delaware St 77
Elizabeth City St 82, Virginia St 79
JC Smith 77, Bowie St 66
Livingstone 89, Fayettevile St 83
Miss Valley 95, Prairie View 88
Morehouse 86, Tuskegee 82
Norfolk St 80, St Paul's 65
NC A&T74,FAMU67
NC Central al Winston-Salem St • ppnd
Paine at St Augustine's - ppnd
SC State 75. Beth-Cookman 61
Southern 113, Alabama St 83
Texas Southern 87, Grambling 75
UMES 71. Howard 65
JANUARY 14,1996
Tennessee St 73, E Tenn St 70
CIAA
MEAC
SIAC
SWAC
(thru 1/13)
(thru 1/13)
(thru 1/13)
(thru 1/13)
DIV
ALL
CONP
ALL
CONF
ALL
CONF
ALL
NORTH
sc state
3-0
7-4
EAST
Miss Valley 3-0
12-3
Va. Union
1-0
10-0
Coppin
3-0
6-7
Clark All
4-0
10-0
Southern-BR 2-1
6-4
Norf State
1-0
9-1
Md-ES
4-1
9-6
Albany St
4-2
7-6
Tx Southern 2-1
7-8
Eliz. City
1-0
6-6
Del State
2-2
3-9
Sav.State
3-1
4-5
Alabama State* 2-1
4-8
Bowie St
0-0
4-9
NO A&T
1-1
3-7
Morris Brwn
1-2
5-6
Grambling 1-2
6-6
Va State
0-1
5-6
Morgan St.*
0-1
1-11
Ft Valley
1-2
3-7
Jackson State 1 -2
5-11
St.Paul’s
0-2
4-8
Howard
0-2
0-11
Paine
1-5
5-6
Alcorn State 1 -2
4-9
Beth-Ckmn
0-3
4-7
Prairie View 0-3
3-11
SOUTH
FAMU
0-3
5-8
WEST
*not eliaible for cost season olav
NCCU
3-0
8-1
Hampton**
4-11
Ala A&M
7-1
9-1
Livingstone
2-1
6-7
*not eligible for post season play
LeM-Owen
3-1
6-3
Shaw
2-2
8-4
**not eligible for conf. championship
Morehouse
3-4
7-6
St Aug
1-1
4-5
Miles
2-2
4-6
JC Smith
0-1
5-7
Tuskegee
1-2
4-4
WSSU
0-1
2-8
Kentucky St
0-8
2-9
Fayv. State
0-2
4-8
COMMENTS / QUESTIONS
Write the Black College Sports Page
at 407 Holbrook St., Danville, VA 24541
or e-mail us at /\ZEEZ@aol.com.
PLAYERS OF
THE WEEK
CIAA
LEVELLE UOTON, Sr.,G,
North Carolina Central
Rnished two-game week with 42
points, 6 rebounds, 11 assists
arxJ 3 blocked shots.
MEAC (last week)
JaFONDE WILUAMS, Sr.
G, Hampton
Scored 77 points in two road
losses. Set Dayton Arena record
with 2C successful free throws.
SIAC
SWAC (last week)
MARCUS MANN, Sr., C,
Mississippi Valley
Averaged 21.0 points. 13.7
rebourxfs and 2.7 steals in three
Delta Devil wins.
Norfolk State's Roe captures 2nd annual Robinson Award
BASKETBALL THIS WEEK
SAtUROAY, JANUARY 20.199S
Prairie Vievii at Alccm St - 7:30p
Howard at Betbune-Cookman - 4;0(^
Mansfield at CSieyney - 3:00p
Norfolk St at Eiizahedi City St - 7:3%
Morgan St at Florida A&M - 8:00p
Miles at Port Valley St - 8«0p
Alabama St at Otambi ing - 7:30p
Manhattan at Htoaplon - A-3SipESPN2
Miss. Valley St at Jackson St - 7;30p
Winston-Salem St at JC SmiUi - 7:30p
Central St at Kentucky St - S: 15p"
Morris Brown at leMoyne-Owen - 8:00p
Livingstone at Morris College - 7:30p
Delaware St at NC A&T - 7;30p
Tennessee St at SB Missouri St - 5:00p
Clark Atlanta at Savannah St - 8;00p
Md-Eastem Shore at SC State - 2:3%
(Tape delay on SportSoath tS; UTS cable)
Texas Southern at Southern - 7:30p
N.C. Central at St Augustine’s - 7:30p
Alabama A&M at Tuskegee - 7;30p
St Paul’s at Virginia St - 7:30p
MONDAY, JANUARY 22,1996
Morris Brown at Alabama A&M - 7:30p
Miss Valley St at Alabama St - 7:30p
Texas Southern at Alcorn St - 7:30p
Morgan St at Bethune-Cookman - 8:00p
Clark Atlanta at Clayton St - 8:00p
Coppin St at Florida A&M - 8dX)p
Jackscai St at Grambling - 7:30p
Dist of Columbia a( MillersviUe - 7:30p
Bowie St at Norfolk St - 7:30p
Md-Eastem Shore at NC A&T - 7:30p
Delaware St at SC State - 7;30p
Miles at Savannah St- 8:00p
Prairie View at Southern - 7:30p
Kentucky St at Tuskegee - 7:0%
TUESDAY, JANUARY 23,1996
Bowie St at Elizabeth City St - 7:30p
Fayetteville St at Shaw. 7:30p
Winston-Salem St at Virginia St - 7:30p
St Paul’s at Virginia Union - 7;30p
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24,1996
Ala-Huntsville at Alabama A&M - 7;30p
Columbia Union at,0iz. City St - 7:30p
Rust at LeMoyne-Owen - 7;30p
NC Central at Livingstone - T:SOp
Southern al Middle Tennessee St - 7:30p
Cheyney at MillersviUe - 8;00p
Fort Vailey St at Morris Brown - 8:00p
National Christian at Prairie View - 7;30p
Hampton at SC State - 7:30p
Stephanie Cunningham Photo
BEST OF THE BEST: A smiling James Roe is show here with the
Rutherford Group's Eddie Robinson Award. The award goes to the
best black college football player in the nation.
Stephanie Cunningham Photo
THE MAN: Legendary Grambling coach Eddie Robinson, for whom
the trophy is named, autographs footballs and helmets for spectators.
- BCSP Notes
COMPILED BY ERIC MOORE
▼ Look for eight black college seniors among the players performing
before professional football scouts and a national television audience
in the Delchamps Senior Bowl Saturday, Jan. 20 in Mobile. The
seniors are generally rated amongst the top players at their positions
Running back Richard Huntley of Winston-Salem State is the only
black college player on the North team. The black college players on
the South team are; wide receiver Reggie Barlow of Alabama State;
tight end Clarence Benford of Albany State; defensive lineman
Bryant Mix of Alcorn State; defensive back Picasso Nelson of
Jackson State; defensive lineman Albert Reese of Grambling;
wide receiver Greg Spann of Jackson State (see story below); and
offensive lineman Jamain Stephens of North Carolina A&T.
Norfolk State wide receiver James Roe
outdistanced other favorites and was announced as
winner of the the second annual Eddie Robinson
Award recognizing the best player in black college
football. The award, sponsored by the Rutherford
Group, was presented at ceremonies in Hollywood,
Jan. 11.
The affair was part of a syndicated television
production that will air nationally.
Roe led all black college receivers with 1,248
yards this season while hauling in 64 passes, second
nationally among black college players. He had 15
receiving touchdowns. He set CIAA career records
for receptions (239) and TD receptions (46). Roe
has been a first team NCAA Div. 11 All-American
for the past two seasons. Last year's winner was
Alcorn State quarterback Steve McNair.
Roe was chosen over Winston-Salem State
running back Richard Huntley (offensive back),
Hampton defensive lineman Hugh Hunter
(defensive lineman), Jackson State safety Picasso
Nelson (defensive back). North Carolina A&T
offensive lineman Jamain Stephens (offensive
lineman) and Florida A&M linebacker Earl
Holmes (linebacker) who were selected as best
players at their respective positions.
Also at the program, NBC sportscaster Ahmad
Rashad was presented the Eddie Robinson Lifetime
Achievement Award.
▼ Albany State cornerback Markco Maddox was the only black
college player to participate in the 71st East-West Shrine Bowl
Saturday. The 6-3, 208-pound corner was named SIAC defensive
player of the year after leading the Golden Rams to the conference
championship and Div. II playoff berth. He entered the year rated by
the National Football Scouting Service as one of the best ten defensive
backs in the nation.
Spartans Div. I move taking its toll
The next black college athletic
program scheduled to move to Divi
sion I is Norfolk State and the Spartans
are already feeling the effects of their
decision.
“Although we are playing in
Division II, we were required to recruit
under Division I rules this year,” said
Spartan men’s coach Mike Bernard
following a win over Fayetteville
State last week.“We get no
consideration in national rankings
and even if we win the CIAA
Tournament we can’t participate in
theplayoffs. Ourplayerswerereally
looking to make another run for a
national championship since they
came so close last year (losing in the
Div. II Final Four). Unfortunately
the new NCAA rules (concerning
requirements to step up to Division
I) won’t let us do that,” he said.
Bernard finds his biggest job is
keeping his players focused since
he doesn’t have many carrots at his
disposal to keep his team motivated.
BCSP HOOP TOP TEN
1. VIRGINIA UNION (9-0)-Easy 24-point win
over St. Paul's to stay on top.
2. MISSISSIPPI VALLEY (12-3) - Two
conference wins make for an undefeated
week.
3. NORFOLK STATE (9-1)-Tv«) CIAA wins
keep the Spartans rolling.
4. SOUTH CAROLINA STATE (7-4) -
Bulldogs knock off Bethune-Cookman In
weather shortened week.
5. ALABAMA A&M (9-1)-Stumbled at Albany
St. but finished week at 3-1.
6. CLARK ATLANTA (10-0) - Beat Paine
and Morris Brown but face Alabama A&M on
MUCs birthday.
7. NC CENTRAL (6-1) r Eagles keep rolling
through CIAA South.
8. LEMOYNE OWEN (6-2) - Magicians got
week off thanks to weather but have sbdh
best record in Black College baskeball.
9. MD-EASTERN SHORE (8-^ - Loss to
Coppin St tarnishes some of Fighting Hawks
luster.
10. SOUTHERN (6-4) - Two point loss to
MVSU leaves Jags at .500 for the week.
OTHERS RECEIVlING VOTES: Albany Stata, Coppin SUM.
L«mo^>e-OiMBR, Morehouse, Shaw, St Augushne^e end Texas
Southein.
Siblings Spanning the athletic gamut at Jackson State
ROSCOE NANCE
BCSP Correspondent
Jackson State’s Greg and Rosaiyn
Spann may be the hottest brother-sister
combination this side of BeBe and CeCe
Winans.
Greg Spann is the latest in a long line
of outstanding Jackson State receivers
and is expected to be a high pick in this
year’s National Football League draft.
Sister Rosaiyn, a member of Jackson
Slate’s women’s basketball team, was
the 1995 Southwestern Athletic
Conference Freshman of the Year.
They are two of 13 brothers and
sisters, all of whom were high school
athletes at the minimum. An older brother
played junior college football, but Greg
is the first of the siblings to play major
college sports.
"A lot of people talked down on us
because we came from a large family
and didn’t have much," says Spann,
remembering his childhood in Macon,
Miss. "They said I’d never be anybody,
that I’d be a drug dealer or a wino. I have
too much pride to go out like that. We ’ ve
proved them wrong because of the way
we were raised."
The Spanns were raised to respect
their elders and to share with each other.
Their parents, Ozzie Lee and Jewel Marie
Spann, were also high school athletes,
and it was a family rule that whenever
the seven brothers played pickup
basketball games, they had to chose one
of their sisters for their team. Invariably
Greg and Rosaiyn wound up on the same
team.
"Normally we won," she says. "The
guys pushed me around and called me a
tomboy."
Rosalyn’s basketball was limited to
the sandlots and family games until she
was an eighth-grader. Thai’s when several
members of the Noxubee County High
girls’ team quit and the coach picked
Rosaiyn, a cheerleader, for the squad.
"Her career just blossomed," says
Greg. "I had a feeling she’d be a better
player in the future."
Rosaiyn has fulfilled Greg’s
expectations. The 5-9 guard averages
17.1 and 3.0 assists a game.
She was the 1994 Mississippi High
School Player of the Year after leading
Noxubee County to back-to-back state
championships.
If you want to get a hot debate going
in the Spann household, just ask who is
the better athlete, Greg or Rosaiyn,
"Some people say he is," says
Rosaiyn." Some say I am. Me, I say I am.
But he can do some things I can’t do, and
I can do some things he can’t do."
Naturally, Greg says he is better.
But when it comes to voting for the best
athlete in the Spann family, he goes with
brother Timothy, a quarterback at East
Mississippi Junior College who is
expected to end up at Jackson State.
Another brother, Shamake plays
defensive back at East Mississippi. A
fourth brother, Marvin, a defensive back
at Jackson State, was redshirted as a
freshman last season. Shamake’s twin
sister, DeUndra, played basketball for
two seasons at Jackson State before
leaving the team this year.
"In high school, we all competed
against each other," says Greg. "We all
played three sports. At the end of the
year, we’d see who would have the most
trophies. I came home with seven or
eight. Ros would have about 10. We
have about 140 trophies in the house, not
including plaques."
Greg hopes to add some NFL
hardware to the family collection in the
near future. He astonished scouts by
Rosaiyn
Soann
SPANNING TWO SPORTS:
Rosaiyn leads the womens
basketball team while Greg is one
of the SWAC's leading receivers.
running back-to-back 4.3-second 40-yard
dashes last spring. He led the SWAC
with nine touchdown receptions last
season, including a school record four
against Prairie View. He caught 34 passes
for500 yards despite missing three games
when he had to sit out after an agent
provided him illegal benefits.
He has been invited to the Senior
Bowl and Hula Bowl all-star games and
the NFL Combine.
"I just need to concentrate on
catching the ball and being myself," he
says. "If I play my game, I can be a No.l
pick."