Sam Massey's all-star football tour will now include a stop Saturday at the prestigious Hula Bowl in Maui, Hawaii.
The senior defensive back will become the first Morgan State player to compete in the game, which will be televised by ESPN at 8 p.m.
"Sam is a prototype NFL player at 6-3, 205," said Morgan coach Donald Hill-Eley. "He has size, speed and quickness. I'm anxious to see how he does in the Hula Bowl."
The Morgan coach said he will not attend the bowl because, "I'll be out recruiting, looking for more Sam Masseys. I'll give him a hug, a lei and send him on his way."
In something of a surprise, Massey will not be playing for Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen in the bowl.
Friedgen will be one of the North squad coaches, while Massey will be a member of the South team.
Massey had previously been selected to play in The Villages Gridiron Classic on Jan. 31 at the Villages (Fla.) Polo Stadium.
"This marks another accomplishment for our football program," Hill-Eley said. "Last year, Visanthe Shiancoe showed we can produce NFL quality players, and the exposure we're getting is allowing us to have an opportunity to get our players selected to these bowl games."
Reese stealing show
Coppin State senior guard Antoinette Reese is second in the nation in steals (3.9 a game) after chalking up eight in two games last week.
Reese has 46 steals in the past eight games and 55 this season, and is on pace to break Delora Walker's single-season mark of 96 set during the 1995-96 season.
Twice in the eight-game run, Reese has compiled nine steals in one game, which ties her with Manhattan's Donette Reed for the top single-game mark in the country this season.
Reese's average is second to American University's Chanel Spriggs, who leads the nation with 4.2 a game.
Reese also leads Coppin in scoring (11.4) and is second in assists (2.7).
Easterday breaks mark
McDaniel's Mary Easterday broke her school record for the 200 freestyle (1.58.35) last Saturday as the Green Terror women swept past Marymount, 118-84, in Arlington, Va.
Easterday bettered her old record by .09 of a second on a day in which she also won the 100 freestyle in 55.50 seconds.
Melanie Pulley also captured two events for McDaniel, winning the 200 individual medley and the 500 freestyle.
The Green Terror men also defeated Marymount, 106-84, last Saturday behind two first-place finishes each from Mark Yankovich, Dan Pickett and Nick Grigsby.
Finley, Piedra honored
Navy standouts Stacy Finley and Xochitl Piedra have been named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-Mid-Atlantic Region second team.
Finley, a high-scoring senior forward, and Piedra, a talented defender, were pivotal players in the Mids' drive to their first Patriot League tournament title and first NCAA tournament appearance.
Strong gymnastics start
Towson freshman Christina Ghani took first place in the all-around competition (37.70 score), vault (9.85), and floor exercise (9.85) while competing in her first collegiate gymnastics meet last weekend. She also was second on the bars (9.65 score) as Towson opened its season with a 189.825-174.225 victory over Rhode Island.