Youth, High School and College Coaches Sign Sports Safety Pledge to Protect Players

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The National Center for Sports Safety (NCSS) along with a number of local college, high school, and youth coaches have joined together to launch a new Sports Safety Pledge aimed at curbing the number of sports related injuries throughout the U.S. by engaging coaches at all levels. The event took place at the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.
“Similar to The Birmingham Pledge created in 1997 to help raise awareness on equality and justice, we are reaching across the nation and asking coaches to sign the National Center for Sports Safety Pledge,” said NCSS Executive Director, Kathryn Gwaltney. “By signing this pledge, the coaches are committing to make their players’ health and safety a top priority in the protection of all athletes of all ages across the United States.”
The goal of NCSS, founded in 2001 by Dr. Lawrence Lemak, is to promote the importance of injury prevention and safety on all levels of youth sports by educating volunteers and coaches through NCSS sports safety courses and other NCSS resources and by increasing sports safety awareness. Referenced by Safe Kids USA, approximately 1.35 million children are seen in emergency rooms for sports-related injuries each year, that is one child every 25 seconds. That does not account for sports injuries seen in primary care and specialist physician offices, physical therapy clinics, athletic training rooms and emergent care facilities.  Many of these injuries could be avoided.
“We are truly honored by the wonderful response that we have received statewide from coaches with the college, high school and youth levels, in support of our Sports Safety Pledge,” said Kathryn Gwaltney. “We applaud the enthusiasm and commitment from such an esteemed group of coaches and look forward to the sports safety awareness that will result from this.”
Dr. Lawrence Lemak, said his vision for the organization is not only to offer a resource for education, but also to show coaches and parents the grave importance of sports safety training for parents, coaches and athletes. The goal of NCSS is to standardize the level of care available to athletes on and off the playing field. By educating youth coaches in sports safety techniques and skills, they will gain the knowledge and confidence to prevent and respond to injuries and emergency situations appropriately until professional help arrives.
“There is not one parent that would drop their child off at a local community pool if there was not a certified lifeguard on duty. That same standard of care should be observed on the playing field,” Dr. Lemak said.

MONTGOMERY – In athletics, success often breeds success. The Alabama State men’s golf team has epitomized that saying, winning the last three SWAC championships.
In fact, Alabama State is the center of the SWAC golf universe, as the women’s program has won three of the last four SWAC titles, including two in a row.
The men’s team has achieved another significant milestone for the program, with three players ranked in the Top 50 nationally in scoring. Francis Berthiaume leads the nation, with Branson Ferrier 12th and Andrei Collins 35th.
Francis Berthiaume leads the nation, with Branson Ferrier 12th and Andrei Collins 35th.
“It’s an amazing finish to the fall season,” ASU head coach Dr. Gary Grandison said of the men’s team, which won four tournaments in five events this fall. Alabama State ranks 23rd nationally in scoring average per round at a total of slightly under 286, or an average score of 71.5 per golfer as the top four individual scores are computed per round. “To have two players in the top 15 and three in the top 35 in the country shows we can accommodate top golfers and develop top golfers.”
Among tournaments competed in include wins at Murray State and Tennessee Martin, and a strong showing in the St. Johns tournament just outside New York City.
Berthiaume, a junior from Valleyfield, Quebec Canada, won three of the five events, and finished second in a fourth tournament. He has shot 11 of his 13 rounds at even par or under. Of his two rounds above par, they were exiguously above par, each one shot over.
Berthiaume opened the season with a career-low round of 65 followed by a 68 for an 11-under 133 in the ASU Fall Classic. With the tone set during the opening weekend, no wonder they call him ‘Easy.’ He is averaging a score of 68.38 per round and is sixth nationally with 62 birdies.
Ferrier, who has been the low medalist in each of the past two SWAC Championships, has placed in the top seven in all five events, including two runners-up finishes to Berthiaume and has also posted rounds of even par or better 11 of 13 times.
“I set a goal at the start of the year to shoot under par in every tournament,” said Ferrier, a junior from Barrie, Ontario Canada who is averaging 69.46 per round. His 58 birdies ranked 14th nationally. “I didn’t really think too much about winning every tournament. I just wanted to be more consistent. Taking my mind off of the end result helped me to just play golf and not get mixed up in my thoughts of ‘I can’t win now if I have a bad hole.’ Setting intermediate goals throughout the rounds and tournaments helped me be a lot more consistent.”
Collins, a sophomore from Couva, Trinidad, has posted a score of 70 in five of seven rounds this season. His 71.00 scoring average ranks 35th nationally.
“Their maturity has made a huge difference,” Dr. Grandison said of Berthiaume and Ferrier. “They are recognizing what it takes to play at the highest level of golf. Their focus is more on playing comfortably versus overpowering a course. They are taking what the course gives them, and staying in the moment. I believe in Andrei’s talent, and that he hasn’t peaked yet. I’m excited about their performances as a group. The team has performed well, individually I see the maturity in our athletes, and I hope we continue to grow and peak at the right times.”
Ferrier sees the talent on the roster daily in practice.
“I honestly felt it was just a matter of time,” Ferrier said of the team scoring at the level it has this fall. “Everybody has been playing so well in spurts here and there, and a few of us were able to put it together for a whole semester. It really helped with our schedule to play a full semester of tournaments in six weeks. We are able to stay in form the entire semester.”
The Hornets will return to action in early March at the Texas Southern Invitational in Alexandria, La.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – BBVA Compass and University of Alabama at Birmingham officials announced a $1.5 million gift from the bank that will bring a new soccer facility to the campus.
In recognition of the gift, the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees today approved naming the facility BBVA Compass Field.
“This is an exciting milestone for our continued growth, and I thank BBVA Compass for this generous support,” said UAB President Ray L. Watts. “Plans for this facility have been in place for some time, and I am pleased that BBVA Compass can be recognized for their generous gift through this naming.”
Located south of University Boulevard just east of I-65, BBVA Compass Field will be the first impression visitors encounter as they enter campus from I-65.
“In an era when the community and UAB are connected in mutual support and growth like never before, I am proud that this facility and the BBVA Compass name will welcome students, faculty and staff, as well as guests onto our campus,” Watts said.
UAB Men’s Soccer and Women’s Soccer will play home games at the facility, which will also host non-UAB soccer matches. The facility is anticipated to seat roughly 2,500.
“This is great for Birmingham and UAB,” said BBVA Compass Chairman and CEO Manolo Sánchez. “BBVA Compass Field will showcase one of the most popular sports in the world and allow us to support UAB’s diverse campus and international community. It’ll also contribute in a meaningful way to the revitalization of the urban core of this historic and important American city.”
“Philanthropic support like this is critical to this great institution,” said UAB Senior Vice President Shirley Salloway Kahn. “And this was a great opportunity to match a donor’s gift with their interest.”
BBVA Compass has a strong record of engaging with the communities it serves through the global sport of soccer. Its parent company, Spain-based BBVA Group, sponsors La Liga, one of the most popular professional sports leagues in the world, and BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston is the home of Major League Soccer’s Houston Dynamo.
Birmingham itself is no stranger to soccer. The city had the highest ESPN audience in the country for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match between the United States and Mexico, according to socceramerica.com, at almost twice the national viewership average. The city was also among the top 18 U.S. markets in television ratings records during the 2014 World Cup.
Inaugural seasons for the men’s and women’s programs were in 1979 and 1996, respectively, and both have experienced success. The UAB women’s team won a Conference USA Championship in 2004. Head Women’s Coach Harold Warren helped coach the University of Southern California to a National Championship in 2007.
“The new facility will help make UAB a top contender when putting in bids to host Conference USA and the first round of the NCCA tournament,” Warren said. “The ability to attract ACC, Big 12 and Big 10 schools for play helps the program’s competitive growth, and fans love watching UAB compete against the best. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
Under the leadership of UAB Men’s Head Coach Mike Getman, the UAB men’s team has won six Conference USA titles and made seven NCAA appearances.
“Recruits will know they are joining a program that is first class, and that the university and our community support the team,” Getman said.
Of the gift, UAB Athletic Director Brian Mackin said, “This generous gift will undoubtedly be a tremendous benefit to our men’s and women’s soccer programs, as well as soccer in the community.”
BBVA Compass Birmingham City President Alan Register says the gift is about more than soccer, pointing to its broader impact.
“UAB is vital to the economic and cultural future of our community, and an investment in its continued growth and prosperity is one of the best ways to support Birmingham and Alabama,” Register said.

The Alabama State women’s volleyball team showed plenty of fight on this night, battling back from being down most of the first set against a Conference USA opponent before taking the set with some spirited play.
But, UAB was able to make enough adjustments on the location of their shots keeping the Lady Hornets on the defensive as the Blazers prevailed 3-1 (23-25, 25-14, 25-14, 25-21) against the Lady Hornets on Tuesday night at Lockhart Gymnasium.
Alabama State (12-17 overall) looked strong in the early going by rallying back in the opening set behind a robust .346 hitting percentage.
After ASU trailed 19-17, the juniors and seniors came to the rescue.  Junior Amber Bennett put down a spike.  Senior Erika Thompson notched an ace and junior Rachel Smith pushed it over the net with two hands and into some open space to give ASU a 20-19 lead causing UAB to call for time.
UAB answered back and a Smith block tied it at 21.
Junior Myla Marshall finished it out though when the six-foot middle hitter came up high and swatted it down with authority at the peak of her jump causing a roar from the ASU crowd giving them the first set 25-23.
UAB was able to turn around its fortunes by finding more open floor space to take the second and third sets by the identical score of 25-14.  Errors became an issue for ASU as well as the team combined to make 23 attacking errors after committing just four in the opening set.
In the fourth set, the Lady Hornets gave themselves a good look at forcing a fifth set.
After an UAB wayward ball bounded out, it gave ASU a 17-16 lead.  UAB took the next three points to grab a 19-17 advantage.  A Scott kill cut it to one, but UAB picked up the next two including one that was directed in no man’s land in the center of the court.
A Scott kill made it 23-21, but that’s as close as the Lady Hornets could get as two attacking errors ended it at 25-21.  The Blazers snapped a five-game losing skid to improve to 7-23 overall.
Four Blazers finished with double digit in kills including Bethanie Thomas (16 kills), Gabby Deshotel (13 kills) and Sara Richell and Kiriana Hirini (10 kills apiece).
Scott led the Lady Hornets with 12 kills, three digs and a block.  Marshall had eight kills and two blocks while Smith added eight kills, five digs, three aces and a block.
Brooke Beasley led the team in assists with 21.
Alabama State will return home to host Alcorn State on Friday at 7 p.m. from Lockhart Gym in a SWAC contest.

 The SWAC Alumni Association will honor four Southwestern Athletic Conference stalwarts during its annual Legends Reception Dec. 6 in the Tiger Room of the Sterling Student Center at Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas.
Willie Richardson, a SWAC Hall of Fame wide receiver at Jackson State and an NFL standout, Shirley Walker, former women’s basketball coach at Alcorn State University, and former Prairie View A&M track and field and football coach Hoover Wright will receive Lifetime Achievement Awards. Wright will be honored posthumously.
John “Doc’’ Harvey, Head Athletic Trainer at Texas Southern University, will receive the Charles “Chuck’’ Prophet Memorial Wagon Master Award. This award is named in honor of Chuck Prophet, the long-time Sports Information Director and Athletic Director at Mississippi Valley State University. It is presented annually to an employee of a conference member institution who best exemplifies Chuck’s spirit and dedication and loyalty to their school and SWAC.
Richardson led the nation in average yards per catch while at Jackson State and  was a four-time All-American. He was the leading receiver for the Baltimore Colts in 1967, ’69 and ’70 and a starter in Super Bowl III. Richardson is a member of the National Football  Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame, the Black College Hall of Fame and the National High School Hall of Fame in addition to the SWAC Hall of Fame.
Walker coached the Lady Braves for 30 seasons and compiled a 489-342 record.   Her teams won 12 SWAC regular season titles and six conference tournament championships, and she was SWAC Coach of the Year eight times. During the 1996-97 season, the Lady Braves had the nation’s longest home court winning streak during the 1996-97 with 31 consecutive victories.
Wright coached Prairie View to two NAIA men’s indoor national championships and one outdoor national title; five SWAC championships, one U.S. Track and Field Association national title and one Astrodome Federation national championship. Wright was an assistant coach for the USA National Team in 1971 and for the 1972 Munich Olympic Games and head coach of the USA Junior National Team for a 1987 triangular meet with Cuba and Canada. He was also an assistant with the 1975 USA Pan American Games team and the 1981 World University Games team. In addition, Wright was the Panthers’ football coach for 10 seasons from 1966-68 and 1973-79.
Harvey has been head athletic trainer at Texas Southern for years after holding the same position at Prairie View for two years. He has received numerous honors and awards during his distinguished career, including:
•    1996 Black Sports Media Athletic Trainer of the Year Award.
•    2001 SWATA John Harvey Humanitarian Award.
•    2002 NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award.
•    2003 NATA Bill Chisolm Professional Service Award.
•    2003 SWATA Hall of Fame Inductee.
The SWAC Alumni Association was founded in Birmingham, Ala., Dec. 10, 1999 during the inaugural SWAC Championship Football Game out of concern that the conference’s legacy of athletic excellence was being forgotten. Its goal is to support conference activities, honor SWAC’s tradition of athletic excellence and preserve its heritage as one of the premier conferences in the nation. Former athletes who competed in any sport at SWAC member institutions are eligible for membership, as are former coaches in all sports, athletic trainers, athletic administrators, game officials, employees of the conference office and supporters of SWAC athletics.
For membership information, contact President Roscoe Nance at 703-481-0084 or at scomobile@aol.com.

MONTGOMERY – The 2014-15 version of the Alabama State men’s basketball team will hit the hardwood when they open the season hosting cross-town neighbor Auburn University Montgomery.
With the return of 11 players from last season, including all five starters, the Hornets have been picked to win the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) in the preseason coaches’ poll.  As the excitement builds of what could be an outstanding season, the Hornets are ready to get the season started.
“It’s been exciting,” 10th year Head Coach Lewis Jackson said.  “We have all of our guys back this year and we are excited about that.  In addition to that we have added some new players as well.  So we’re excited about this group and what could happen and we are in here trying to get better each and every day.”
The coaching staff had decided early on to install a new offense and with that installation comes the ups and downs of learning, and that is what has been happening over the course of preseason work.
“At times it (new offense) has worked pretty well and at other times it seems we are having mental lapses where we are not getting the ball out as fast as we want,” Jackson said.  “We are trying to catch the ball before it hits the floor and get it out to a guard and push it up the floor to put some pressure on the defensive team.  It’s been hit and miss and it’s going to take some time to get in there and do it and make it happen.”
The game with AUM ( Nov. 14) is scheduled to tip off at 7:30 p.m.  The game time has been pushed back 30 minutes due to the Lady Hornets 5:30 p.m. tip against Stillman earlier.  So it will be a double-header opening night for all the ASU fans to see both teams in action to begin the 2014-15 season.

NORFOLK, Va. – Former Norfolk State center Brandon Goode will continue his basketball career after being selected by the Delaware 87ers on Saturday in the NBA’s Development League draft.
Goode was chosen with the first pick in the sixth round, the 91st overall selection, by the Philadelphia 76ers D-League affiliate.
A native of Bronx, N.Y., the 7-foot-0, 235-pound Goode finished up his four-year NSU career in 2014. He earned third-team All-MEAC honors in his senior year, averaging 11.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game. He shot better than 61 percent from the floor, ranking second in the MEAC, and was a three-time MEAC Defensive Player of the Week. Goode also finished 42nd in the nation in blocks per game.
He tallied 679 points, 458 rebounds and 160 blocks during his four years with the Spartans.
Goode finished his career second all-time at NSU in blocks.
The Development League consists of 18 teams affiliated with various NBA teams. The season runs from mid-November through the early part of April. The D-League Draft this year entailed eight rounds and 122 picks.
The 87ers begin training camp on Monday, with their first game of the year on Nov. 15 against Canton.