BCSP Notes . . .
Redman turning heads at Steelers' camp
Former Bowie State and CIAA standout
Isaac Redman is making a strong bid to earn a spot on the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh
Steelers' roster. In fact, word is, he's gaining a nickname among fans.
Redman, an undrafted rookie free agent, has been impressive in the Steelers' preseason camp and scored the team's only two touchdowns in last Thursday's preseason opener, a 20-10 win over the Arizona Cardinals in a rematch of Super Bowl XLIII.
Redman's game heroics came a few days after a stint in Steelers' camp last week where he scored twice on the team's goal line drill when other running backs in the Steelers' stable could not get in. The 6-foot, 230-pound back followed that up this week with another performance in the goal line drill that got the attention of Steelers' head coach Mike Tomlin.
According to a story in Tuesday's on-line edition of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Steelers' beat writer Ed Bouchette says as a result of his latest exploits the kid is now being called Isaac "Redzone" Redman.
Working to earn his spot at the Steelers' camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa., Bouchette reports Redman scored three straight times on the goal-line drill against the first-team defense Sunday. And in an unprecedented move, Tomlin had him carry the ball on each of the seven live plays run from the 1 in that drill. Redman scored on five of those runs, came close on a disputed call on another and was stopped once. Normally two or three backs get to carry the ball in the drill.
"You guys saw what I saw, he got in the end zone a bunch," Tomlin reportedly said. "He's still got a ways to go. That's the process. No question he represented himself pretty well."
"It gives me a bit of a confidence booster," Redman, who finished his college career as Bowie State's all-time leading rusher, was quoted as saying of his first three scores Monday. "They told me I was going to get in with the first team to see if I could repeat the same thing. The offensive line had some great blocks. The fullback had a great block and I basically walked in on a couple of them."
Bouchette reports that Redman said the Steelers were the only team that really wanted to sign him after he went undrafted in April. If he makes it, he would become the first player from Bowie State to play in the NFL.
Bouchette's story goes on, "The Steelers have been looking for a short-yardage back, unsuccessfully, since Jerome Bettis retired after the 2005 season. They drafted Frank "The Tank" Summers (5 feet 10, 240 pounds) to possibly handle that role. Redman (6-0, 230) is giving him a run for it."
In his best season at Bowie State (2004), Redman rushed 281 times for 1,512 yards and 12 TDs. He finished his career with 3,300 rushing yards and 35 rushing TDs.
HSRN teams with Sirius/XM
The Heritage Sports Radio Network (HSRN) and Sirius/XM Satellite Radio have partnered to deliver Historically Black College and University (HBCU) sports on national radio to the millions of black college sports fans.
"This is an unprecedented partnership that brings us closer to
fulfilling our mission which is to be the 'Voice of HBCU sports,'", said HSRN
CEO, Omarr Bashir. "With this deal, HBCU sports fans finally have a place
to call home and the new address is Sirius/XM."
HSRN will broadcast the "Game of the Week" each Saturday starting August 29, 2009. The broadcasts will include pregame, halftime and postgame analysis as well as updates of all of the sports action across the country.
"Every season, our goal at SIRIUS XM Radio is to deliver fans the best college football games," said Steve Cohen, SIRIUS XM's Senior Vice President of Sports Programming. "Our agreement with HRSN is another excellent step in that direction. HBCU sports features some of college football's best teams and most historic rivalries and we're thrilled to be able to give millions of sports fans around the country access to these great events."
Founded in 2006, HSRN was created to provide a voice for the HBCU community. The company is committed to using new technologies to present nationwide broadcasts of athletic events of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Radio Network set to begin second year
Classics Sports Radio Network (CSRN) has announced its 2009 radio broadcast schedule.
Beginning its second season, CSRN will broadcast 10
- 12 games. The schedule is highlighted by the broadcast of
the MEAC-SWAC Challenge presented by Disney, the
Southern Heritage Classic, the Atlanta Football
Classic and the Southwest Airlines State Fair
Classic, all of which CSRN will broadcast for
the second-straight year.
"We felt like last year we really established a foundation and look to grow even more this year," said Donal Ware, CEO of DWCommunications, LLC (DWC), parent company of CSRN. "This year we are going to take it to a new level where we will continue to establish ourselves as the leader in radio broadcasts of HBCU Sports."
The MEAC-SWAC challenge this year pits MEAC champion South Carolina State against SWAC champion Grambling State in Orlando, Fla. on Sunday, September 6. The Challenge is in its fifth season and is an ESPN Regional Television owned and operated event. DWCommunications, LLC partnered with ESPN RT to promote the event. The promotion included DWC giving a Disney Grand Prize Pack.
Stations around the country carrying CSRN include WGBN-AM 1150 in Pittsburgh, WBOK-AM 1230 in New Orleans, WAUG-AM 750 in Raleigh, ESPN 1080 in Orlando, WJSU-FM 88.5 in Jackson, Ms., WELE-AM 1380 in Daytona Beach, Fl., WKRA-AM 1110 in Holly Springs, Ms., and WHPR-FM 88.1 in Detroit. All games can also be heard online at www.classicsportsradio.com. Broadcasts will include a pre-game, halftime and post game show.
CSRN will kick the season off on August 29 by broadcasting a rematch of last year's CIAA Championship Game as Elizabeth City State will take on Shaw in Raleigh, NC. On September 5, CSRN will broadcast The Battle of I-40 as Winston-Salem State will host North Carolina A&T followed by the broadcast of the MEAC/SWAC Challenge on Sept. 6. On September 12 CSRN will broadcast the Southern Heritage Classic from Memphis and on October 3 the Southwest Airlines State Fair Classic from Dallas. CSRN will announce its remaining broadcast schedule later.
The website, www.classicsportsradio.com, will also be an information source where fans can get updated HBCU football scores every 30 minutes, information about the CSRN Game of the Week, and football game stories as well as the opportunity to listen to archived games.
© 2009 Azeez Communications, Inc.