Month: July 2014

B-CU predicted to finish atop the MEAC

/ J Bell / 1 Comment

????????Norfolk, VA—The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) unofficially kicked off its 2014 football season at this past Friday’s Annual Press Luncheon. To the surprise of few, the league’s coaches and sports information directors predicted Bethune-Cookman would defend their crown and finish the season atop the league standings.

Under the guidance of fifth year head coach Brian Jenkins, the Wildcats have established themselves as a perennial MEAC power and FCS Top 25 program. BCU enters the season looking for its third consecutive MEAC crown and seventh (7th) MEAC title overall.

2013 Co-Champions, South Carolina State, were predicted to finish 2nd in the league. North Carolina A&T, Howard, and Delaware State round out the Top 5.

Four Bethune-Cookman student-athletes received First Team All-MEAC recognition, two more were named to the All-MEAC Second Team, and one Wildcat picked up Third Team honors. Howard quarterback Greg McGee was selected as Offensive Player of the Year while Norfolk State linebacker/defensive end Lynden Trail picked up Defensive Player of the Year honors.

BCU will kickoff the 2014 campaign in South Florida on August 30th against in-state foe Florida International. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM.

2014 Predicted Order of Finish

(First Place Votes in Parenthesis)

School Points

1. Bethune-Cookman 487

2. South Carolina State 457

3. North Carolina A&T 338

4. Howard 309

5. Delaware State 229

6. Norfolk State 225

7. Hampton 200

8. North Carolina Central 187

9. Morgan State 148

** Florida A&M and Savannah State are not eligible for post season competition therefore is not listed on the above prediction order

2014 Football All-Conference Preseason Teams

Offensive Player of the Year: Greg McGhee, Howard Defensive Player of the Year: Lynden Trail, Norfolk State

Name School Hometown
QB Greg McGhee Howard Pittsburgh, Pa.
RB Tarik Cohen N.C. A&T Bunn, N.C.
RB Anthony Philyaw Howard Los Angeles, Ca.
WR Milton Williams III Delaware State Washington, D.C.
WR Desmond Lawrence N.C. A&T Durham, N.C.
TE Kris Drummond Savannah State Washington D.C.
C Andrew Edouard   Bethune-Cookman Philadelphia, Pa.
OL Domanic Wilson r-Sr. S.C. State Lake City, S.C.
OL Willie Robinson r-Sr. N.C A&T Clinton. Md.
OL Darren Pinnock Morgan State Miami, Fla
OL Devin Flowers r-Sr. S.C. State Charlotte, N.C.
OL Toree Boyd Howard Miami, Fla.
DEFENSE
Name School Hometown
DL LeBrandon Richardson   Bethune-Cookman Miami, Fla.
DL Miles Grooms Hampton Richmond, Va
DL Alex Glover S.C. State Charlotte, N.C.
DL Andrew Carter S.C. State Hamlet, N.C.
LB Lynden Trail r-Sr. Norfolk State Miami, Fla.
LB D’Vonte Grant North Carolina A&T Charlotte, N.C.
LB Tavarus Dantzler   Bethune-Cookman Homestead, Fla.
DB Darrin Marrow r-Sr. Norfolk State Virginia Beach, Va.
DB Cameron Alston r-Sr. Howard North Augusta, S.C.
DB Mike Jones N.C. Central Baltimore,Md.
DB Marquis Drayton   Bethune-Cookman Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
P Lawrence Forbes r-So. Morgan State Upper Marlboro, Md.
PK Anthony Prevost r-So. Hampton Chesterfield, Va.
RS Adrian Wilkins r-Jr. N.C. Central Forest City, N.C.

 

Second Team
OFFENSE
Name School Hometown
QB Quentin Williams r-Sr. Bethune-Cookman Tampa, Fla.
RB Lamont Brown III r-So. Morgan State Suffolk, Va.
RB Justin Taylor r- Jr. S.C. State Atlanta, Ga.
WR Joseph Cervalo r-Sr. Delaware State Venice
WR Thomas Martin r-So. Morgan State Naples, Fla.
TE* James Lynch r-Jr. Norfolk State Darby, Pa.
TE* Temarrick Hemingway r-Jr. S.C. State Loris, SC
C Ronald Canty r-Sr. N.C. A&T Chester, S.C.
OL John Smith r-Jr. Howard Atlanta. Ga.
OL Jerron Searles Delaware State Atlantic City, N.J.
OL Keonte Cash Florida A&M Miami, Fla.
OL Justin Myler r-Sr. Norfolk State Woodbridge, Va.
OL Chris Pressley N.C. Central Upper Marlboro, Md.
DEFENSE
Name School Hometown
DL Rodney Gunter Delaware State Lake Hamilton, Fla.
DL Damon Gresham-Chisolm Howard Covington, GA
DL Ronnie Barrow   Bethune-Cookman
DL

DL

 Demarco Bisbee

Javon Hargrave

 r-Jr.

  		•  Morgan State

    S.C. State

    		 Lansing, Mich.

    Salisbury, NC
    LB Joshua Thorne Hampton Oxon Hill, Md.
    LB Cody Acker Morgan State Landover, Md.
    LB Marquis Smith Savannah State Prince Georges County, Md.
    DB Khambrel McGee Hampton Miami, Fla.
    DB Devonte Johnson Florida A&M Tallahassee, Fla.
    DB Tony McRae N.C. A&T Laurinburg, N.C.
    DB* Patrick Aiken r-So. Florida A&M Pembroke Pines, Fla.
    DB* Keenan Lambert r-Sr. Norfolk State Norfolk, Va.
    P Christian Faber-Kinney r-So. Hampton Williamsburg, Va.
    PK Chase Varnadore Florida A&M Tallahassee, Fla.
    RS Tony McRae N.C. A&T Laurinburg, N.C.
    Third Team
    OFFENSE
    Name School Hometown
    QB Damien Fleming Florida A&M Jacksonville, Fla.
    RB Jorrian Washington r-Sr. Hampton Los Angeles, Ca.
    RB Dae-Hon Cheung Delaware State Coatesville, Pa.
    WR DennisRowe r-Sr. S.C. State Columbia, S.C.
    WR Jhomo Gordon   Bethune-Cookman Palm Bay, Fla.
    TE

    TE*

    		 Nathan Scruggs

    Nate Ingram

    		 r-Jr.

    Graduate

    		 N.C. Central

    Howard

    		 Jacksonville, Fla.

    Sicklerville, N.J.
    C Erick Dickerson r-So. S.C. State Goose Creek, SC
    OL Mike Phillips Norfolk State Virginia Beach, Va.
    OL Clevonne Davis N.C. Central Miramar, FL
    OL Afolabi Ayangbayi Savannah State Union, NJ
    OL Ryan Templeton Florida A&M Chicago, Ill
    DEFENSE
    Name School Hometown
    DL Michael Neal N.C. A&T Greensboro, N.C.
    DL Daniel Pinnix N.C. A&T High Point, N.C.
    DL Deon King Norfolk State Reston, Va
    DL George Riddick Norfolk State Suffolk, Va.
    LB Justin Hughes S.C. State Virginia Beach, Va.
    LB Marcell Coke Norfolk State Orlando, Fla.
    LB Justin Dixon Savannah State Duluth, Ga.
    DB Ronald Robinson Delaware State Jersey City, N.J.
    DB Julien David Howard Coral Springs, FL
    DB Ryan Smith r-So. N.C. Central Upper Marlboro, Md.
    DB

    DB

    P

    		 Greg Brown

    DeShaun Summers

    Domnic Frescura

    		 Savannah State

    Morgan State

    N.C. A&T

    		 Tucker, Ga.

    Hampton, ­Va.

    South Pasadena, CA
    PK Cody Jones N.C. A&T Gastonia, N.C.

     

    B-CU and City of Daytona Beach strike Municipal Stadium Deal

    / J Bell / 11 Comments
    IMG_1041

    B-CU Home Stadium (Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium)

     

     

    After nearly four years of negotiations, Bethune-Cookman University and The City of Daytona Beach have reached a 20-year stadium leasing agreement that is being lauded and as “a strong business deal” by both university officials and city leaders.

    The 20-year contract requires Bethune-Cookman to pay $83,684 annually in year one ($60,000 annual base rent plus $23,684 in annual capital contribution fees) and would gradually climb to $128,894 in annual cost by the end of the lease cycle.

    In exchange, BCU will keep 80 percent of parking revenue, 25 percent of net concession revenue, 75 percent of net banner advertising revenue, 50 percent of net advertising revenue from a new Jumbotron scoreboard and 50 percent of stadium naming rights revenue. Any naming rights proposals will need City Commission approval.

    The City of Daytona Beach will be responsible for all cleaning and maintenance and will pay for new field lighting and a Jumbotron expected to be installed by the end of this year. The city and Bethune-Cookman will both seek grants to help cover costs for upgrades and repairs on the 26-year-old facility.

    The agreement, which extends through New Years Eve 2034, allows Bethune-Cookman to use the field for all of its home football games (including playoff games), three spring scrimmages, three preseason scrimmages, 12 preseason and in-season practices and up to six open-use dates for things such as youth camps.