Sanders WWW.TRIANGLETRIBUNE.COM and The Triangle SWAC a TRIBUNE perfect Sports SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2020 – PAGE 1B marriage I tried to blow off Deion Sanders’ much ballyhooed hiring at Jackson State. After COLLEGE CORNER all, he’s not the first former professional player to coach at an HBCU, and while there have been some successes, there have been flops as well. For every Doug Williams at Grambling State or Sam Wash- NC A&T ington at North Carolina A&T success stories, you have Doug Overton at coach Lincoln (Pa.) or – yes, I must say it again – Robert copes with Brickey at Shaw. Terrible, terrible hires. Think SWAC team, virus coaches aren’t N.C. A&T SPORTS INFORMATION getting sick of BONITTA “Prime Time” EAST GREENSBORO – The 2020- BEST and his, well, 21 women's basketball season prime time expo- was going to be a challenge for COURTESY North Carolina A&T head coach sure? They read the same Brehanna Daniels is a rising star in NASCAR. newspapers or social media Tarrell Robinson before a pan- accounts, and watch the same demic invaded the world. sports shows that we do. And Robinson's Aggies lost to rival they have egos, too. N.C. Central by two points in the Sure, Sanders is good for the quarterfinals of the MEAC Tour- conference – and maybe nament and that team featured HBCUs in general – but that experienced seniors. Unknown to feel-good party is going to get anyone at Norfolk Scope Arena at old and tired real soon. the time, that March 12 game For Jackson State, however, would be the final day of college the good times are rockin’ and basketball season. rollin’. Sanders just snagged a COVID-19 hit around the coun- three-star recruit in defensive try that shut down sports and the tackle Braezhon Ross from Las gymnasiums worldwide. The Vegas. loss led Robinson and his staff Ross announced on Twitter back to the drawing board to re- that he was “110%” to the kindle Aggies women's basket- Tigers. He reportedly chose ball's championship ways. JSU, or rather Sanders, over Meanwhile, from a student-ath- Arizona, Arizona State and lete perspective, the loss was dif- Colorado. ficult enough without the Ross joins another highly complication of the virus forcing rated high schooler, defensive gyms closed, making it hard to lineman Jeremiah Williams; maintain good conditioning. COURTESY When Robinson was able to get Jammie White, a Mississippi N.C. A&T State women’s bowling coach Kim Terrell-Kearney. Gulf Coast Community Col- the student-athletes on campus lege transfer defensive end; for the first time during the and Mississippi State transfer summer, he had to take it slow cornerback Javorrius Selmon with them. "They were off for so to JSU since Sanders was hired long when the nation was quar- barely a month ago. antining, obviously they didn't Sanders’ presence has also have access to a gym or the facil- upped JSU athletics’ market- ities," he said. "We asked them to ing value. According to the get some cardio outside. But university, the value in- when we got back here, we took creased by an estimated $19 small steps. We didn't jump right million in nine days after into anything. We kind of built Sanders came aboard. toward the conditioning and the “Prime Time” had endorse- physical and mental part. Now ment deals with Subway and we're full go." Under Armour when he ar- Without COVID, Robinson's rived at JSU. Reportedly he’s preseason would still be difficult in discussions on a reality TV as he welcomed 10 newcomers, show following him on cam- including eight freshmen. Only pus. four student-athletes return that In addition to the money, played at least 15 games, as the athletics department fin- guard Deja Winters and forward ished first among non-FBS Jayla Jones-Pack return for their program in social media en- senior seasons. COURTESY Junior guards Jasmen Walton gagement for the month of Norfolk State alumna Chanette Hicks. September. JSU beat out such and Kennedy Boyd each return FBS programs as Duke, Florida for another season. The first of- State, South Carolina and Kan- ficial practice is Oct. 15. Robin- sas. son brought in his new team in “Neon Deon” couldn’t have Norfolk State Please see A&T/2B chosen a better setup in the SWAC. The conference has led the NCAA in FCS football at- tendance 42 of the past 43 seasons, with JSU at the top of alumna succeeding NCAA that food chain. Mind you, the Tigers haven’t had a winning season since 2013. They did finish 5-5 in 2018. at NASCAR won’t "This further proves that we have the best fan base in Mis- Norfolk State alumna Bre- verse and inclusive NAS- agement from the U.S. sissippi and across the coun- hanna Daniels continues to CAR." Sports Academy. increase try," said JSU Director of shine on the racing circuit. Athletics Ashley Robinson. "In Daniels received a Crew St. Aug’s gets new FAR Homecomings Mississippi, it's often dis- Member award at the 13th St. Augustine’s sports North Carolina Central games cussed that there is the Big 3. annual NASCAR Driver for management professor has raised just under When mentioning the Big 3, Diversity Awards. In 2018, Umar Muhammad has been $165,000 in its virtual By Greg Johnson Jackson State rightfully be- she became the first black appointed the university’s homecoming campaign. NCAA.ORG longs in that discussion." woman to pit in NASCAR’s new faculty athletic repre- The goal is to reach The Division I Men’s and While Sanders is JSU’s big- top series. She followed sentative. $750,000 by Oct. 31, so gest sports moment, the ath- Women’s Basketball Oversight that up in 2019 by becom- The latest is another in a there’s still much work, uh, Committees on Monday re- letics department was having ing the first black woman long list of job titles Mu- money to do. Chop shop, a banner year before he ar- affirmed their positions on re- and first black graduate of hammad has, including folks!! ducing by four the maximum rived. the diversity program to pit head coach. He and Mark * Over in Raleigh, the Thomas “Snacks” Lee – re- number of games that teams can at the Daytona 500. Team- Janas made history this Shaw U vs. Corona virtual play in the 2020-21 season. member him? – electrified so- mate Breanna O’Leary summer after being se- homecoming is Oct. 19-25. cial media when, as team In men’s basketball, teams can joined her in Daytona. lected to head up the Fal- Alumni are being asked to compete in a maximum of 25 manager of the men’s basket- Daniels attended Louis- cons inaugural cycling send what they would nor- ball team, he donned a uni- regular-season games if a team burg College before trans- team, the only HBCU team mally spend at homecom- does not participate in a multi- form on senior night and ferring to the Spartans, in the country. ing. There will also be some nailed a 3-pointer that sent ple-team event; 25 regular-sea- where she played on the “Our student-athletes virtual events. Visit son games and one the gymnasium into a frenzy. basketball team for two have to manage their aca- www.shawu.edu. His sports moment won an multiple-team event that in- seasons. demic and athletic pursuits cludes up to two games; or 24 Espy for Cant-Stop-Watching "As we continue in our daily, but especially now Bowling history Moment Award beating out regular-season games and one mission to enhance diver- during this pandemic and North Carolina A&T multiple-team event that in- Olympic champion Simone sity across this great sport, after, it becomes even more women’s bowling coach Biles’ quadruple flip and cludes up to three games. we are inspired by the important to surround Kim Terrell-Kearney re- In women’s basketball, teams others. stories and efforts of so them with relationships cently made history by be- And the women’s soccer can compete in a maximum of 25 many leaders within the in- that can support them,” he coming the first woman to regular-season games if a team team produced a quarantine dustry who are setting pos- said. coach an all-female team in video that also went viral. does not compete in a multiple- itive examples and driving The Durham native is the Professional Bowlers team event or 23 regular-season HBCUs, Lord knows, have meaningful change," NAS- president and founder of Association. their challenges, but athletics games and one multiple-team CAR President Steve Phelps USports Consulting. Several “This is a great honor to event that includes up to four departments like Jackson said. "We are proud to rec- years ago, he helped run have the chance to work State show that when you games. ognize these 10 individuals the Bull City Legacy, a pro- with the best women in the The committees, which met have the support of your pres- and organizations whose fessional basketball team world,” Terrell-Kearney ident/chancellor, a rabid fan virtually, thoroughly discussed hard work and accomplish- that played in the Tobacco said. “The women get a whether a blanket waiver should base that keeps coming back, ments are having a pro- Road Basketball League. He chance to compete with the and a kick-butt social be applied to permit a school to found impact and is also pursuing his Doctor men, the best in the world, participate in a maximum of 27 media/sports marketing de- contributing to a more di- of Education in sports man- partment, anything is pos- Please see NSU/2B games with no multiple-team sible.