TheState.com: State Colleges

S.C. State's Jeffries among Hall inductees

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 22:20 EDT

SOUTH BEND, Ind. | Tim Brown struck the Heisman Trophy pose on stage at the urging of a fan after putting on his new College Football Hall of Fame blazer, then moments later, Steve McMichael playfully rushed past emcee Mark May like he was about to chase down a quarterback.

Both drew appreciative cheers from the crowd gathered for a rally to see the 24 former players and coaches who were being enshrined Saturday.

That included former South Carolina State coach Willie Jeffries, who compiled a 128-77-4 record in two stints with the Bulldogs. He also coached at Howard and Wichita State, where he was the first African-American head coach at a Division I school.

The biggest cheer was for Chris Spielman, with nearly 100 people in the crowd wearing his No. 36 Ohio State shirt. “This is how we do it at Ohio State,” Spielman said to another loud cheer.

Former Southern California coach John Robinson drew applause despite being in the backyard of rival Notre Dame. “It’s nice to be in South Bend and not get booed,” Robinson told the crowd.

S.C. State names Hall class

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 00:53 EDT

South Carolina State will induct 10 members into its Athletic Hall of Fame on Sept. 10, and honor the 1988-89 men’s basketball championship team and the 1991 women’s volleyball championship squad.

Making up the 2010 class are Dr. Thomas Lee “Jr. Boy” Adams (football/baseball, 1957-61, posthumous), Roderick “Moo Moo” Blakney (basketball, 1995-98), Donald Cooper (track & field/football, 1992-97), Luther Dixon (football, 1974-77), Robert Hemby Sr. (football, 1968-72), Joseph Montford (football, 1989-93), Bobby Moore (football, 1975-78), David Lee Norman (football, 1982-85), Arthur Prescott (football, 1975-78), and Arthur Snipe (basketball, 1976-80).

Chanticleers rally past Cougars

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 00:31 EDT

MYRTLE BEACH | Coastal Carolina finally broke the College of Charleston’s stranglehold over the Chanticleers with Rico Noel hitting a one-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to give Coastal an 8-7 win in the NCAA Myrtle Beach Regional.

The win ended a six-game winning streak over Coastal by the Cougars and set up a winner-take-all battle between the two teams today at 1 p.m. at BB&T Coastal Field for the right to advance into the NCAA Super Regional against South Carolina.

College of Charleston coach Monte Lee was ejected in the fifth inning and is expected to miss today’s game because of Southern Conference rules.

“College of Charleston has been a thorn in our side and it took a heroic effort,” said Coastal coach Gary Gilmore.

Taylor Motter had two home runs for Coastal while Noel drove in five runs with four hits. Matt Laney (3-1) got the win for Coastal.

Newberry fires baseball coach

Wed, 19 May 2010 00:13 EDT

Newberry College athletics director Brad Edwards has announced that the contract of baseball coach Bob Rikeman will not be renewed for the 2010-11 season. A search for Rikeman’s successor has begun.

“We are appreciative to coach Rikeman for his five years of service to Newberry College, and we are looking forward to the next chapter in Newberry baseball as we look to build that program into a national contender,” Edwards said.

Rikeman coached the scarlet and gray for five seasons (2006-10), compiling a record of 88-165-1 (.348) at Newberry. Two players, Thomas Berryhill and Casio Grider, were selected in the Major League Baseball Draft while Rikeman was at Newberry.

Newberry played without a home field during Rikeman’s first two seasons as the Indians were displaced from old Kirkland Field before the completion of the Smith Road Complex. In the three years at the Smith Road Complex, Rikeman’s teams earned a 39-38 home record. However, the team struggled in 2010, going 18-30 overall with a 4-20 SAC record and missing out on the conference tournament.

Clemson, Furman, Coastal earn NCAA bids

Mon, 10 May 2010 22:17 EDT

Clemson, Furman and Coastal Carolina were selected for the NCAA Golf Tournament's South Regional, which will be played May 20-22 on the Crabapple Course at the Capital City Club in Atlanta.

Three instate individuals also received bids: Kevin Day of Charleston Southern and Garrett Medeiros and Mark Joye of Wofford.

NCAA SOUTH REGIONAL

Capital City Club, Crabapple, Atlanta

1. Oklahoma State

QB Hillary ready for new start at Coastal

Sat, 08 May 2010 00:25 EDT

MYRTLE BEACH - There is little doubt that Aramis Hillary is Coastal Carolina's quarterback of the future. It remains to be seen if the future is now.

The South Carolina transfer said this week he still plans to enroll at Coastal this summer, though he has yet to sign with the program. He was scheduled to visit Coastal on Friday and work out some of those details.

With Coastal's offense in need of a makeover, Hillary could be the savior if he beats out - or pushes - starter Zach MacDowall in August. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound sophomore from Strom Thurmond is ready for a fresh start and a chance to compete for the starting job, something he wasn't going to get at USC behind Stephen Garcia and freshman Connor Shaw.

"I can't wait," Hillary said. "New place. New face. ... I just wanted to get out of Carolina. Maybe the coaches will give me a chance (to start) at least. If I don't win, that's all right."

Hillary wasn't critical of the coaching staff at USC, admitting that he honestly wasn't a great fit for that offense. However, he might be exactly what Coastal is looking for. Though he wasn't able to make the throws that USC's offense required, he's a dual-threat weapon.

Four elected to Big South hall of fame

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 22:05 EDT

Former Coastal Carolina cross country standout Catherine Conder, former Charleston Southern men's golfer Jim Gardas, former Coastal Carolina men's soccer player Guy Norcott and former Winthrop men's golfer Kevin Pendley are part of the second class elected for enshrinement in the Big South Conference Hall of Fame.

Conder was a three-time runner of the year; Pendley was the first two-time golfer of the year; Norcutt led Coastal to two conference titles; and Gardas led Charleston Southern to two runner-up finishes in the conference tournament.

The induction ceremony will be June 3 at the conference's spring meetings in High Point, N.C.

HONORS

Jason Jensen, Coastal Carolina men's track and field, Big South athlete of the week.

S.C. State's Adams earns San Francisco treat

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 22:42 EDT

It didn't matter to Phillip Adams that the NFL draft made it to the seventh round before his name was called Saturday afternoon.

Adams, a former standout cornerback at Rock Hill High and South Carolina State, said he realized that no matter which round he went in, he would have to work hard to win a spot on a team. He got that opportunity when the San Francisco 49ers called his name, the 224th player chosen.

San Francisco coach Mike Singletary called Adams, surrounded by family and friends at his parents' home on the south side of Rock Hill, four picks before the 49ers' upcoming selection. Singletary told Adams that if he was available, he would be the team's pick.

Adams already knew he was going in the seventh round regardless. He had been called by the Green Bay Packers and told the same thing the 49ers told him. The Packers had pick No. 230.

"I can't describe the feeling when I saw my name. I got picked by a team with a great coach and one that is on the way back up," Adams said.

Andre Roberts' NFL dream comes true

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 23:18 EDT

After Andre Roberts' freshman season at The Citadel, Bulldogs coach Kevin Higgins met with the Columbia native and asked him what his goals were.

Having just completed his knob year, Roberts wanted nothing to do with a career in the military.

Instead, Roberts told Higgins he wanted to play in the NFL - a standard response for SEC and ACC standouts, but one that might be considered a reach coming from an undersized receiver at an undersized school in the Southern Conference.

But three years and eight school records later, Roberts has realized his dream.

The Arizona Cardinals selected Roberts in the third round, No. 88 overall, on Friday in the NFL draft. It is the highest a Citadel player has been drafted since linebacker John Small was a first-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 1970.

Newberry, Lander earn D-II regional bids

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 19:57 EDT

Newberry and Lander earned bids to the Division II South/Southeast Super Regional at Wilson Country Club in Wilson, N.C. May 2-5. The top five teams and the top two individuals not with a team from each regional will advance to the national tournament May 18-21 at The Sagamore Club in Noblesville, Ind.

SIGNINGS

Logan Castlebury, Seandre Lee, Madisen Webb, Kyana Jacobs and Kim Roach (A.C. Flora), USC Upstate women's basketball.

Megan Schaaf, Presbyterian women's basketball.

Madeline Fellabom (Wando), Katie Bevacqua (Mount Pleasant), Aubrey Danielson (Dorman), Kyle Maguire (Dutch Fork) and Brittany Moores (Blythewood), USC Aiken women's soccer.

Jeffries granted 'Emeritus' status

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 21:19 EDT

Former South Carolina State football coach Willie Jeffries, who retired nine years ago, has been named Head Football Coach Emeritus at the school where he won more football games than any other coach.

A recommendation from S.C. State athletics director Charlene Johnson and President George Cooper to elevate Jeffries to "Emeritus" status was approved by the university's Board of Trustees at its Feb. 26 meeting.

The former Bulldog coach will also serve as a liaison between the university, its alumni and other constituents and also help market the university.

""(Coach Jeffries) has used football and his great personal skills to bring about better community relations in Orangeburg, the Palmetto State and beyond, and I think it's very fitting that the university has bestowed this honor upon him," Johnson said.

Jeffries said he is eager to elevate athletics and the university.

S.C. State running back seeks a do-over

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 23:12 EDT

ORANGEBURG - Two years ago, Asheton Jordan was the top freshman running back in the Southern Conference with a promising future ahead of him at The Citadel.

Today, the Stratford High product will play in South Carolina State's Garnet and Blue spring game with an eye toward securing a starting spot on coach Buddy Pough's team in the fall.

It's a fresh start for the 6-foot, 206-pound Jordan, who spent last season on S.C. State's scout team after transferring from The Citadel, where he rushed for 711 yards and four touchdowns as a freshman in 2008.

"It was tough to see them play every day last year and to just be running scout team," Jordan said before a recent spring practice. "I was glad to help the team get as far as they did, but I'm ready to be out there playing now."

Jordan and S.C. State's other running backs have huge shoes to fill with the departure of Will Ford, who rushed for 1,032 yards and eight touchdowns a year ago while leading S.C. State to a 10-2 record, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title and a berth in the FCS playoffs. Ford is the all-time leading rusher in MEAC and S.C. State history.

Cougars coach gets award

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 23:42 EDT

College of Charleston head coach Nancy Wilson has been named the Kay Yow Heart of a Coach winner, given by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.The award will be presented on April 4 during the women's final four in San Antonio.

BASEBALL

Bulldogs pitcher on national watch list

The Citadel's junior pitcher Asher Wojciechowski has been named to the initial Pitcher of the Year Watch List announced by the College Baseball Foundation. Wojciechowski is 5-0 with a 3.00 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 33 innings.

HONORS

Wofford stalls in the final moments

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 22:51 EDT

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - In two weeks, Wofford guard Cameron Rundles said, he will look back on this season with satisfaction.

Rundles and his teammates won 26 games and captured the imagination of their school and the Spartanburg community as they reached the NCAA tournament for the first time. As a No. 13 seed Friday, Wofford pulled ahead of powerful No. 4 seed Wisconsin by one point on a Rundles jumper with 4 minutes, 43 seconds remaining.

But Rundles couldn't enjoy those accomplishments Friday because of the way the game ended. The Terriers turned over the ball three times and missed two of three free throws in the final three minutes as Wisconsin won 53-49 at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

"When you smell the victory like we did," Rundles said, "it's going to be tough to hold our heads up."

Jon Leuer made an 18-foot baseline jumper with 17 seconds remaining to give Wisconsin a 51-49 lead, and hit two free throws on the Badgers' next possession to seal it.

Basketball pregame: Wofford vs. Wisconsion

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:35 EDT

WHO: No. 4 Wisconsin Badgers vs. No. 13 Wofford Terriers

WHEN: 3 p.m.

WHERE: NCAA East Regional, Jacksonville, Fla.

TV: CBS (WLTX)

ANNOUNCERS: Jim Nantz play-by-play, Clark Kellogg analyst

Dahlman does the dirty work for Wofford

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:35 EDT

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Noah Dahlman likes to say his summer job reflected the way he plays basketball as a junior forward for Wofford.

Dahlman worked on the groundskeeping crew the past three summers at the Carolina Panthers' training camp at Wofford.

"I mowed grass in the summer on a mower, a big one, for about two, three hours a day in that blistering South Carolina heat," Dahlman said. "At night I'd do security in the Panthers' locker room. I vacuumed, picked up the trash. It's pretty similar to my work on the court. Nothing pretty."

Pretty or not, Dahlman is the most influential player for No. 13 seed Wofford (26-8) as it prepares to meet No. 4 seed Wisconsin (23-8) at about 2:50 p.m. today in the NCAA tournament South Regional.

Named the Southern Conference player of the year by the league's coaches, Dahlman averages 16.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. He's undersized for a power forward at 6-foot-6 and 215 pounds, but he beats bigger opponents with quickness, hustle and heart.

Winthrop makes early NCAA exit

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:40 EDT

DAYTON, Ohio - Winthrop entered the NCAA tournament as the poorest-shooting team among 65 entrants. They exited the tournament the same way.

The Eagles shot 29 percent from the field and lost 61-44 to Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the tournament's play-in game.

"We picked a bad time to play a bad game," Winthrop coach Randy Peele said.

The Eagles finished with a 19-14 record, falling a win shy of their eighth 20-win season. They became the first team to participate - and lose - twice in the opening-round contest.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff (18-15) made its first NCAA appearance a memorable one. The Golden Lions claimed the Southwest Athletic Conference's first tournament victory since 1993. They will add another chapter to their storybook season Friday when they play No. 1 seed Duke in Jacksonville, Fla., in the first round.

Newberry releases 2010 football schedule

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 23:50 EDT

Newberry's 2010 schedule will be highlighted by a Thursday night contest (Sept. 16) against FCS team Samford. Newberry will play six home games at Setzler Field. The schedule:

Sept. 4: Livingstone

Sept. 11: Valdosta State

Sept. 16: at Samford

Oct. 2: Lenoir-Rhyne

Wofford dedicates season to former player who died in April

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:35 EDT

SPARTANBURG - The coroner said Eric Marshall died of an enlarged heart.

No, his heart was just too big.

Marshall, 24 years old and two years removed from being a star player for the Wofford basketball team, suffered a heart attack on April 22, 2009, in a pickup game at Greenbrier High School in Evans, Ga., where he was set to become a teacher and coach at his alma mater. He had two young sons with his high school sweetheart.

Wofford has played this season in Marshall's memory. And it has been the best season in the history of the century-old program.

The Terriers won a school-record 26 games, the Southern Conference regular-season championship, the league tournament and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

History a given in Winthrop's play-in game

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00 EDT

DAYTON, Ohio - There will be plenty of history made during today's opening-round game of the NCAA tournament between Winthrop and Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

The Eagles (19-13) played in the inaugural play-in game in 2001 and will become the first team to take part in the contest twice.

The Golden Lions, meanwhile, will be making their first appearance in the NCAAs.

That likely will mark the end of tournament firsts for the two teams; the winner moves on to meet No. 1 seed Duke on Friday in Jacksonville, Fla. A No. 16 seed never has beaten a No 1 seed.

"We are very excited about being here," Winthrop coach Randy Peele said. "I told the players we were going to be the only game played Tuesday with a national television audience."