Former Chester football players getting playing time at UAB

By Earl Gault - Earl Gault

Marquis Coleman and Terrell Springs, a pair of former Chester football standouts, attained some goals last Saturday for Alabama-Birmingham.

Coleman, a redshirt freshman defensive back, made his first collegiate start and grabbed his first interception in the Blazers' 35-3 loss at Tennessee.

The 6-1, 185-pound Coleman started at cornerback in place of Brandon Carlisle. Coleman finished with two tackles and two assists. He picked off a second-quarter pass from the Vols' Jonathan Crompton.

A true freshman defensive back, Springs saw his first college action, registering four solo tackles and two assists.

UAB (0-3) will host Alabama State this Saturday, and Coleman is scheduled to make his second start.

The 5-9, 175-pound Springs is listed as Coleman's backup.

Area fans will have a chance to see Coleman, Springs and UAB when the Blazers visit South Carolina for a 7 p.m. game on Sept. 27.

• CLEMSON: Ex-Tigers tight end Brian Linthicum has enrolled at Michigan State.

The 6-4, 240-pound sophomore played in the Tigers' opener against Alabama but wasn't present for The Citadel game. He received his release from the Tigers and chose to transfer to the Spartans, citing lack of playing time. A year ago, he caught 11 passes for 76 yards and three touchdowns.

He will have to sit out a year, according to NCAA transfer rules for Division I-A programs.

• NEWBERRY: Twin sisters Dani and Niki Hroblak have helped Newberry's volleyball team get off to a 6-4 start.

The Hroblaks, who played at Clover, are 6-foot juniors.

Dani has played 12 games with 11 kills. Niki has recorded 41 kills in 34 games.

The Hroblaks, born in Pittsburgh, Pa., are the daughters of Harold and Suzanne Hroblak of Tega Cay.

• SOUTH CAROLINA STATE: It will be a family affair when the Bulldogs visit Clemson at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Bulldogs defensive backs Marquais Hamlin and Markee Hamlin are the younger brothers of Clemson defensive back Michael Hamlin.

Clover High assistant coach Doug Collins was a member of the Lamar coaching staff when the Hamlins were in high school. Lamar is coached by J.R. Boyd, a York native.

Also, Bulldogs assistant coach Joe Blackwell is the brother of Clemson assistant David Blackwell.

The Rock Hill area will also be well represented on the Bulldogs squad. Junior linebacker David Erby (Rock Hill High), junior defensive back Phillip Adams (Rock Hill), senior linebacker Ryan Potts (Fort Mill), freshman defensive lineman La'Taris Douglas (Clover) and freshman kicker Matt Patterson (Clover) are on the roster.

• QUEENS: Former Winthrop women's basketball coach Cheryl Nix has joined Queens University's staff as an assistant under first-year Royals coach Trudi Lacey.

Nix guided the Lady Eagles for four seasons (2000-2004) before joining Queens in 2006 in the financial aid department.

Nix was the head coach at Cumberland University prior to coming to Winthrop.

Nix played at Clemson, where she ranks sixth in career free-throw shooting and in 3-point field goal attempts and ninth in 3-point field goal percentage.

Twin sisters Shakendra and Markeisha Hicks of Rock Hill are members of the Royals.