VSU clobbers St. Augustine’s; Elizabeth City State next
Virginia State University finds itself in an uncomfortable spot in the CIAA standings — looking up. In 2013 and 2014, the Trojans were undefeated in the CIAA Northern Division en route to consecutive titles. This fall under first-year Coach Byron Thweatt, every game the rest of the way figures to be a must-win game, starting with the Saturday, Oct. 10, trip to Elizabeth City State University.
Coach Butler optimistic about VUU’s hoop dreams
Virginia Union University will have plenty of new faces on the floor and on the bench for the upcoming basketball season. The Panthers will open Saturday, Nov. 14, at Shepherd, W.Va., with a new head coach, Jay Butler, three fresh assistant coaches and at least 10 first-year players.
Marcus Clarke named to CIAA administration
Marcus Clarke, a familiar face to Richmonders, is the latest addition to the CIAA’s administrative family. The versatile Clarke has been named the CIAA’s senior associate commissioner for championships and events. He will wear many hats.
VUU gets training edge
College and NFL football share some common ground on Richmond’s North Side. Virginia Union University has been given the green light to practice once a week at the Bon Secours Training Center. The Leigh Street facility opened three years ago as the preseason training camp for the NFL Washington franchise. It’s the latest effort to open the partially city-funded facility to the community for other uses.
Granderson may play grand role in MLB playoffs
Curtis Granderson provides everything expected of a leadoff man — and much more. “Let’s Get It Started” by the Black Eyed Peas could be his walk-up-to-the-plate music, if it isn’t already. “The Grandy Man” bats first in the lineup for the revitalized New York Mets, who have won the National League East title and likely will face Los Angeles in the divisional series Friday, Oct. 9.
VSU Trojans aim to corral Fayetteville State Broncos
If you went for a hot dog and soft drink during punt plays, you’d have missed the day’s most exciting action. Virginia State University’s two touchdowns came on punts in its 14-7 victory over Kentucky State University last Saturday at Rogers Stadium.
John Marshall High’s Reginald Revels has record day
There has been a major change in Reginald Revels’ after-school autumn itinerary. About this time a year ago, he headed to McDonald’s after classes for a part-time job flipping burgers. This year, he has traded in his apron and spatula for a helmet, shoulder pads and the No. 4 blue and white jersey for the John Marshall High School football team.
From ‘Mumbles’ to ‘MVP’
Petersburg basketball icon Moses Malone dies at 60
Moses Eugene Malone, the Petersburg native and basketball icon whose talent took him directly from high school to the pros, died of apparent heart failure while sleeping Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015.
VSU wins in Tennessee, welcomes Kentucky State to Ettrick
Virginia State University features two star running backs plus a defensive back that can really run. That combination enabled first-year Coach Byron Thweatt to record his initial Trojans victory last Saturday against Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tenn. The Trojan win over Tusculum: 40-16.
VUU beats St. Augustine’s, on the road to Gardner-Webb
In two coaching seasons at Virginia Union University, Coach Mark James is 9-3 overall, but 7-0 against North Carolina opponents.
Flying Squirrels soar in attendance for Eastern League
The Richmond Flying Squirrels are Eastern League champions again — at the box office, that is. For the fourth time since arriving in Richmond in 2010, the Squirrels led the Eastern League in total attendance — 417,828 fans for 69 home dates — and per game attendance of 6,055.
VUU Panthers on the prowl for second victory
Freshmen Hakeem Holland and Lamar Webster are the dual dynamos that fueled Virginia Union University’s maroon and steel football engine last Saturday. Perhaps benefitting from the surprise factor, the fledgling Panthers’ running backs contributed mightily to a 35-21 opening victory over Brevard College of North Carolina before a crowd of 7,245 fans at Hovey Field.
VSU Trojans trying for first win in Tennessee
Virginia State University is 0-1 and facing a 405-mile bus ride to try and even the ledger. The Byron Thweatt football coaching era began last Saturday at Rogers Stadium in Ettrick with a 35-16 loss to California University of Pennsylvania, which is part of the tough Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.
John Marshall has old luck despite new field
John Marshall High School has a new football field that it plans to take full advantage of this fall. Hoping to “bring the pride back” to the North Side, Justices Athletic Director Lamont Davis has scheduled six home games this season.
VUU looking toward new season; Saturday opener at Hovey Field
Mark James began his first coaching season at Virginia Union University with modest expectations. Much has changed heading into year two.
Bellamy to power VSU push to repeat as CIAA champs
In ancient warfare, battering rams were used to break up masonry fortifications and splinter wooden gates. Kavon Bellamy is a modern-day battering ram — gridiron-style — wearing blue and orange. The Virginia State University junior rips through defensive linemen and flattens linebackers en route to first downs, touchdowns and Trojan victories.
Huguenot wins opener over TJ
So far, so good. Huguenot High School is undefeated, untied and unscored upon, albeit after just one game in a new era of Falcons football. Led by Jameko Coleman’s defense and the rushing of Donte Lester, the Falcons are pumped after christening their new stadium last Saturday with a 14-0 win over Thomas Jefferson High School.
Eaton wins gold, breaks own world record
BEIJING, China Dubbed “the world’s greatest athlete,” American Ashton Eaton broke his own world record in winning the gold medal in the grueling, 10-event decathlon at the World
Bradley still hot
Richmond native Jackie Bradley Jr. continues to swing a hot bat for the Boston Red Sox.
NBA’s ‘Chocolate Thunder’ Darryl Dawkins dies at 58
Darryl Dawkins was a mountain of a man with a persona to match. To the delight of fans and the media, he shattered backboards, gave poetic names to his power dunks, sparked the invention of the breakaway rim and made NBA history at 18 by challenging and defeating the system.
Football debut for Huguenot’s stadium
In the final scene of the “Wizard of Oz,” Dorothy says over and over, “There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home.” On Richmond’s South Side, Huguenot High’s Falcons would like to add an “amen” to that notion. After three years of “have bus, will travel,” Huguenot has a sparkling new on-campus stadium with synthetic turf to call home sweet home.
He's still the fastest: Bolt does it again
Bolt does it again Usain Bolt still is the world’s fastest human. The 29-year-old Jamaican kept that title by nipping 33-year-old American Justin Gatlin in the 100 meters Sunday in the World Championships in Beijing, China.
Wow! What a week for Jackie Bradley
If Baseball Hall of Fame credentials could be based on just a week instead of a career, Jackie Bradley Jr. might already be preparing his Cooperstown acceptance speech. The 25-year-old Boston Red Sox outfielder with Richmond-Petersburg area ties was almost other worldly in hitting during the week of Aug. 9 through 15.
VUU starts season with quarterback options
Last year, Virginia Union University led the CIAA in passing. This year, the Panthers hope to be No. 1 in passing again. But the team also wants to rank first in a more significant category — wins.
Cleo Hill Sr., 77, CIAA star, first-round NBA pick, dies
Cleo Hill Sr., one of the CIAA’s all-time basketball greats, has died. He was 77. Following a lengthy illness, Mr. Hill died Monday, Aug. 10, 2015, at his home in Orange, N.J.
Late Richmond Braves slugger set record in Mexican League
Former Richmond Braves infielder Mike Hessman drew national publicity recently by becoming the all-time, home run king for minor league baseball.
35-and-over basketball league begins Sept. 22
So you’re getting older, but still feel like you can play a little basketball?
VUU bowling team adds 2 local women
Virginia Union University women’s bowling Coach James Washington has added two local athletes to his roster.
Virginian inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame
Virginia is known as the “birthplace of presidents.” It’s also a cradle of NFL pass-rushing, quarterback-crunching defensive Hall of Famers. With the induction of Charles Haley on Aug. 8 into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Virginia can claim five of the most ferocious defenders in gridiron history. And all embarked on their Hall of Fame journeys to Canton, Ohio, from within 115 miles of Richmond City Stadium.
Former Henrico High player named to MEAC All-Preseason team
Coaches around the MEAC are taking a “wait and see” attitude toward Connell Maynor and Latrell Scott. Coach Maynor is entering his second season as football coach at Hampton University.
2 top basketball standouts commit to UR
Imagine winning the lottery, then two days later winning it again. That’s about how University of Richmond basketball Coach Chris Mooney felt after landing two highly acclaimed rising seniors from the 804 area code.
Former NBA star Rick Mahorn to be inducted into Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame
Former Hampton University basketball sensation Rick Mahorn has been selected for the Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame.
VIA group holds organizing session in Chesapeake
The Virginia Interscholastic Heritage Association will hold its next organizational meeting Saturday, Aug. 15, in Chesapeake.
Richmond teams play, place in MJBL annual tournament
Three teams representing the Richmond Metropolitan Junior Baseball League faced stiff competition in the 25th Annual Inner City Classic from July 28 through Aug. 2 in Orlando, Fla. They also faced hurdles to get to the tournament that annually attracts dozens of teams and hundreds of youths from across the country.
‘Pot Roast’ beefs up Washington’s defense
Terrance Knighton came to a crossroads as a 270-pound nose tackle and tight end at Milford Academy in New Berlin, N.Y. Knighton’s coach, Bill Chaplick, suggested these options for his future: He could pass up second helpings of mashed potatoes and gravy, slim down to 250 pounds and concentrate on being a tight end.
‘Golden Girl’ returns an Olympic hero in bocce
Mary Davis is Richmond’s newest “Golden Girl.” At 72, she proves it’s never too late to shine athletically.
Parker on par for record books
Golfer Addie Parker is adept at making pars, birdies, eagles and, yes, history. The 15-year-old daughter of Flotilla and Tracy Parker of Chesterfield County has blazed her name into the Richmond Golf Association (RGA) record books.
Former VSU sports info director dies at 68
Wallace Dooley Jr., who served as sports information director at Virginia State University and a number of historically black colleges, died Tuesday, July 21, 2015, at a hospice in Nashville, Tenn.
After 13-year hiatus, Coach Hopkins returns to Shaw
Coach Joel Hopkins led Shaw University to basketball glory once before. Now the CIAA school in Raleigh, N.C., is hopeful he can do it again.
Winston-Salem State predicted to win CIAA 2015 football season
CIAA football coaches are predicting the 2015 season will closely resemble 2014. In a Media Day vote of coaches last week in Durham, N.C., Winston-Salem State University was picked first overall with Virginia State University second, Virginia Union University third and Fayetteville State University fourth.
The ‘Queen’ takes crown at Pan Am Games
Queen Harrison wears the Pan-American crown as champion of the 100-meter hurdles.
40 years later
Ashe’s shining win at Wimbledon
The late Arthur Ashe Jr.’s iconic tennis career reached a summit 40 years ago on the pristine grass of Centre Court at the All-England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club in London. The occasion was the 89th staging of the Wimbledon tennis championships. And on this Fourth of July weekend in 1975, the Richmonder — just a week from his 32nd birthday — stunned tempestuous, heavily favored defending champion Jimmy Connors in a tense final.
VCU’s Graham trying his luck in NBA Summer League
Treveon Graham hopes for a change in his basketball luck in the mecca for gambling, Las Vegas. After not getting picked in last week’s NBA Draft, the former Virginia Commonwealth University star has signed to play for San Antonio in the Samsung NBA Summer League at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas.
9 inducted into Petersburg High Sports Hall of Fame
Petersburg High School has inducted its first Sports Hall of Fame class. The inaugural induction ceremony was held at a reception and banquet in mid-June at Good Shepherd Baptist Church in Petersburg.
VSU football team includes area freshmen
Departed Virginia State University football Coach Latrell Scott, who is now at Norfolk State University, has left his successor with a tough act to follow.
De Grasse racing toward ‘world’s fastest man’ title
When the throne for “world’s fastest man” eventually has a vacancy, Andre De Grasse seems primed to fill the seat. Since 2008, the “world’s fastest” title has been held by Usaian Bolt of Jamaica, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in 100- and 200-meter races.
Mo’ne rocks Richmond, MJBL
Baseball teen celebrity Mo’ne Davis didn’t disappoint with her pitching arm, her bat or glam image when she played last Saturday in Metro Richmond.
Average-sized players make big splash in NBA
History tells us that big men rule the NBA. But that history book may be in the process of being rewritten. The Golden State Warriors dominated the world’s toughest league this season with a different recipe than many other teams.
Bigger Huguenot moves to new sports conference
Starting with the 2015-16 school year, Richmond’s five comprehensive high schools no longer will compete in the same athletic conference.
Mo’ne Davis to play Saturday in Henrico
Mo’ne Davis, the 14-year-old female pitching sensation selected as the Associated Press 2014 Female Athlete of the Year, will be testing her fastball Saturday against a team of Richmond area standouts.
