The Wild, Wild SWAC 2002

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Sep 11
Houston, TX - - Former Texas Southern volleyball player Kristin High, 22, drowned at a beach in 
Los Angeles, Calif., on Tuesday.  High was a member of the Lady Tiger volleyball team in 1998-1999. 
Apparently, she and another young woman were swimming at night with friends at Dockweiler State Beach. 
They were overcome by high tide and rough surf as High attempted to save the other woman.
 The incident is being investigated as an accidental drowning, but there is speculation of sorority hazing.

31 Aug
Scores
Tulane Clips Southern..Click here for details.


ALCORN STATE'S KICKING GAME WILL FEATURE A PAIR OF FRESHMEN

	ALCORN STATE, Miss. - The Alcorn State Braves kicking game will have a 
totally new look entering the 2002 season.  Both starting placekicker and 
punter are both freshmen who have been looking very sharp throughout the 
course of training camp.  Alcorn State will feature true freshman David 
McConnell at placekicker and redshirt Shane Phillips.  Last year, Ed Cicoria 
handled both duties including kickoffs during the 2001 season while 
currently serving as a graduate assistant with the kickers.
	Head coach Johnny Thomas is very confident in this year's kicking game 
while addressing a serious need at placekicker during the offseason.  He 
feels that this area will be solid but both players will have to be able to 
perform under fire.  "I think that our kicking game will be solid, but will 
experience some growing pains in this area because we have got a true 
freshman placekicker in David McConnell and a freshman punter in Shane 
Phillips.  Both of them have outstanding talent and outstanding legs who can 
punt and kick the ball respectively.  If they can get through the first ball 
game with a little success, our kicking game will be solid for us."
	The team will definitely try some long range field goals during the 
upcoming season due to McConnell's kicking range.  "We are going to try some 
field goals even if it is on the 40 or 45 yard line - that is how much faith 
and confidence that we have in David's leg," Thomas said.  "He seems to be a 
very tough-minded freshman coming in and we are going to give him the 
opportunity to showcase his talent."
	McConnell is a 6-foot-2 inch, 204-pounder who as a prepster at Newton 
County High School was a two-time first team Mississippi Class AAA All-State 
selection who missed only eight out of 140 extra point attempts in three 
seasons.  The Hickory, Mississippi native connected on nine of 14 attempts 
as a senior including a long of 53 yards.  McConnell closed out his prep 
career by playing in the Mississippi North-South All-Star game.
	Phillips is a 6-foot-3 inch, 225-pounder who also serves double duty as a 
catcher on the Braves baseball team.  The Melbourne, Australia sported a 
.167 batting average while starting in 20 of 23 games played during the 2002 
baseball season.
	The Braves spent a considerable amount of time on special teams during 
Friday afternoon's workout with emphasis being placed on kickoffs.  A 
scrimmage is on tap for Saturday morning at 10 a.m. while the media day 
cookout is scheduled from 12 noon to 4 p.m. on campus.


9 Aug
BRAVES CONTINUE TO WORK OUT IN SHORTS

	ALCORN STATE, Miss. - The Alcorn State Braves continued their workouts in 
both shorts and shirts during Friday's practice.  The team worked on 
reaction, one-on-one, seven on seven and conditioning drills during the 
course of both workouts.

	Head coach Johnny Thomas has been rather pleased with the progress of the 
team throughout the course of the workouts.  A lot of the players have been 
working out on their own after practice in spite of the heat.

	I am very happy with these guys, there are some guys who are running the 
hills on their own after a two and a half hour practice.  These guys are 
committed, have gone through a lot of trials and tribulations and they have 
disciplined themselves to the extent that they know what it takes to win, 
they know what it takes to come back to training camp in shape and it is 
very pleasing not only for me as a head coach, but also for the assistant 
coaches," Thomas said.  "So we are in pretty good shape at this particular 
point.  I am very happy in the way that these guys have come back and 
responded to the first couple of days of training camp."

	The team will continue their workouts on Saturday and will have Sunday off. 
  Media Day is set for Saturday, August 24th from 12 noon to 4 p.m. on 
campus.

SU Baseball Falls to Northwestern State
 
Houston, TX-Texas Southern University baseball fell to Northwestern State
11-1, Thursday, April 4, in MacGregor Park.
Third baseman Calvin Fugett scored the lone TSU (16-18, 14-6 SWAC).
Marcelo Garcia added a RBI.  
Pitcher Bradley Taylor picked up the loss, allowing one earned run and
five hits.
TSU returns to action, noon, April 6 in a key SWAC match-up against
 Southern University at MacGregor Park in Houston, Texas.
 
 Texas Southern Softball Sweeps With Arkansas Pine-Bluff

 Houston, TX. - Texas Southern's softball team swept Arkansas Pine-Bluff,
 7-4, 7-1 in Pine-Bluff Arkansas.
	In game one, pitcher Jenny Chandler hurled six strikeouts in a
complete game victory.
	In game two, catcher Davon Spates and outfielder Erica Wade were the
 top hitters with a home run and triple respectively.  
	The two teams return to action, noon, April 5 in Pine-Bluff,
 Arkansas.

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL SPRING BLUE & GOLD GAME SET 


BATON ROUGE, LA  The Southern University football team will holds its annual Blue & Gold Spring
 Football Game on Saturday, April 6, 2002 at 6:00 PM in AW Mumford Stadium.
The game is being put on by the newly formed Jaguar Athletic Group. 
The game will be a controlled scrimmage, with no kicking taking place.
The Southern University Band is invited and will perform at a simulated halftime. 
Cost of the Blue & Gold Game is $5.00 for adults and $3.00 plus a canned good for all Southern and area students.
Canned goods received will be packaged and given out to needy families in the community. 
Tickets for the Blue & Gold Game will be sold at the Southern University Ticket Office, located 
in the Old City National Bank Building, at 7722 Scenic Highway in Scotlandville, or you may call the ticket office
 at (225) 359-9328. 

Mission Accomplished  Braves Get Set For March Maddness

Alcorn State Braves (21-9) vs. Siena College Saints (16-18)
Tuesday, March 12, 2002
UD Arena; Dayton, Ohio; 6:00 p.m.
2002 NCAA Tournament Play-In Game

     ALCORN STATE, Miss.  - This week, the Southwestern Athletic Conference 
champion Alcorn State Braves will travel north to Dayton, Ohio to play in 
the NCAA tournament play-in game.  The team will face the Siena College 
Saints on Tuesday evening for at the University of Dayton Arena for a 6 p.m. 
start.  This will mark the third time that Alcorn State has participated in 
a NCAA tournament  play-in game.  The Braves have won the previous two trips 
to the UD Arena with a 81-75 victory over Xavier (Ohio) on March 15, 1983 
and a 79-60 decision over Houston Baptist on March 13, 1984.
     This game will be televised live nationally on ESPN with Mike Tirico 
and Len Elmore calling the live action.
The winner of this game will travel to Washington, D.C. to face the top 
seeded and number two ranked nationally Maryland Terrapins as the number 16 
seed in the NCAA East Region.  This game will take place at the MCI Center 
on Friday, March 15th.
Tickets are available for this game and they can be purchased by calling the 
UD Arena Tieckt Office at 937-229-4433.  Tickets prices are $10 for adults, 
and $5 for children.  Over 7,000 tickets have already been sold for this 
game.


PROBABLE STARTERS
F - #44 Marcus Fleming
(6-8,215,Sr./14.9ppg,7.6rpg)
F - #33 Brian Jackson
(6-6,205,Jr./10.6ppg,3.9rpg)
C - #55 Walter Harper
(6-8,225,Sr./8.8ppg,5.2rpg,.536fg)
G - #20 Jason Cable
(6-2,200,Jr./11.9ppg,3.3rpg,1.8stl)
G - #14 Jeff Cammon
(6-0,175,Jr./6.9ppg,4.2apg,.823ft)

KEY RESERVES
F/C - #23 Lee Cook
(6-10,235,So./10.1ppg,4.7rpg,1.21bg)
F - #4 Tori Harris
(6-5,185,Jr./6.8ppg,3.3rpg)
F - #31 Dion Callans
(6-8,195,Jr./5.1ppg,3.7rpg)


ON-AIR INFORMATION
	If you can not make it to UD Arena, catch the action on the Alcorn State  
Radio Network.  Play-by-play announcers Charles Edmond (?The Voice of the 
Braves) and Bernard Washington will bring you the live action on WPRL (91.7 
FM), Alcorn State?s flagship station, WMPR (90.1 FM) of Jackson, WVUN (101.7 
FM) of Clarksdale, WJMG (92.1FM) of Hattiesburg, WAKK (1140 AM) of McComb 
and both WTYJ (97.7 FM) and WMIS (1240 AM) of Natchez.  You can also catch 
the live broadcast on the Internet by going into the official sports radio 
broadcast website address at www.yahoosports.com.


THE COACHES
	Alcorn State is headed by Davey L. Whitney who is a 1953 graduate of 
Kentucky State University.  He has a school record of 495 wins and 282 
losses in his 26th season with the Braves.  Whitney also has a career record 
of 550 wins and 336  losses in his 31st season as a college head coach.
	Siena College is led by Rob Lanier who is a 1990 graduate of St. 
Bonaventure University.  He has both a school and career record of 16 wins 
and 18 losses in his first season as a college head coach.


NCAA PLAY-IN OPPONENT SIENA COLLEGE SAINTS
	The Siena College Saints enter this tournament as the Metro Atlantic 
Athletic Conference tournament champions with a 16-18 overall record.  The 
team is coming off of MAAC tournament victories over St. Peters (77-66), 
Marist (82-76), Fairfield (83-63) and Niagara (92-77) over the weekend.  The 
players to watch for the Saints are swingman Dwayne Archibold and guard 
Prosper Karangwa.
	Archibold is a 6-foot-6 inch, 200-pound senior who is currently leading the 
team in both scoring and rebounding with 20.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per 
game.
	Karangwa is a 6-foot-7 inch, 190-pound junior who is next in line with per 
game averages of 10.6 points and 3.6 rebounds.


LAST GAME ACTION
	The Alcorn State Braves took home their seventh SWAC tournament title this 
past weekend at Fair Park Arena in Birmingham, Alabama.
	On Friday evening, the Braves defeated the Texas Southern Tigers 87-65 in 
the semifinal game for their 20th win of the season.  Alcorn State as a team 
shot 51.5 percent from the floor including 47.1 percent from three-point 
range.
	Forward Brian Jackson led Alcorn State with 20 points on six of eight field 
goals including five of six three-pointers, two assists and two steals.  
Guard Jason Cable added 19 points, five rebounds, three assists and three 
steals while center Walter Harper posted a double-double with 15 points and 
ten rebounds with one blocked shot.
	On Saturday evening, the Braves posted a 70-67 victory over the defending 
tournament champion Alabama State Hornets in a rematch of last year?s title 
game.  A key factor in this game was that Alcorn State as a team 
out-rebounded Alabama State 43 to 29.
	Alcorn State was led by tournament MVP Marcus Fleming who had 20 points on 
nine of twelve field goals including the team?s first eleven points in the 
game.  In addition, Fleming also had eight rebounds and three assists.  
Forward Lee Cook had 16 points, five rebounds and three blocked shots while 
guard Jeff Cammon added eleven points, four assists and three rebounds.


COACH WHITNEY IS NAMED SWAC COACH OF THE YEAR AGAIN
	Head coach Davey L. Whitney has been named the SWAC coach of the year as a 
result of his team?s championship drive during this season.  This marks the 
tenth time in his 31-year career that he has picked up this award.  Whitney 
guided the Braves to a 21-9 season which included a 16-2 mark in league play 
for a first place finish in the SWAC.


BOTH FLEMING AND HARPER EARN ALL-SWAC HONORS
	Seniors Marcus Fleming and Walter Harper both earned All-SWAC honors which 
was released from the league?s office.
	Fleming is a 6-foot-8 inch, 215-pound forward who was a first team 
selection for the third straight season.  The Fayette, Mississippi native 
led the team in scoring and rebounding  for the third straight season with 
14.9 points and 7.6 boards per game.  He is also  averaging 1.87 assists, 
1.37 steals and 0.53 blocked shots per game while shooting 51.5 percent from 
the floor.
	In addition, Fleming has also been named to the CollegeInsider.com website  
Honor Roll as the SWAC?s Most Valuable Player which was released last week.
	Harper is a 6-foot-7 inch, 225-pound center who was an honorable mention 
selection.  The Jackson, Mississippi native averaged 8.8 points, 5.2 
rebounds and 0.98 blocked shots per game.  He is currently shooting 53.6 
percent from the floor while shooting over 50 percent from the floor for his 
entire career.
	In addition, both players were preseason all-conference selections with 
Fleming being a first team selection while Harper was a second team pick.
	Both Fleming and Harper have seen a lot of success during the course of the 
past four seasons.  They have been a contributing factor in the team?s three 
regular season SWAC championships, two tournament titles and a pair of trips 
to the NCAA tournament along with the The Black College Sports Report 
national championship as freshmen.  In addition, Alcorn State had a 58-7 
mark in conference play over the past four years.

COACH DAVEY L. WHITNEY FEATURED ON CBS
	Head coach Davey L. Whitney was featured on CBS in its annual award winning 
documentary The Ultimate Road to the Final Four? which aired on Sunday 
afternoon.  The show was filmed on campus from March 5th through the 6th 
which featured an up close and behind the scenes look at Coach Whitney and 
the Alcorn State men's basketball program.


DID YOU KNOW. . . .
	In the past four years, Alcorn State has had one of its basketball teams to 
participate in the NCAA Tournament whether it be men or women.  Also during 
the same span, the same two programs has had someone to take home the SWAC 
tournament?s Most Player Award.  The years, teams and players are as 
follows:

1999 - Men/Reuben Stiff
2000 - Women/Cherea Wood
2001 - Women/Cherea Wood
2002 - Men/Marcus Fleming

	The Braves victory over Texas Southern in the semifinal round of the SWAC 
tournament marked the 14th time in head coach Davey L. Whitney's career that 
his teams have won 20 or more games in a single season.
	Alcorn State's victory over Grambling State in the tournament's first round 
game enabled the team to have a perfect 12-0 record at home during the 
2001-02 season thus marking a 43-2 home court record over the past four 
seasons.  In addition, the team has gone undefeated at home during three of 
the past four seasons.
	The Braves have won their 16th regular season SWAC title during this 
season.  Of the school?s 16 regular season championships, Coach Whitney has 
led the team to its last twelve titles.
	Alcorn State has won the SWAC's regular season title for the third time in 
the past four years.  In addition, Alcorn State went into the season picked 
to win the league title in each of the  past four years.
	Senior forward Marcus Fleming is currently ranked third on the school?s 
single season made free throw list with 133.  He is also ranked third on the 
school?s free throws attempted list with 209 for the season.  In addition, 
Fleming alone has made and attempted over one fourth of Alcorn State?s free 
throws during this season while setting the single season record in both 
categories for each of the past two seasons.
	There are five players on Alcorn State's 2001-02 roster who are from cities 
of five opposing schools throughout the SWAC.  The players and league 
hometowns are as follows:

1) Jason Cable - Guard
Huntsville, AL/Alabama A&M
2) Walter Harper - Center
Jackson, MS/Jackson State
3) Brian Jackson - Forward
Baker (Baton Rouge), LA/Southern
4) Cory Jackson - Guard
Houston, TX/Texas Southern
5) Larry Robinson - Center/
Forward
Montgomery, AL/Alabama State


ALCORN STATE ON THE INTERNET
	If you want to go online to get the latest information on the basketball 
team, please go into the official Alcorn athletic website 
www.alcorn.edu/athletics/default.htm for the latest athletics news.


ALCORN STATE?S GAME-BY-GAME STARTING LINEUPS

New Mexico State - Jeff Cammon, Lee Cook, Walter Harper, Tori Harris, Brian 
Jackson

Tougaloo College - Jeff Cammon, Lee Cook, Marcus Fleming, Walter Harper, 
Tori Harris

Southern Mississippi - Jeff Cammon, Lee Cook, Marcus Fleming, Walter Harper, 
Tori Harris

New Mexico - Jason Cable, Jeff Cammon, Marcus Fleming, Walter Harper, Tori 
Harris

UAB - Jason Cable, Jeff Cammon, Marcus Fleming, Walter Harper, Tori Harris

Hawaii - Jason Cable, Jeff Cammon, Marcus Fleming, Walter Harper, Brian 
Jackson

Prairie View A&M - Jason Cable, Jeff Cammon, Marcus Fleming, Walter Harper, 
Brian Jackson

Texas Southern - Jason Cable, Jeff Cammon, Marcus Fleming, Walter Harper, 
Brian Jackson

Jackson State - Jason Cable, Jeff Cammon, Marcus Fleming, Walter Harper, 
Tori Harris

Grambling State - Jason Cable,
Jeff Cammon, Marcus Fleming, Walter Harper, Tori Harris

Mississippi Valley State - Jason Cable, Jeff Cammon, Marcus Fleming, Walter 
Harper, Tori Harris

Arkansas-Pine Bluff - Jason Cable, Jeff Cammon, Marcus Fleming, Walter 
Harper, Tori Harris

Alabama State - Jason Cable, Jeff Cammon, Marcus Fleming, Walter Harper, 
Tori Harris

Alabama A&M - Jason Cable, Jeff Cammon, Marcus Fleming, Walter Harper, Tori 
Harris

Morris Brown - Jason Cable, Jeff Cammon, Marcus Fleming, Walter Harper, Tori 
Harris

Southern - Jason Cable, Jeff Cammon, Marcus Fleming, Walter Harper, Tori 
Harris

Texas-El Paso - Jason Cable, Jeff Cammon, Marcus Fleming, Walter Harper, 
Tori Harris

Jackson State - Jason Cable, Jeff Cammon, Marcus Fleming, Walter Harper, 
Tori Harris

Grambling State - Jason Cable, Jeff Cammon, Marcus Fleming, Walter Harper, 
Tori Harris

Mississippi Valley State - Jason Cable, Jeff Cammon, Marcus Fleming, Walter 
Harper, Tori Harris

Arkansas-Pine Bluff - Jason Cable, Jeff Cammon, Marcus Fleming, Tori Harris, 
Larry Robinson

Alabama State - Jason Cable, Jeff Cammon, Marcus Fleming, Walter Harper, 
Tori Harris

Alabama A&M - Jason Cable, Jeff Cammon, Marcus Fleming, Walter Harper, Brian 
Jackson

Southern - Jason Cable, Jeff Cammon, Marcus Fleming, Walter Harper, Brian 
Jackson

Morris Brown - Jason Cable, Jeff Cammon, Marcus Fleming, Walter Harper, 
Brian Jackson

Texas Southern - Jason Cable, Jeff Cammon, Marcus Fleming, Walter Harper, 
Brian Jackson

Prairie View A&M - Jason Cable, Jeff Cammon, Marcus Fleming, Walter Harper, 
Brian Jackson

Grambling State - Jason Cable, Jeff Cammon, Marcus Fleming, Walter Harper, 
Brian Jackson
Texas Southern - Jason Cable, Jeff Cammon, Marcus Fleming, Walter Harper, 
Brian Jackson

Alabama State - Jason Cable, Jeff Cammon, Marcus Fleming, Walter Harper, 
Brian Jackson


Q and A Session with Marcus Fleming by Sports Information Director Peter 
Forest

PF: Now that you have made it back to the NCAA tournament along with both 
the SWACs regular season and tournament titles in your last season whereas 
you done it as a freshman  do you feel that you have come full circle in 
your career
Fleming:  I can say yes it was a full circle, but it is kind of hollow 
inside because of my sophomore and junior seasons.  We almost completed that 
task in my junior year but we didn?t finish it out.  We started it in my 
freshman year and completed in my senior year by winning two SWAC Tournament 
championships and going to the NCAA tournament.


PF: How did you feel about going into this season as the team to beat while 
going out and taking care of business
Fleming: I knew we had a good team with me coming back along with  (Lee) 
Cook.  Coach (Whitney) also told me that he was going to bring in some 
guards this year and he was going to make a big impact on the inside along 
with (Walter) Harper and Larry (Robinson).
	I knew that we were the
team to beat when we started out with a perfect 14-0 record (in the SWAC) 
before we fell to the two teams in Alabama (Alabama A&M and Alabama State).  
To me, that was a fluke and the team felt that way because we were not ready
to play although we have whipped them pretty good on the Reservation.
	Even though we knew that we had to go up there and play and we ended up 
slipping up against them.  You have to go out there and play hard every 
night because when you are the team to beat, everybody is gunning for you 
and you know that you are going to gun back.  We were the number one team 
and they (Alabama State) were number three and a lot of number one seeds 
have ended up getting beat in the tournament.


PF: On coming back for your senior year......
Fleming: That was the best move that I made because I wasnt really ready 
to finish playing college ball. I was not leaving out like that (losing to 
Alabama State in last years SWAC Tournament Championship game) and I told 
coach (Whitney) that I was not a quitter and I wanted to leave out on top.  
He was going to leave out in glory regardless and I said to myself that I 
was leaving out in glory too.
	So when I came back I said that we are going to make this thing happen and 
we did it in which I am going back to this tournament again.  I see 
everything coming true and I prayed for it and that is how my dream has come 
in a nutshell.


PF: I know that this question has been coming up a lot about coach Whitney?s 
future and what do you think that he should do
Fleming: On my behalf, I would advise him to stay in which he has a lot of 
seniors next year and a few guys who are freshmen when he was here.  I don't 
think that he just want to leave them.  He has tried to teach him in the 
past year and I know that he has worked harder this year as far as teaching 
us about basketball.
	I don't know that he will be finished this year or that he does not want 
to leave and would like to get them to learn as much as they need to know in 
the event that he should go.  I don't think that he should leave  coach 
should finish it out with the freshmen who came when I was a (redshirt) 
freshman.  That would be the best move for him.


PF: Given all of the awards that you have received over the past four years, 
which one sticks out the most in your mind
Fleming: Really when I get those awards I feel them at that moment.  I 
can't really say because those awards are like my father have always told me 
that they are only memories.  When you look at them, they bring back good 
memories, but it won't put food on the table.
	The one that sticks out the most is winning the Most Valuable Player award 
in the SWAC Tournament because I did not get it last year nor the year 
before.  This year it all fell in place and I gave it all I had and I had a 
little more to put out there.  All it took was forty minutes and it was all 
over.


PF: For the past two seasons, the team with the SWAC Player of the Year did 
not make it past the first round of the tournament with you being in 
contention for the award for the past two years  what is your take on that
Fleming: As coach (Whitney) was saying at the press conference yesterday 
that he did not deserve the coach of the year award because you win the 
conference regular season title and you automatically get the coach of the 
year.  The way that I see it, if your team does not win any games, but you 
get the conference player of the year.  I feel like we have been loaded and 
it did not make a big intake on me because like I said before, it does not 
put food on the table.  I was a candidate for it both this year and last 
year it did not work out.  Sophomore Paul Haynes (of Grambling State) 
averaged 20 points and almost ten rebounds per game and that is just the way 
that I look at it.  We beat them (Grambling State) three times this year, 
but look at what he has done against other teams which provided the reason 
why he got it.
	I was looking for Desmond Cambridge of Alabama A&M to get it because he 
led the nation in steals and he put up some pretty good numbers night in and 
night out.


PF:  How would you sum up your four years at Alcorn State
Fleming: My four years at Alcorn have been a success to put it that way.  
You can not ask for it no better than what I have had to come in as a winner 
and to leave as a winner that is the best it gets.


PF: How important is already having your degree is to you
Fleming: Getting my degree (in health and physical education and recreation) 
helped me out a lot because all of my classes were in the evening which 
started at 6:00 p.m. every day.  I have the whole day to do what I had to do 
 I get up in the morning to work out extra before practice which is all for 
the best.  Whatever happens after college, I will know that I already have 
my degree.  I am currently working toward my Master's in case I go play 
(professional) ball somewhere else, it won't be that I left school and did 
not finish.


#44-Marcus Fleming - Forward
Alcorn State University
6-8, 215, Senior, Fayette, MS/Jefferson County High School

Career Accomplishments as of 3/9/02
- Has started in 86 of 115 games along with 2,907 minutes played
- Has 1,625 points for a career average of 14.2 points per game and is 
currently ranked eleventh on the school?s career scoring list
- Has 797 rebounds for a career average of 6.9 boards per game
- Has 122 assists, 111 steals and 52 blocked shots
- Connected on 552 of 1,122 field goals for 49.2 percent, 513 of 804 free 
throws for 63.8 percent and eight of 25 three-pointers for 32 percent
2001-02
-Team has a 21-9 overall record along with a 16-2 conference record en route 
to both the Southwestern regular season and tournament championship
-2002 SWAC Tournament Most Valuable Player
-All-SWAC Tournament Selection
-First Team All-SWAC Selection
-CollegeInsider.com?s Most Valuable Player in the SWAC
-Preseason All-SWAC Selection
-Is currently averaging 14.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.87 assists, 1.37 steals 
and 0.53 blocks per game
-Is the team leader in both scoring and rebounding while shooting 51.5 
percent from the floor and 63.6 percent from the free throw line
-Had 20 points including nine of twelve field goals, eight rebounds and 
three assists in team?s 70-67 victory over Alabama State in the SWAC 
Tournament championship game on March 9, 2002
-Had 21 points including seven of nine free throws along with seven 
rebounds, two steals, one blocked shot and one assist in teams?s 108-84 
victory over Grambling State in the first round of the SWAC Tournament on 
March 5, 2002 (Final home game of career)
-Had 21 points on nine of 14 field goals along with five rebounds, two 
steals and one assist in team?s 93-86 victory over Texas Southern on 
February 28, 2002
-Scored his 1,501st career point at the 9:05 mark in the second half en 
route to a 18 point, nine rebound and one blocked shot effort against 
Alabama State on February 16, 2002
-Is currently tied for fourth on the school?s single season made free throw 
list with former guard Reuben Stiff with 114 while being ranked third on the 
school?s free throws attempted list with 199
-Had 23 points including 13 of 18 free throws, 14 rebounds and two assists 
against Alabama A&M on February 18, 2002
-Had 25 points on seven of twelve shooting, 13 rebounds (eight offensive), 
three assists and two steals in team?s 87-86 victory over Mississippi Valley 
State on February 9, 2002
-Had twelve points, 14 rebounds, three assists and one blocked shot in 20 
minutes of action during the team?s 84-66 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff 
on February 11, 2002
-Had 25 points, eleven rebounds, two steals and one blocked shot during a 
81-78 triple-overtime victory over Jackson State on February 2, 2002
-Had 20 points (all in the second half) on seven of twelve field goals, 
three rebounds, two steals and one assist during a 87-85 overtime victory 
over Grambling State on February 4, 2002
-Had 28 points on nine of 16 field goals along with five rebounds and three 
blocked shots in 21 minutes of action during a 86-69 victory over Southern 
University on January 26, 2002
-Had 18 points on seven of nine field goals along with eight rebounds and 
two assists in 100th career game against Morris Brown on January 23, 2002
-Had 17 points on six of nine field goals, twelve rebounds, three assists 
and one blocked shot in a 75-61 victory over defending SWAC champion Alabama 
State on January 19, 2002
-Had 21 points on nine of 13 field goals along with nine rebounds, three 
assists, two blocked shots and one steal in a 86-75 victory over Jackson 
State on January 5, 2002
-Had 18 points on eight of 13 field goals along with eight rebounds (six 
offensive), one assist and one steal by coming off of the bench in the 
team?s season opener against New Mexico State on November 19, 2001
-Had 17 points on six of twelve field goals along with ten rebounds, three 
assists and a career-high of six steals against Hawaii on December 12, 2001
2000-01
-Second team Black College Sports Information Directors Association 
All-America Selection
-First Team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference Selection
-2001 All-SWAC Tournament Selection
-2000-01 Preseason Southwestern Athletic Conference Player of the Year
-Started in all 30 games the team has played in during 920 minutes of action
-Has been selected to play in the Black College All-Star Game in Baltimore, 
Maryland on April 21, 2001
-Led the team in both scoring (16.7ppg) and rebounding (7.7rpg) along with 
41 assists, 20 steals and  14 blocked shots while shooting 44 percent from 
the floor
-Was ranked in fourth in the SWAC in scoring and sixth in rebounding
-Earned SWAC Player-of-the-Week honors on the week of December 13, 2000
	Had 28 points on nine of 14 field goals along with twelve rebounds and 
two assists against Texas-El Paso on December 9th
	Had 20 points on nine of 18 shooting, six rebounds, one assist and one 
steal against Arkansas-Little Rock on December 5th
-Earned SWAC Player-of-the-Week honors on the week of January 16, 2001
	Posted a career high of 35 points on eleven of 16 field goals, 16 
rebounds, two assists and two steals in a 100-95 victory over Mississippi 
Valley State on January 13th
	Had 19 points, five rebounds, one assist and one steal against 
Arkansas-Pine Bluff on January 15th
-Earned SWAC Player-of-the-Week honors on the week of February 6, 2001
	Had 31 points on ten of 18 field goals, eleven of 14 free throws along 
with 15 rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocked shots in a 99-93 
victory over Jackson State on February 3, 2001.  Also scored 1,000th career 
point at the 19:04 mark in the first half
	Had 23 points, 13 rebounds, two assists, two blocked shots and one steal 
against Grambling State on February 5, 2001
-Has scored in double figures in all but four games during the season while 
posting double figures in both scoring and rebounding seven times
-Had 22 points, eight rebounds and one steal in the team?s 91-79 victory 
over Southern University on January 27, 2001
-Had 16 points and 13 rebounds in the team?s 73-69 victory over Southern 
University on February 24, 2001
-Had 20 points, ten rebounds, three assists and one blocked shot in the 
team?s 71-55 victory over Texas Southern on March 1, 2001
-Had 15 points, eleven rebounds, two assists and one blocked shot in the 
team?s 75-70 victory over Prairie View A&M on March 3, 2001
-Is the school?s single season leader in both free throws made and attempted 
with 172 of 273 attempts for the season
1999-2000
-Team had a 19-10 overall record along with a 15-3 conference record en 
route to second straight regular season Southwestern Athletic Conference 
championship
-Earned first team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference Honors
-Earned 2000 All-SWAC Tournament Honors
-Started in 25 of 29 games in 810 minutes of action
-Furr?s Supermarket Lobo Classic All-Tournament Selection
-Was named SWAC Player of the Week three times
-Averaged 16.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game
-Shot .539 percent from the floor and .671 percent from the free throw line
-Led team in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage
-Was ranked in the SWAC in scoring (7th), rebounding (2nd) and field goal 
percentage (3rd)
-Has scored in double figures in 26 of 29 games including a streak of 15 
straight
-Became  the school?s single season leader in both free throws made and 
attempted with 145 of 216 attempts
-Scored 20 or more points in ten games and had eight games in which posted 
double figures in both scoring and rebounding which was second best in the 
conference
-Best game was when he had career highs in both points and rebounds with 28 
points including 14 of 17 free throws, 16 rebounds and one assist against 
Grambling State in the first round of the SWAC tournament on March 9, 2000
-Had 27 points on nine of 16 field goals, 14 rebounds, two steals and one 
assist against Mississippi Valley State on February 5, 2000
-Had 25 points on eight of 15 shooting, 15 rebounds and one steal against 
Jackson State in the semifinal round of the SWAC tournament on March 10, 
2000.
1998-99
-Team earned berth to the NCAA tournament ? 15 seed vs. Number two seed 
Stanford in the West Region
-Team had a 23-7 overall record along with a 14-2 conference record en route 
to both the Southwestern regular season and tournament championship
- Team finished season with number one ranking according to The Black 
College Sports Report final poll
-Played in 29 games while starting in four in 478 minutes of action
-Was named to the SWAC?s Honorary All-Rookie team
-Averaged 7.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game along with 19 steals, 13 
assists and eight blocked shots
-Best game was when he connected on eight of eleven field goals for 21 
points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals against Prairie View A&M 
on March 3, 1999 in the first round of the SWAC tournament
-Had 20 points on six of nine shooting, six rebounds, two assists and one 
steal against Alabama A&M on January 16, 1999
-Made the game winning shot in the Braves 62-61 victory over Grambling State 
on January 4, 1999
-Was named the Chevrolet Player-of-the-Game honors while coming off the 
bench to score ten points on five of eight shooting along with one rebound 
and one steal against Stanford in the NCAA tournament on March 11, 1999

BRAVES TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS IN DISPATCHING GRAMBLING STATE


	ALCORN STATE, Miss. ? The Alcorn State Braves closed out the home stretch 
of the season with a 108-84 victory over the Grambling State Tigers on 
Tuesday night at the Davey L. Whitney Complex in the first round of the 2002 
Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament.  The Braves went a perfect 12-0 
at home during the 2001-02 season thus marking a 43-2 home court record over 
the past four seasons.  Every player on Alcorn State?s roster played and 
scored in this game while their bench outscored Grambling State 52 to 25.  
The Braves shot 51.4 percent from the floor including 50 percent from 
three-point range along with shooting 71.1 percent from the free throw line.

	Alcorn State had four players to score in double figures with forward 
Marcus Fleming leading the way with 21 points, seven rebounds and two steals 
in the final home game of his career.  Fellow forward Brian Jackson added 14 
points, two rebounds and two blocked shots while forwards Lee Cook and Tori 
Harris each had 13 points apiece.  Cook had six rebounds, four assists and 
one blocked shot while Harris had five boards, two assists and two steals.  
Guard Jeff Cammon handed out a career high of twelve assists along with 
seven points and one steal while not committing any turnovers.

	Grambling State was led by center William McDonald who had a game-high of 
22 points along with seven rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots.  
Forward Paul Haynes had 17 points including eleven of twelve attempts from 
the free throw line along with six rebounds and three assists.  Guard Ron 
Ellis added 14 points, four and four assists in 36 minutes of action.

	Next up for Alcorn State will be the Texas Southern Tigers in the semifinal 
round of the 2002 SWAC Tournament on Friday, March 8th at Fair Park Arena in 
Birmingham Alabama at 5:30 p.m.  The winner of this game will face the 
winner of the Alabama A&M versus Alabama State game which will take place at 
7:30 p.m.  The championship game of the tournament will take place at 6 p.m. 
on Saturday evening.

 TSU Men's Basketball Defeats Mississippi Valley, Advances to SWAC
 Semi-Finals
 
 Houston, TX-Rakim Hollis scored 21 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and added
 four assists to lead Texas Southern to a 68-61, victory against
 Mississippi Valley, Tuesday, March 5, in the H&PE Arena.
 	With the victory, #4 seeded TSU (11-16, 11-8 SWAC) will advance to
 the semi-finals of the SWAC Basketball Tournament.  The Tigers travel to
 Birmingham, Alabama to face top seed Alcorn State, 5:30 p.m., Friday,
 March 8, in the Birmingham Fair Park Arena.  The Braves defeated #8 seeded
 Grambling, 108-84.
 	Marquel Timmons added 14 points and seven rebounds.  Jamaal Clark
 came off the bench to score 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
 	Attarrius Norwood led Mississippi Valley (12-17, 9-10 SWAC) with 15
 points and eight rebounds.  D' Jamel Jackson added 14 points and six
 rebounds.
 TSU outshot the Delta Devils 37% to 34%.  TSU also outrebounded the
 Mississippi Valley 50-39.

BRAVES CLOSE REGULAR SEASON WITH VICTORY OVER PRAIRIE VIEW A&M


	ALCORN STATE, Miss. ? Junior forward Brian Jackson led Alcorn State with a 
career-high of 26 points on nine of 14 field goals including four 
three-pointers en route to Alcorn State?s 92-77 victory over the Prairie 
View A&M Panthers on Saturday night at the Davey L. Whitney Complex.  The 
Braves closed out the regular season with an 18-9 overall record and a 
Southwestern Athletic Conference?s best record of 16-2 while Prairie View 
A&M dropped to 10-19 overall and 8-10 in league play.  A contributing factor 
in this victory was that Alcorn State as a team shot 56.9 percent from the 
floor including 42.1 percent from three-point range.

	Alcorn State had five players to score in double figures including four 
starters.  Forward Marcus Fleming had 13 points, four rebounds and two 
assists while fellow forward Dion Callans came off the bench to post eleven 
points and three rebounds.  Guard Jason Cable and Jeff Cammon had eleven and 
ten points respectively while Cammon had a game-high of eight assists and 
four rebounds.  Cable also had four assists and three rebounds along with 
one steal.

	Prairie View A&M was led by guard Gregory Burks who had 24 points on nine 
of 15 field goals while handing out four assists.  Center Roderick Riley had 
19 points on seven of ten field goals along with a game-high of 14 rebounds 
and two blocked shots.  Forward Ivan Coulter had ten points and six rebounds 
and one blocked shot.

	In spite of the victory, Alcorn State was out-rebounded by Prairie View A&M 
with a 40 to 29 margin while forcing the visitors into committing 25 
turnovers.  The Braves ended the first half with 38-35 lead.

	Next up for Alcorn State will be the 2002 SWAC Tournament's first round 
satellite game in which they will play host to the number eight seed on 
Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m.


LADY BRAVES CLOSE OUT THE REGULAR SEASON ON A HIGH NOTE


	ALCORN STATE, Miss-The Alcorn State Lady Braves closed out their regular 
season with a 67-40 victory over the Prairie View A&M Lady Panthers on 
Saturday night at the Davey L. Whitney Complex.  The Lady Braves finished 
the regular season with a 15-11 overall record along with a 11-7 mark in the 
Southwestern Athletic Conference while the Lady Panthers dropped to 6-20 
overall and 4-14 in league play.  A contributing factor in this game was 
that Alcorn State held Prairie View A&M 30.4 percent shooting from the floor 
along with 21 turnovers.

	The Lady Braves were led by point guard Kamrica Turk who posted a 
double-double with 13 points and a game nigh of eleven assists along with 
five rebound and two steals.  Swingman Zandra Hall added nine rebounds, six 
points, six assists and two steals.   Alcorn State as a team shot 70.6 
percent from the line by connecting on twelve of 17 attempts.

	Prairie View A&M was led by forward Tanisha Lee who had 16 points, nine 
rebounds, four assists and four blocked shots.  Center Carolyn Hopkins came 
off the bench to post twelve points six rebounds, three steals and two 
blocked shots.

	Next up for Alcorn State will be the 2002 SWAC Tournament?s first round 
satellite game on Tuesday night in which their site will be determined by 
the outcome of this weekend's games.

ALCORN STATE CAPTURES THE 2001-02 SWAC CHAMPIONSHIP AT HOME



	ALCORN STATE, Miss-- The Alcorn State Braves won their 16th regular season 
Southwestern Athletic Conference title with a 87-73 victory over the 
Southern Jaguars at the Davey L. Whitney Complex on Saturday night.  The 
Braves went into the season picked to win the league title in which they 
have won in three of the past four years.  Alcorn State improves its record 
to 15-9 overall along with a 14-2 mark in league play while Southern dropped 
to 7-18 overall and 6-10 in conference play.  A contributing factor in this 
game was that the Braves as a team shot 54.8 percent from the floor 
including 55.6 percent from three-point range by connecting on ten of 18 
attempts.

	Alcorn State had four players to score in double figures with point guard 
Jeff Cammon leading the way with a game-high of 19 points on six of eight 
field goals including five of six three-pointers.  He also had a game-high 
of eight assists along with two rebounds and one steal.  Forward Lee Cook 
came off the bench to post 17 points on seven of ten field goals along with 
six rebounds, four assists and four blocked shots.  Forward Brian Jackson 
posted a double-double with eleven points and a game-high of twelve rebounds 
along with three blocked shots while guard Jason Cable added 15 points, four 
rebounds and four assists.

	Southern was led by forward Nicholas Egland who had 17 points, six 
rebounds, four assists, two steals and one blocked shot.  Guard Trayvean 
Scott had 13 points, seven steals, five assists and four rebounds.  Guard 
Victor Tarver had eleven points, six assists and two steals while forward 
Brian Johnson added ten points.

ALCORN STATE, Miss.  The Alcorn State Lady Braves dropped a 70-61 decision 
to the Southern Jaguars at the Davey L. Whitney Complex on Saturday night.  
A contributing factor in this game was that Southern as a team shot 80.6 
percent from the line by connecting on 25 of 31 attempts while Alcorn State 
shot 70.8 percent on 17 of 24 attempts.  The Lady Braves dropped to 12-11 
overall and 9-7 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play while the Jaguars 
improved to 21-4 overall and 15-1 in league play.

	Alcorn State was led by guard Keairra Levy who tied a game high of 17 
points while pulling down two rebounds.  Forward Tosin Fadeyi added eleven 
points, five rebounds and one steal.

	Southern had three players to score in double figures with guard Jacklyn 
Winfield leading the way with 17 points including ten of ten free throws and 
three assists.  Forward Cherise Sims and Tammy Bullock had 15 and 13 points 
respectively while both players had five rebounds apiece.  Bullock had a 
game high of four blocked shots while Sims handed out three assists.

Hollis Leads Four Players in Double Figures as TSU Whips Alabama State

 Houston, TX-Rakim Hollis led four players in double figures as Texas
 Southern (8-15, 8-7 SWAC) defeated Alabama State 64-49, Saturday, February
 23 in the H&PE Arena.  
 Hollis scored 14 points with four assists and four rebounds.  Stephen
 Hoyer and Gregory Grady pitched in 12 points and Marquel Timmons added 10
 points and seven rebounds. 
 Tyrone Levett posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds for
 Alabama State (15-11, 10-5).  Keith Gamble added 10 points.
 TSU outshot Alabama State 49% to 29%.  The Hornets outrebounded TSU 37 to 32.

Lady Tigers Fall to Alabama State
 
 Houston, TX-Shameka Jackson scored 24 points and grabbed nine rebounds as
 Alabama State defeated TSU 60-72, Saturday, February 23 in the H&PE Arena.
 	Chrishutta Lewis added 12 points for Alabama State (18-6, 12-3 SWAC).  
Stephanie Nelson added 10 points and two rebounds.
	Kanesha Randle led the Lady Tigers (9-14, 5-10 SWAC) with 13 points
 and 16 rebounds.  Crystal Robinson had 14 points and eight rebounds before
 leaving the game in the second half with a leg injury.
 	The Lady Hornets outshot TSU 41% to 31%.  The Lady Tigers dominated
 the boards with a 51-34 advantage over Alabama State.

TSU Baseball Blasts Prairie View, Sostand Pitches No-Hitter
 
 Houston, TX-Texas Southern University baseball outlasted SWAC rival
 Prairie View in two slugfests, winning 15-0 and 26-10.
 	Game one saw a no-hit performance by pitcher Melvin Sostand.  Damon
 Burns and David Bell also hit home runs for TSU (2-4, 2-0 SWAC)
 	Game two also featured home runs from David Bell and Julio Alvarez.
 Alvarez's home run was a grand slam.

Texas Southern Softball Splits With Southern

 Houston, TX. - Texas Southern's softball team split two games with
 Southern, losing the first game 7-8 and winning game two 6-5, Saturday,
 February 23 at Memorial Park. 
 Dreana Lemon led TSU (6-4, 6-2 SWAC) with three runs and one run batted
 in.
 Davina Davidson added two hits and Jennifer Chandler added two runs batted
 in.
 Game two saw the Lady Tigers rebound for a 6-5 win.  Aisha Collins went
 2-3 with two runs batted in.  Chandler also added two runs batted in.
 Dreana Lemon picked up the victory in game two, hurling three strikeouts. 

MVSU FINALIZES TEAM OF COACHES TO ASSIST WILLIE TOTTEN 

ITTA BENA, MS – With the approval of the governing board of the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning, 
Shawn Gregory, a Jackson State University graduate, became the fifth and final hire on 
Mississippi Valley State University's football coaching staff under head coach Willie Totten. 

Gregory takes over as Offensive Coordinator for the Delta Devils after serving the past two seasons 
at Tuskegee University as the receivers coach. Gregory has coached in many capacities,
 including a one-year stint as Offensive Coordinator at Morris Brown College from 1999-2000. 
He began his formal coaching career as an assistant coach at Redan High School in Stone Mountain, GA. 
Gregory was also an assistant coach at Riverdale Middle School in Jonesboro, GA before heading to
 MBC to coach the quarterbacks and tight ends. 

At Tuskegee, Gregory was an integral part of the Golden Tigers' coaching staff which finished with a perfect 
12-0 season that was capped with a victory in the Pioneer Bowl and the Black College National Football 
Championship in 2000. Last season, he helped the Tigers to an 11-1 season and another Pioneer Bowl win. 

Gregory played his collegiate football at rival Jackson State where he quarter backed the
 Tigers to three consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference championships in 1987, 1988 and 1990. 
A 1990 first team All-SWAC selection, he played in the 1990 All-American Bowl and was the Most 
Valuable Player of the Heritage Classic (1990) and Circle City Classic (1988 and 89). He earned his
 Bachelor of Science degree in Health, Physical Education and Recreation from JSU in 1991 and picked 
up a Master's Degree from his alma mater in 1996. 

As Defensive Coordinator, Samuel Washington assumes the responsibility of rebuilding MVSU's 
defensive unit into the SWAC power that produced cornerbacks such as Atlanta Falcons All-Pro 
Ashley Ambrose. Washington, a standout cornerback for the Delta Devils during the late 1970's and

 a four-year starter for the National Football League's Pittsburgh Steelers, undertakes the MVSU defense after coaching Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference power North Carolina A&T special teams unit. Prior to joining the NCA&T staff, Washington spent eight seasons as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at North Carolina Central University. In 1998, he interned with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers under then head coach Tony Dungy. 

Washington later spent one season as the assistant head football coach, defensive coordinator and 
special teams coordinator as well as the head track and field coach at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, N.C. after spending six seasons as the recruiting coordinator and special teams coordinator for the Wildcats of Bethune- Cookman College from 1987-92. The 1982 MVSU graduate earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Physical Education and Recreation. He signed as a free agent with the Steelers in 1983 and set a team record by intercepting five passes in the first five games of the season. He also spent two seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. 

After spending the last three seasons as the offensive line coach at in-state rival Alcorn State University, 
Clyde Jefferson returns with 14 years of coaching experience to guide the MVSU defensive line. 
He is a 1984 Health, Physical Education and Recreation graduate of MVSU and a former member of the famed "Tons of Fun," Totten's cast of offensive linemen. The two-time All-SWAC performer was named the Delta Devils' top offensive lineman in 1983. Before going to ASU, Jefferson had spent the past 11 seasons at his alma mater, serving as both the offensive and defensive line coach. His duties also included strength and conditioning of the players and coordinating special teams. 

New offensive line coach Richard Smithers, a 1993 Delta State graduate, will be responsible for
 the re-emergence of the "Tons of Fun." Smithers will also be responsible for conditioning and will 
serve as the schools head men's and women's golf coach. Smithers spent last season coaching high school at 
H.L. Bourgeois high in New Orleans, LA. He worked two stints at East Side High School in Cleveland, MS from 
1999 to 2001 and from 1997-98. At ESHS, Smithers coached the offensive line under Totten. Between the 
ESHS stops, he was the head strength coach and offensive line coach at Cohoma Community College. A native of 
Thibodeaux, LA, Smithers worked at Covington High School in Covington, LA from 1996 to 1997. 
He spent time on the DSU staff from 1995-96 as a graduate assistant, coaching the tight ends and offensive tackles. 

Arthur Moore, yet another MVSU graduate, will be responsible for the defensive backs. 
Moore has spent the past five seasons as an assistant coach at Eastside High School.
 He coached the defensive backfield and was also an assistant for the school's girls' varsity basketball team. Moore is in his first year of collegiate coaching, bringing 13 years of experience on the high school level to MVSU. 

"I think we've put together a great staff," said Totten of his lieutenants.
 "These guys are well respected in coaching circles and have a vast background of football experience. 
They come from different backgrounds and have been in different areas of the country which will help us in terms 
of our recruiting efforts and overall vision of the program." 

"I am very pleased with the wealth of experience and the high energy level of the group of assistant coaches that Coach Totten has assembled," said Athletics Director Lonza Hardy Jr. "These assistant coaches seem quite capable of helping Coach Totten elevate our football program to a higher level." 






SEVEN SIGNED FOR TOTTEN'S FIRST RECRUITING CLASS 

ITTA BENA, MS – Seven high school and junior college transfers signed National Letters of Intent to play football for Mississippi Valley State University this fall,
 becoming the cornerstone recruiting class for new head coach Willie Totten. 

Alan Washington's Letter of Intent came across Totten's fax machine
 at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday, making the 5-11, 180-pound defensive back from Lexington, MS the first signed recruit of 
Totten's head coaching career. Totten expects Washington, a transfer from Holmes Community College, to make 
an immediate impact in the Delta Devils' secondary in the upcoming season. 

Michael Thomas, a 6-3, 210 wide receiver, will fit into the new look pass-happy offense that
 Totten plans to implement this fall. Thomas is a native of Mound Bayou, MS and will transfer from 
Coahoma Community College. 

A running back, defensive end, offensive lineman, wide receiver and defensive back make up the high school signees. 

Decarlos Myrick became the first athlete of Totten's list of recruits to sign out of high school. Myrick, 
a 6-3, 235 defensive end, hails from Cedar Grove High School in Atlanta, GA. 

Victor Williams, a massive running back at 6-1, 240, from Harrison Central High School in Saucier, MS, 
was the second high schooler to pen himself as a Delta Devil. 

Totten expressed a need for athletes in the MVSU secondary, thus Istrouma High School (Baton Rouge, LA)
 defensive back Joseph Johnson (6-3, 185) was the second defensive back to sign on the first day of the signing period. 

Malcolm Reed (6-1, 180) , a wide receiver from McKinley High School in Baton Rouge, also signed on with the Delta Devils. 

Jamal Capers, a 6-5, 320 offensive linemen from Berwick, LA, became a third Louisiana prospect to sign with the 
Delta Devils. 

"This has been an exciting point in my career," said Totten who's in his second month as the Delta Devils' head coach.
 "I've been excited pretty much the whole day today. I feel we have a good class coming in and we expect to sign between 10 to 15 more guys as the week carries on, so I'm very excited about my first recruiting class. We had some needs to fill within the secondary on both the offensive and defensive lines and we went after some high-caliber athletes in those positions as well as the rest of the athletes we recruited and I think these guys will be the cornerstone for us making it to a SWAC championship down the line." 

Mississippi Valley State University 
2002 Football Signees 

Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/High School/JC 
Jamal Capers OL 6-5 320 Bernice, LA/Bernice HS 
Joseph Johnson DB 6-3 180 Baton Rouge, LA/Istrouma HS 
Decarlos Myrick DE 6-3 235 Atlanta, GA/Cedar Grove HS 
Malcolm Reed WR 6-1 180 Baton Rouge, LA/McKinley HS 
Michael Thomas WR 6-3 210 Mound Bayou, MS/Coahoma CC 
Alan Washington DB 5-11 180 Lexington, MS/Holmes CC 
Victor Williams RB 6-1 240 Saucier, MS/Harrison Central