TheState.com: State Colleges

NCAA may tinker with goaltending rule

Tue, 13 May 2008 01:49 EDT

INDIANAPOLIS — An NCAA committee has recommended changing the goaltending rule so that a ball that is completely above the rim and has already hit the backboard could not be touched, regardless of whether it is on an upward or downward flight.

“This change better defines and discerns the act of goaltending,” Brad Jackson, chairman of the NCAA basketball rules committee and coach at Western Washington, said Monday.

Previously, only a ball on a downward flight after touching the backboard was subject to a goaltending call.

The proposal was one of about 50 by a joint subcommittee of the men’s and women’s rules committee. Only a handful of minor changes were approved, and those must be approved next month by the NCAA’s playing rules oversight panel before they would go into effect.

Among the proposals that were approved was one requiring home teams to wear light uniforms and visiting teams to wear dark uniforms, unless both schools agree to a switch. Previously, the light-home, dark-visitor uniforms were recommended, but not required.

State colleges: Honors

Tue, 13 May 2008 07:37 EDT

HONORS

Michael Harrington, College of Charleston, baseball, Louisville Slugger national player of the week.

David Anderson, Coastal Carolina, baseball, Louisville Slugger national player of the week; Big South player of the week.

From staff reports

Longtime Clemson fund raiser honored by Hall

Tue, 13 May 2008 07:36 EDT

Longtime Clemson scholarship fund raiser George Bennett will receive the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame Distinguished Service Award.

Bennett, Clemson alumnus, served as Executive Secretary to IPTAY for a total of 22 years. He also was athletics director at Furman from 1986-89. He started his career at Clemson in 1967 as an alumni field director, later moving on to become assistant athletics director for business.

Bennett will receive the award May 19 at the SCAHOF banquet at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.

From staff reports

USC adds a tight end to ’09 class

Mon, 12 May 2008 01:48 EDT

USC HIT THE Atlanta area for its newest commitment. Tight end Will Middleton (6-feet, 5 inches, 245 pounds) of Marietta committed to the Gamecocks on Friday, one day after receiving an official offer from recruiter Shane Beamer and position coach Ray Rychleski.

“I love the place,” Middleton said. “It’s SEC football; it’s close to home and I love the coaches and facilities.”

Middleton also had a offer from Rutgers and was drawing interest from West Virginia, Georgia and Florida among others.

Middleton’s sister, Victoria, recently completed her freshman year with USC’s equestrian team. He is the third commitment for USC’s 2009 class.

Byrnes sophomore running back Marcus Lattimore (6-0, 200), the state’s top prospect for the 2010 class, has switched his favorite from Clemson to USC.

Softball: Francis Marion earns first trip to Div. II championship

Mon, 12 May 2008 07:19 EDT

At Pembroke, N.C., Francis Marion (38-14) earned its first trip to the NCAA Division II women’s softball national championship by beating North Georgia College & State 1-0, Saturday night in the final of the Softball South Atlantic Regional.

Sophomore pitcher Michaela Wolf was named the tournament’s outstanding player. Jessie Alesi joined her on the all-tournament team.

From staff reports

State college honors and signings, May 12, 2008

Mon, 12 May 2008 07:19 EDT

HONORS

Verity Long-Droppert, Coastal Carolina, softball, Big South Conference, all-tournament team

Kimberly Atkinson, Coker, softball, NFCA/Louisville Slugger, second team all-South Atlantic region

Jessica Strickland, USC Aiken, softball, NFCA/Louisville Slugger, first team all-South Atlantic region

Monica Wofford (1st team), Michaela Wolf (1st team), Shannon Tyson (2nd team), Jessica Birchmeier (2nd team), Francis Marion, softball , NFCA/Louisville Slugger, all-South Atlantic region

State college briefs

Sat, 10 May 2008 20:28 EDT

WOMEN’S GOLF

USC, Furman advance to NCAA finals

At Athens, Ga., Benedicte Toumpsin shot a 4-over for South Carolina Saturday to remain the overall leader at the NCAA East Regional. The Gamecocks will advance to the finals after finishing tied for sixth place.

Furman also advances to the next round, finishing in eighth place.

Team Results

State college briefs

Fri, 09 May 2008 23:14 EDT

WOMEN’S GOLF

USC’s Toumpsin leads East Regional after two rounds

At Athens, Ga., Benedicte Toumpsin shot the day’s best round, a 2-under-par 70, to open a three-shot lead on the field after two rounds of the NCAA East Regional.

Toumpsin, who carded one of only two sub-par rounds Friday, is at 6-under 138.

Duke’s Amanda Blumenherst and Louisville’s Sara-Maude Juneau, the first-round leader, were second at 3-under 141.

State college briefs

Fri, 09 May 2008 00:29 EDT

GOLF

USC third in East Regional

At Athens, Ga., the USC women’s golf team shot a 291 (+9) Thursday to claim third place after round one of the NCAA East Regional at University of Georgia Golf Course. Benedicte Thoumpsin shot a 68 (-4) to tie for second place. The Gamecocks are six shots behind Duke, which holds the first-round lead after shooting 285 (-3). Furman stands in fourth at +10.

FOOTBALL

Defensive coordinator to meet with Bulldog Club

Newberry leadership divided over nickname issue

Thu, 08 May 2008 00:36 EDT

NEWBERRY — Details of a contentious rift between the Newberry College administration and its faculty came to light Wednesday afternoon as school officials spelled out their desire to revive the “Indians” nickname.

School president Dr. Mitchell Zais and trustee Billy Walker detailed the school’s plan to woo the Eastern Band of Cherokee Nation in an effort to gain the NCAA’s blessing to restore the nickname. The board of trustees voted earlier this month to retire the nickname in order to comply with the NCAA’s mandate against the use of Native American nicknames and imagery.

Failure to do so would have cost the school the opportunity to play host to postseason events with the further penalty of having to cover any offending imagery with duct tape during postseason competition on the road.

The school’s faculty, however, is vehemently opposed to the administration’s courtship of the Cherokee, voting 47-0 in January to approve a resolution calling for the pursuit of other nicknames.

According to multiple faculty members who declined to be quoted for fear of reprisal from the administration, it is their belief the school’s effort is insincere. They point to the fact the Cherokee have not pursued ties despite repeated overtures as evidence of the administration’s insincerity.

State college briefs

Wed, 07 May 2008 19:54 EDT

MEN’S GOLF

Clemson’s Stanley honored

Clemson’s men’s golfer Kyle Stanley has been named first-team All-ACC for the second consecutive year. Stanley led the Tigers in stroke average during the regular season with a 72.14 figure.

USC-Aiken finishes second at Division II Regional

At Mooresville, N.C., USC-Aiken finished second in the Division II Southeast Regional, 13 shots behind Georgia College and State University. Newberry was third and Lander was fifth. In the Atlantic Regional, held at the same site, Anderson was third and Coker was fifth.

Newberry College teams’ nickname banned

Wed, 07 May 2008 12:43 EDT

The Newberry Indians are no more.

In order to comply with an NCAA mandate barring the use of nonapproved Native American nicknames, the Newberry College board of trustees voted last weekend to strike the nickname for all of its sports teams, but chose not to replace it at this point.

“I guess you can call us the Big Red Ns,” trustee Billy Walker said Tuesday.

If the school had not complied with the directive to rid itself of the nickname, the NCAA would have banned the school from playing host to postseason events. In addition, the school’s teams would have had to place duct tape over “Indians” lettering on jerseys, uniforms and all other related equipment.

“We’re bowing to the NCAA’s ridiculous ruling,” said Chuck Wendt, Newberry College’s vice president. “We had no chance. We had no choice. The only reason we did it was for the kids.”

Wofford beats Furman in APR grade battle

Tue, 06 May 2008 21:53 EDT

Add another layer of intrigue to the storied Wofford-Furman rivalry.

Forget, for the moment, what the two teams have done on the field; Tuesday’s news concerned what has taken place off it.

According to the NCAA’s Academic Progress Rate report, the Wofford football team duplicated its victory against the dreaded Paladins using pencils and paper in place of helmets and pads.

Wofford’s multi-year average of 984 on a scale of 1,000 was one point better than Furman. Both figures were well above the NCAA average of 934 and the sanction line, 925.

Clark, however, did point out the Paladins outpointed Wofford 982-981 a year ago.

Southern Cal lures USC, Clemson prospect

Mon, 05 May 2008 01:48 EDT

A WRITTEN OFFER from Southern Cal arrived in the mail Friday for Columbia High defensive back Damario Jeffery (6-foot-3, 211 pounds). USC, Clemson, Oklahoma and Michigan are among Jeffery’s 16 offers.

USC’s David Reaves was the first recruiter to visit Jeffery this week. Coaches from North Carolina and N.C. State also came by the school.

“He keeps saying he’d like to play in the SEC,” said Columbia coach Kemper Amick.

Richland Northeast defensive end Chris Bonds (6-4, 283) picked up offers from Florida State, Virginia Tech, Purdue and Northwestern, according to his coach, Jay Frye. Coaches from USC, Michigan, Florida State and Notre Dame have visited.

Bonds has visited USC, Southern Cal, Alabama and Virginia. He wants to visit Tennessee, Michigan, Notre Dame and Miami.

Benedict releases 2008 football schedule

Thu, 01 May 2008 22:37 EDT

The Benedict College Athletic Department announced its 11-game 2008 football schedule. Five games will be played at Benedict’s Charlie W. Johnson Stadium.

The Tigers open with the seventh annual Palmetto Capital City Classic against Morehouse College on Aug. 30 at 4 p.m.

The Tigers go to Orangeburg on Sept. 6 to meet South Carolina State at 6 p.m. On Sept. 13, the Tigers go to Tuskegee University for a 2 p.m. kickoff.

On Sept. 20 at 6 p.m., the Tigers play host to Lenoir-Rhyne College for a non-conference match-up, then will host Albany State University on Sept. 27 at 6 p.m.

Next are three conference road games: Oct. 4, at Miles College (Birmingham, Ala.), at 2 p.m.; Oct. 11, at Lane College (Jackson, Tenn.) at 5 p.m.; and at Fort Valley State University (Ga.) on Oct. 18 at 1 p.m.

Lazy day turns hectic for Furman fullback

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 07:44 EDT

Sunday had been a slow day for Furman fullback Jerome Felton.

As the fifth round of the NFL draft droned on, he tried to keep himself occupied with family and friends, anything to prevent him from obsessing over the silence of his phone.

Then the phone rang. It was the Arizona Cardinals. They said to sit tight. He would be their next pick.

He hung up.

The phone rang again. It was the Buffalo Bills. They said to sit tight. They had a pick before Arizona and they were going to take him.

Coaches plan to hit recruiting trail this week

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 01:47 EDT

THE SPRING EVALUATION period for college football recruiting is underway and USC and Clemson coaches plan to hit the road this week. Staffs are allowed four weeks of evaluation through May 31.

Quarterback Morgan Newton (6-foot-5, 215 pounds) of Carmel, Ind., will throw for coaches today and expects Clemson’s Rob Spence to be present. Newton said he talked to Spence last week.

“He said I was No. 1 or No. 2 on his list,” said Newton, who also expects coaches from Penn State, Florida and Kentucky to be there. USC is among his offers, and he expects quarterbacks coach David Reaves to visit at some point. Newton recently picked up offers from Mississippi State, Cincinnati and Nebraska.

Linebacker Corico Hawkins (6-0, 225) of Milledgeville, Ga., has cut his list of more than 20 offers to Clemson, Auburn and Florida. Though once on the fast track to a Clemson commitment, he has slowed the process.

“I’m going to take my time and look into these schools and see what kind of impact I would have at those three schools,” Hawkins said.

State colleges: Honors

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 07:23 EDT

Radek Pivonka, Gabriel Meana, Tomas Dobrotka, Ivan Milivojevic, S.C. State, men’s tennis, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, all-conference team

Hardeep Judge, S.C. State, women’s tennis, Mid-Eastern Athleetic Conference, coach of the year

Marcela Rodezno, Mirian Cruz, Sarai Torres, Andrea Davidova, S.C. State, women’s tennis, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, all-conference team

Bruno Seves, Dagoberto Darezzo and Edward Horne, USC Aiken, men’s tennis, Peach Belt Conference, all-conference

From staff reports

Coastal receiver is Bengals' catch

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:59 EDT

Jerome Simpson spent Saturday afternoon at a Winston-Salem, N.C., flea market. The day trip was planned to avoid the nerve-trying television coverage of the NFL Draft.

The call of his life came as he returned home to Reidsville, N.C., in the early evening.

Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis told the former Coastal Carolina receiver that the Bengals had taken him in the second round. He was the 46th overall pick.

The Simpson caravan pulled to the side of familiar U.S. Route 29. Tears, leaps and hugs ensued.

“We pulled over and put the hazard [lights] on,” Simpson said. “We were jumping up and down, my mother and grandmother were crying, my uncles were crying

State College Briefs

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 22:17 EDT

TRACK AND FIELD

USC relay teams qualify for finals

At Philadelphia, South Carolina’s men’s and women’s 800-meter relays advanced to today’s Championship of America finals on Friday, the second day of competition at the 114th annual Penn Relays. The women’s 1,600-meter relay will also run in the finals.

Jason Richardson ran the top time of the day to advance to the Championship of America finals in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 13.64.

Richardson won his heat of the 400-meter hurdles, but finished as the runner-up based on time. He ran a season-best, NCAA qualifying time of 50.54.