BCSP Notes . . .

The all-rookie selection in 2000 suffered a severe left knee injury during practice, an MRI exam revealed, that will require surgery that certainly will end his 2004 season and possibly his career as well.

"I'm very disappointed, not only because he was doing some good things, obviously, but (because) here was a guy who has suffered a lot of adversity in his career," said Bucs coach Jon Gruden. "He has really been working hard to make a comeback."

This will mark, however, the fourth consecutive season that Morris will miss because of injury and one has to wonder when his persistence will run out. Morris could not be immediately reached for comment but sources close to the player suggested this might be his final attempt to resuscitate his once-promising career.

Morris, 26, was the 21st player selected overall in the 2000 draft. He played in 15 games for the Chiefs, starting 14 of them, and registering 48 receptions for 678 yards and three touchdowns. The 48 catches were the most ever by a Kansas City rookie wide receiver.

But the former Jackson State star tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a June 20, 2001 offseason workout and had surgery two days later that forced him to miss the entire 2001 campaign. A year later, still struggling with his rehabilitation, Morris was placed on injured reserve in the summer, ending his 2002 campaign.

Last year, he attempted a comeback with the Chiefs, but sustained a hip injury and was subsequently released by the club. He signed with the Bucs in February, getting just a one-year contract at the NFL veteran minimum base salary, as part of an attempt by Tampa Bay officials to bolster the wide receiver corps with modestly compensated players.

His attempt to return to the field after missing three full seasons, and having not appeared in a game since the 2000 finale, was viewed from the outset as a long shot. But the Bucs liked his size and speed and felt he was worth bringing to training camp.

That won't happen now.

"It was," allowed Gruden of a non-contact injury that occurred when Morris was simply running a pass route, "a freak and unfortunate thing."

Lewis named to Louisiana Hall of Fame
NATCHITOCHES, LA - Former Grambling State football great Albert Lewis was officially inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame as a part of their 2004 inductee class. This ceremony took place at the Prather Coliseum on the campus of Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana. He was presented for enshrinement by his former agent and longtime friend, Scott Casterline.

During his playing days at Grambling State, Lewis was a premier cornerback who earned first team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference honors in 1981 and 1982. He led the G-Men in interceptions with seven for a total 86 yards in returns. He earned a spot on the Senior Bowl team at the conclusion of his college career.

Lewis felt that former head coach Eddie Robinson had made a major impact in his life both on and off the field while at Grambling State. "He (Coach Robinson) talked more about life more than football. He was a very influential person in my life."

As a direct result of a stellar college career, Lewis was a third round draft pick (61st overall) of the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1983 National Football League Draft. After spending eleven seasons with the Chiefs, he would finish out the remaining five years of his career with the Oakland Raiders. Also during his pro career, he was regarded as one of the best shutdown corners in football while being a four-time Pro Bowl selection. In 2002, Lewis was chosen as a member of the "40 Years in Kansas City" 40-man squad as he was a starter for the Chiefs in his ten seasons with the team. In 2003, Lewis was listed as one of the 75 players on the initial Pro Football Hall of Fame Ballot.

Davis named interim AD at DelState
Delaware State University President Allen L. Sessoms has announced the appointment of Ed Davis, the Lady Hornets head basketball coach, as the institution's interim athletics director for the next year.

Coach Davis has signed a one-year contract, effective July 1, to serve as the university's top athletics official on an interim basis while the institution undertakes a national search during that period for a permanent athletics director. As the interim athletics director, Davis will oversee the entire Department of Athletics and will report directly to the university president.

Davis succeeds Dr. Hallie Gregory, former DSU athletics director from July 2000 to May 2004, who stepped down to accept a teaching position.

Last season, Davis led the Lady Hornets to new heights, recording a school-record 21 wins (21-9) and capturing a share of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) regular season title for the first time in team history. The MEAC rewarded his 2003-2004 season coaching success by naming him Coach-of-the-Year.

Prior to arriving at DSU, Coach Davis spent eight years as the women's basketball head coach at Bowie State University (Md.), where he posted an overall record of 165-62 and turned the Bulldogs into one of the top Division II programs in the country. His Bowie tenure included three Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) championships, three NCAA Tournament appearances, and several "coach of the year" awards. His career coaching record is 231-106.

Black college grads make SI's list of top Minorities
Four individuals with HBCU connections have been named to Sports Illustrated's 2004 list of the 101 Most Important Minorities in Sports. The listing was published in the June 28 edition of the magazine.

Maryland-Eastern Shore alum Art Shell (#28) was joined by former Grambling quarterback James "Shack" Harris (#45), Southern University Athletic Director Floyd Kerr (#75) and Bethune-Cookman product John Cheyney (#98) in the magazine's annual listing.

To qualify for the list, "an individual had to have the power to hire and fire [or substantially influence those who do], hold a significant senior-level position with a team, league or major sports enterprise or have a profound economic impact on the sports economy. The rankings are based on several factors, including the size of the person's company, division or budget, and the breadth of his or her influence."

Shell, recently named Senior Vice-President of Football Operations and Development for the NFL, was recognized for his work as an NFL appeals officer and for the influence he will have overseeing league football operations including NFL Europe.

Harris was credited with "transforming an aging squad into a young and promising team" as Vice President of Player Personnel for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Kerr made his first appearance on the list. The magazine noted how he had "remade" the Athletic Department at Southern in less than two years increasing athlete graduation rates from 27% to 63%.

Temple basketball coach Cheyney, described as "The Yoda of college basketball" was recognized for the strong influence he exerts on his players.

"Twiggy" gets ABA post
James "Twiggy" Sanders has become the first head coach of Maryland NightHawks, an American Basketball Association expansion team.

Sanders, a 1974 Johnson C. Smith grad and two-time all-CIAA selection ('73, '74) also spent 17 years as a member of the Harlem Globetrotters. He was most recently an assistant men's basketball coach at Shaw University and formerly held a similar position at Morris Brown.

A native of Raleigh, he played at Ligon High School where he was all-conference, all-state and All-American and was named Wake County Player of the Year in 1970.

© 2004 Azeez Communications, Inc.

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