Page 22 - Florida Sentinel 9-4-15 Edition

HBCU News
University Receives Distance Learning Association Certification
The Online College Pro- gram at Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU) was re- cently certified as a United States Distance Learning As- sociation (USDLA) Pro- gram. The B-CU Online College is the first university program in the State of Florida and the second HBCU in the nation to be certified.
The USDLA committee spent three days on BCU's campus last week as a culmi- nation to a very lengthy and detailed review process. The B-CU Online College currently offers nine degrees, including
EDISON O. JACKSON President, B-CU
three masters and six bache- lors.
“This is a very proud mo- ment for B-CU. We are the
DR. ARLETHA McSWAIN Dean of The Online College at B-CU
first to attain this certification in the state. That speaks vol- umes about the leaders of the Online College and their qual-
ity of work,” President Edi- son O. Jackson said.
The USDLA is one of the only distance learning certifi- cation programs in the United States. According to the USDLA, a certified program represents an institution that adheres to a recognized stan- dard of performance and is committed to offering a first- quality, distance learning pro- gram. The certification process seeks excellence across a range of distance learning settings.
“We are so overjoyed to re- ceive this stamp of approval from the USDLA. We are
working hard to make sure that our online programs offer great student and faculty expe- riences,” Dr. Arletha Mc- Swain, Dean of The Online College said.
The USDLA's goals are to: inform and protect the stu- dents; provide a framework for improvement; and assist with continued growth. B-CU will work closely with the USDLA to maintain the qual- ity and strength of the online programs. The USDLA certifi- cation is awarded for five years and is subject to performance and annual review.
HBCU Sports
BCU’s Sims Looks To Continue Legacy
A New Era For FAMU Football
BY TED TAYLOR
For the first time in its long history of football competition, the Florida A & M University team will not have a FAMU native as a coach on the staff.
The staff will be led by first-year coach Alex Wood, who has been com- missioned with the responsibility to change the misfortunes of a once-proud and most-heralded program. Since the year 2012, the Rattlers have not won more than three games in a season.
Enters Wood, the former assistant for the University of Buffalo. It is antic- ipated that Wood will run a high-tempo no-huddle offense and a 4-3 defense.
At quarterback, last year’s backup Carson Royal seems to have the ad- vantage over junior college transfer Kenneth Coleman. Royal is not a shoo-in as Coleman is picking up the offense and true freshman Ryan Stan- ley out of Pembroke Pines Flanagan High School is in the mix.
The offensive line will be anchored on the left side by returning lettermen guard Keonte Cash and tackle Timo- thy Jones. The other projected line starters are center Mateo Kambui, right guard Patrick Dalton and right tackle Ryan Templeton.
Coach Wood will not neglect to run the ball and the attack will feature soph- omore Gerald Hearns, who started as a true freshman last year, and redshirt junior Tysean Holloway.
The receiving corps may be the cream of the crop on offense. The group is led by returning starters sophomore Brandon Norwood and junior Mon- tavious Williams. By way of the transfer route, Coach Wood brought in Tad Ecby (Iowa State) and Jairock- eis Jones (Eastern Michigan), as well as a freshman recruit, speedster Key- nan Foster.
After years of running a 3-4 scheme on defense, FAMU will convert to a 4-3 setup led by senior tackle Michael Lovejoy, a preseason All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) tackle. The mainstay on defense will remain the line backing corps.
ALEX WOOD ...FAMU Head Football Coach
The line backing corps is built around senior middle linebacker Akil Blount. On his wing will be Kashawn Butler, Curtis Alexander, and Luke Helms. The group garnered consider- able playing time last year.
The secondary will have no less ex- perience. It features juniors Patrick Aiken, Neal Cunningham, Jules Dornevil and Jacques Bryant, all who have starting experience.
The major question mark will be the special teams. The only holdover spe- cialist punter Colby Blanton may be pressed into placekicking action as well.
As usual, FAMU has a tough sched- ule with three straight road games to begin the season. They open against the University of South Florida in Tampa, travel to Birmingham the next weekend against Samford, and quickly turn- around five days later traveling to Or- angeburg to play perennial MEAC power South Carolina State on Thursday night.
The Rattlers open at home the last weekend in September against the Ten- nessee State Tigers. The remaining home schedule has three games in Octo- ber and one in November, against MEAC opponents.
FAMU has been picked to finish as low as eighth-place. Being under Aca- demic Progress Rate (APR) penalties for the second year, FAMU is ineligible for postseason play.
Only time will tell whether the di- vorce from native FAMUans will pro- duce a better relationship.
BY TED TAYLOR
When the head coaching vacancy oc- curred at Bethune-Cookman University, the athletic director did not have to look far for a replacement. On the staff was an assistant named Terry Sims. Sims is primed to continue the Wildcats winning tradition, using the legacy of former Coach Brian Jenkins as the engine.
Sims is a graduate of Knoxville Col- lege who was a Wildcats assistant for five years. His responsibility was special teams and assisted in keeping the Wild- cats at the top of the pack in the Mid-East- ern Athletic Conference (MEAC), and playoff bound annually, as assistant head coach.
The field general will be either redshirt senior Quentin Williams of Jefferson High School or redshirt sophomore Larry Brihm. During fall camp, both have been working with the first team, leading to a situation in which Sims will have a more than capable backup.
Sims has to salivate when he show- cases his running backs. The starters will be selected from the group of Danny Dil- lard, Anthony Jordan, Michael D. Jones and Cary White of Sickles High School.
The road graders opening the holes for the backs will be led by preseason All- MEAC offensive lineman 6’4” 329, Dar- iusz Bladek. He will be complimented by a group including returning starter Dazzie Morris, and Trevin Huff, Travis Turner and Kameron Davis.
The receivers will take shape from a group among Jontavious Carter, Frank Brown, Frank Thomas, Courtney Bynes, Ciavy Wiles, Dar- ian Baker, Jamie Wilson and Bran- don Brooks. The tightend leaders are Julian Johnson and Ja-Quan Lumas.
The frontrunners on the defensive line are returning lettermen Korey Harris, Jarren Davis, Deshawn Ray, Samuel Kelly, Khaleel Castillo and grad stu- dents, Dwayne Montgomery and Jun- ior Estelus. This should be a good rotation to have fresh linemen on all plays.
The line backing corps is also stacked with Robert Way, Jason Smith, Daeon Kelly, Altreyu Farrior, Anto-
TERRY SIMS
...BCU’s New Head Football Coach
nio Joseph and Donald Smith of Tampa Spoto. The Wildcats are le- gendary for having good defensive backs and this year should be no different, with returning starters Marquis Drayton and Leroy Holt, joined by reserves Bruce Hawkes, Michael Westray, Michael Butler, Terry Harden, the Simmons twins, Ky’re and Ty’re, and Michael Simmons.
The punting side of special teams is in good shape with returning punter Jonathan Cagle and long snapper Mur- phy Allen. However, the placekicking job will be assumed by two freshman re- cruits, Javaunie Francis or Uriel Her- nandez. The return men will be Frank Brown to field punts and Dre’Sean Nelson on kickoffs.
In the MEAC preseason poll, the Wild- cats are predicted to finish third. How- ever, with the frontline experience, particularly at the skill positions, as well as capable reserves, B-CU may surprise the pollsters.
The Wildcats placed seven players on the preseason All-MEAC team, including Bladek. The second-teamers are Jones, Huff and Drayton. On the third-team are Williams, Jordon and Cagle.
The season beings with a return against the Miami Hurricanes followed by another road game against the Grambling Tigers. The other non-conference game opens the home schedule with some relief against Division II Lane College from Jackson, Tennessee.
Realistically, the Wildcats could be playing for the crown as Historically Black College and Universities (HBCU) champi- ons.
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