Author: J Bell

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

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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.

 

Eddie Poole, Nick Addison invited to NFL minicamps

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????????Former BCU standouts, Eddie Poole and Nick Addison, received invites to NFL minicamps according to multiple reports.  Poole, who caught a pass in every game during his BCU career, will participate in the Washington Redskins’ minicamp while Addison, who entered the NFL draft after his junior season, will participate in the Houston Texans’ minicamp.

 

Video–B-CU Athletics Corporate Presentation

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Under the direction of Director of Athletics Lynn W. Thompson, the Bethune-Cookman University Department of Athletics unveiled a corporate structure multimedia presentation that details the vision; the mission; and the role of Wildcats Athletics on the campus and in the corporate and civic communities.

The presentation was introduced last week as part of the Department of Athletics’ annual update to the Bethune-Cookman University Boast of Trustees, where it was featured as a program of excellence. Designed to give a comprehensive look at how Wildcats athletics is driven – both academically and financially, the presentation was produced by Darian McCaskill, director of the CatEye Network, as well as Thompson.

“This truly represents who we are and what we do in Wildcats Athletics,” said Thompson.

For its detail and display of reports through a variety of visual aids, the video received rave reviews from B-CU’s sixth president, Dr. Edison O. Jackson, in addition to the entire Board of Trustees.

“The B-CU Department of Athletics strategic plan presents a comprehensive business model for how to ensure this division becomes a sustainable, vibrant and efficient revenue-generating cost center within the university,” said Dr. Hakim Lucas, B-CU Vice President for Institutional Advancement. “Aligning fundraising key performance indicators with this plan will only enhance donor engagement, retention and satisfaction. With donor excitement, we will increase revenue to and awareness of BCU!”

BCU Football adds UCF to 2014 Schedule

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SONY DSCBethune-Cookman annouced earlier this week that the University of Central Florida has been added to the 2014 football schedule.  The Wildcats and Knights will hook up inside Brighthouse Stadium on UCF’s campus on September 20th.  This year’s contest will mark the first time the two teams have met on the gridiorn since UCF joined the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) in 1996.

BCU and UCF met annually from 1981-1995 in what became known as the Central Florida Classic.  The Knights hold a 10-5 head-to-head advantage in the series.

BCU’s 2014 11-game schedule features 2 FBS opponents (FIU-8/30, UCF-9/20), 4 home games (Grambling-9/13, Del State-10/4, Howard-10/11, NCCU-11/1), and road games against Savannah St-10/18, SCSU-10/25, NSU-11/08, and Hampton-11/15.  BCU concludes the regular season with its annual neutral field showdown against  in-state rival Florida A&M in the Florida Classic.

A 12th opponent may be named at a future date.

2014 Football Schedule

Aug 30  FIU  Miami, FL
Sep 13  GSU Daytona, FL
Sep 20 UCF Orlando, FL
Oct 04 DSU Daytona, FL
Oct 11 HOW Daytona, FL
Oct 18 SSU Savannah, GA
Oct 25 SCSU Orangeburg, SC
Nov 01 NCCU Daytona, FL
Nov 08 NSU Norfolk, VA
Nov 15 HAM Hampton, VA
Nov 22 FAMU Orlando, FL

@CookmanBaseball defeats #13 Miami 7-3

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Senior right-hander Montana Durapau

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Senior right-hander Montana Durapau picked up his second win over the No. 13 Miami Hurricanes, producing his fourth consecutive quality start, as Bethune-Cookman used the momentum of a big-hitting first inning to top Miami, 7-3, Tuesday night at Alex Rodriguez Park.

Facing Miami senior right-hander Javi Salas, in the top of the first, designated hitter Josh Johnson quickly dispelled the acclaim Salas’ perfect game last week versus Villanova, taking the first pitch for a single to shallow left field, jumpstarting a huge inning for the Wildcats.

Johnson was able to score just two batters later, as first baseman Eric Sams’ sacrifice bunt attempt paid out double, Salas overthrew first base to advance all runners. The very next pitch went to right center, courtesy of a Matt Noble two-run double. Two batters later, Miami native Eros Modena placed an RBI double into left center and fellow Miamian Julian Santos came in on a groundout, and was the last to cross the plate in the frame.

In all, B-CU batted through 12 men in the inning, scoring six runs on six hits, ending the night for Salas, who was replaced by Enrique Sosa in the top of the second.

Holding the Wildcats to just two hits and no runs over the next seven innings, the Hurricanes crept back into the game. After moving center fielder Dale Carey to third with a small ball approach, Carey tabbed Miami’s first run on a passed ball in the bottom of the third. Right fielder Willie Abreau came in on a groundout to narrow the B-CU advantage to four runs.

Miami added one more in the bottom of the fifth on Fieger’s double, high over third base, his second RBI of the night. Third baseman Jordan Robinson closed the frame snagging a line drive and completing the solo double play with the quick move to the bag.

The Wildcats added a little more breathing room in the top of the ninth, as Johnson led off with a triple down the left field line. He crossed the plate for the second time in the game, on an error, granting the Wildcats the 7-3 advantage.

Bethune-Cookman starter (3-0) Durapau pitched eight frames with only two earned runs allowed, walking two and striking out seven. Durapau also collected the win in last season’s victory at Miami and is 2-0 in three total appearances against the Hurricanes.

Sophomore Michael Austin downed each batter faced in relief to close the door in the bottom of the ninth, securing the first victory over a top-15 team since 2009, when the Wildcats defeated then-No. 15 Miami in two games of a series in Coral Gables.

Johnson led the Wildcats with 3-for-5 hitting and two runs scored. Noble was 2-for-5 with two RBI.

The Wildcats (9-7) return to action tomorrow night in Jacksonville, Fla., taking on North Florida at 6 p.m. The Ospreys (6-7) took a 13-1 loss to Georgia Southern on Tuesday night in Statesboro, Ga.

Sports Network MEAC Spring Football Preview

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SONY DSCPhiladelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) – Everybody is thinking offense in Mid- Eastern Athletic Conference football this year because there wasn’t enough of it last season.

MEAC teams averaged 21.3 points per game, which was over 2.7 points fewer than teams from the second-lowest-ranked FCS conference. In addition, the MEAC was last nationally in offensive yards with its teams averaging less than 313.3 per game.

It doesn’t help matters that quarterback is a fairly inexperienced position across the 11-team MEAC this year. Bethune-Cookman, which returns its starter, and South Carolina State, which doesn’t, remain the teams to beat after they shared last year’s conference title.

A look across the conference with spring practices getting underway around the nation:

STORY LINES

Hampton (Connell Maynor), Morgan State (Lee Hull) and North Carolina Central (Jerry Mack) are all getting settled with new head coaches.

As other MEAC teams develop their quarterbacks, Howard returns perhaps the best one at the position, senior left-hander Greg McGhee.

Bethune-Cookman has won three MEAC titles in coach Brian Jenkins’ first four seasons. But his squad is vulnerable after losing key seniors as well as safety Nick Addison to an early entry into the NFL Draft.

North Carolina A&T, coming off a 7-4 season, may have a Caucasian starting quarterback, Frank Foster, for the first time in school history. The transfer accounted for 28 touchdowns (18 passing, 10 rushing) at Southwestern College last year.

MEAC power South Carolina State will have a sophomore or freshman as the starting quarterback. Coach Buddy Pough hasn’t had enough consistency at the position since Malcolm Long directed three straight MEAC championship squads from 2008-10.

Florida A&M’s proud program, coming off a 3-9 season, will try to get back on track behind second-year coach Earl Holmes. The Rattlers’ mantra for 2014: Set the Record Straight.

THEY’RE BACK

North Carolina Central’s Adrian Wilkins might be the best returner in the FCS. He had a national-high five special teams return touchdowns, three on kickoffs and two on punts, and all went for at least 73 yards.

Howard is thrilled to have another season from safety Julien David, who missed last season after tearing his right pectoral muscle. He is an All-MEAC first- teamer.

Savannah State wants to see less of linebackers Marquis Smith and Justin Dixon than more after they were on the field enough to collect 124 and 122 tackles, respectively, last season. The Tigers were outscored, 517-174.

South Carolina State returns its entire starting defensive line, led by All- MEAC first-team selections Andrew Carter and Alex Glover, from a defense that ranked No. 1 in the FCS in total defense.

Last season, Hampton unleashed a terrific pass rusher in defensive end Miles Grooms. He had 18.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks as a sophomore.

Florida A&M quarterback Damien Fleming was the MEAC’s 2013 preseason co- offensive player of the year, but slumped through a difficult season. He expects to rebound as a senior.

Morgan State’s Lamont Brown III was impressive as a redshirt freshman, rushing for 705 yards and five touchdowns.

Read On: http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfoot2/writers/infcshuddle/index.htm