College Football Performance Awards - MEAC Commissioner Dr. Dennis E. Thomas

Track and Field Set to Participate in MEAC Indoor Championships

NORFOLK, VA – The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) will host its Men's and Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships, Thursday-Saturday, February 17-19, at the Prince George Sports Complex in Landover, Md.

The competition on February 17 at 1 p.m. with the women's weight throw followed by the men's weight throw at 2:30 p.m.

The championships will continue on Friday with the men's heptathlon and women's shot put competition at 9 a.m. Other field events on Friday's slate include the men's and women's long jump, the men's pole vault final, and the women's high jump. The afternoon continues with the men's and women's 800m run, 60m hurdles, 60m dash, 200m dash, and 400m dash. The men's and women's distance medley relay will round out the day's events.

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HPU Men's basketball hosts Hampton Sunday afternoon

The game: High Point University (2-2) hosts a hot Hampton University team (4-1) on Sunday at 3 p.m. HPU is coming off a 71-63 loss at the Citadel in which the Panthers staged a huge comeback to get within three points with under a minute remaining but couldn’t tie it up.

Hampton lost its first game of the season, 63-56, to Wake Forest at the Lawrence Joel Coliseum before reeling off wins over Winthrop, Fordham, Boston University and George Washington. It will be the first-ever meeting between High Point University and Hampton. HPU is 7-4 all-time against current MEAC schools. The Panthers beat North Carolina Central twice last season and split two games against South Carolina State.

On the air: 1230 AM-WFMR with Jason Benetti and Stafford Stephenson --LISTEN LIVE

Pirates to Take on High Point Panthers on the Road

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The Hampton University men’s basketball team will take to the road on Sunday, as they head to the Millis Center to face the Panthers of High Point University at 3 p.m. Since moving to Division I in 1995, this will mark the first time that Hampton and High Point face each other.

The Pirates, in their second season under head coach Edward Joyner Jr., are on a four-game winning streak following wins over Boston University and George Washington on Monday and Tuesday in the consolation rounds of the Dick’s Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off. Junior guard Darrion Pellum (Hampton, Va.) scored a team-high 18 points in Tuesday’s 62-51 win over George Washington, while junior guard Kwame Morgan II (Largo, Md.) added 14 points and tied his career high with 10 rebounds for his first career double-double.

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The State of the MEAC

The State of the MEAC

It's time for a little honesty.

Raise your hand if there was an urge to chuckle after watching the closing part of the MEAC commercial aired during Saturday's tape-delayed showing of the South Carolina State-Florida A&M football game. You know, the part where Commissioner Dennis Thomas says "athletic excellence" about the MEAC?

When it comes to football, the only "excellent" part being exhibited is the 20-game conference-winning streak by the Bulldogs and Bethune-Cookman's dominating 4-0 start. Aside from those two developments, there's truly not much for Thomas...

MEAC Roundup -- Oct. 2

Well, we have our favorite. South Carolina State was awfully impressive dispatching Florida A&M on the road 19-0. The Bulldogs did settle for four field goal attempts after moving the ball, but given the way they dominated, that’s being a little bit picky. Norfolk State’s likely happy about the result – SC State would have been a beast of a game if they’d had the loss to focus them – but the abilities the Bulldogs displayed are worrisome enough. A tall task awaits the Spartans this week. Also, Bethune is still looking awfully good and Hampton stays unbeaten.

Inside the FCS Huddle: Sharks are in the water

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Maybe you saw the shark in the pool on "CSI:" the other night. Nothing a couple extra pounds of chlorine might solve. Or a 3-3-5 defense.

If a team is still sitting outside The Sports Network/Fathead.com FCS Top 25, it probably will not be making a deep run into the playoffs later this fall. In fact, it would struggle just to make the 20-team field, which consists of 10 automatic bids to conference champions and 10 at-large bids. But that doesn't mean some teams outside the rankings won't make an impact on the playoffs. Whether they get in or not.

In the major FCS conferences, there are some sharks lurking...

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Week 5: Pretenders vs. Contenders

CIAA
Winston Salem State 49, Johnson C. Smith 3
Saint Augustine's 42, Fayetteville State 36
Shaw 34, Livingstone 0
Chowan 35, Virginia Union 34
Elizabeth City State 30, Saint Paul's 12
Virginia State 16, Bowie State 15

SIAC
Albany State 43, Lane 13
Tuskegee 51, Miles 0
E. Kentucky 58, Kentucky State 7
Fort Valley State 41, Benedict 13
Clark Atlanta 19, Stillman 14

SWAC
Mississippi State 49, Alcorn State 16
Texas Southern 21, Alabama State 7
Arkansas Pine Bluff 41, Southern 23
Grambling State 25, Alabama A&M 22
Prairie View A&M 34, Mississippi Valley 13
Jackson State (Bye)

MEAC
South Carolina State 19, Florida A&M 0
Bethune Cookaman 69, Morgan State 32
Howard 28, Lincoln (Pa.) 14
Tennessee State 37, North Carolina A&T 7 (Circle City Classic)
Liberty 52, Savannah State 14
Hampton 20, Delaware State 14 (Thursday)
Norfolk State, North Carolina Central (Bye)



South Carolina State University's Marching 101 will take on Norfolk State University's Spartan Legion in the "Man vs. Beast: Brawl in the Burg" band battle. The event will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8, at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center on the campus of S.C. State.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. For more information or tickets, call 803-536-8579, 1-800-298-9157 or 803-533-3691.

Colleges quietly charge millions in fees to support athletics

Linda Randall says her daughter, Randi-Lyn, a student at Radford University in southwestern Virginia, is not a "die-hard" follower of the Highlanders sports teams.

Even so, by the time Randi-Lyn graduates in 2012, her parents probably will have paid an average of nearly $1,000 a year in fees to the school's athletics department. They just didn't know it from the school's billing statements or website.

"We're looking at five years because she changed majors. That's $5,000," Randall says. "That's one of her loans. That would have paid rent off-campus for a year. It's kind of disheartening. I don't think I'd have as much of a problem with it if I knew I was paying it. With what we're paying, it doesn't seem right."

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NOTE: Tennessee State University student athletic fee of $224 generates $1.95M of the Tigers $8.62M 2010/11 athletic budget. TSU is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference and has the second lowest student athletic fee of nine Division I public school programs in Tennessee.

RELATED

• Chart: Analyzing the percentage of tuition that goes to athletics
• PDF: 2010-11 Athletic spending in Tennessee

Tennessee State University Aristocrat of Bands performance at Tennessee Titans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers game on 9/18/2010.

Legacy Bowl decision off until spring

What looked like a full-speed effort toward holding the Legacy Bowl has apparently slowed down for now.

On Monday, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Commissioner Dennis Thomas said the conference's executive council is still involved in the vetting process on the viability of the joint venture with the Southwestern Athletic Conference. It now appears a final vote on whether to participate in the ESPN-sponsored postseason football game will not take place in the fall as Thomas previously indicated, but instead will be pushed to as late as March 2011.

The news comes six days after a teleconference with council members and a week after Thomas sent a response letter to ....

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NCCU settles into MEAC

DURHAM, N.C. -- For the past three school years, the N.C. Central athletic program has been like a one-man band, traveling wherever it could to get a gig while just trying to make ends meet. Today, however, the Eagles have landed. NCCU officially is now among the 14 members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, a league the school left in 1979 when the conference moved up to Division I. Savannah State also joins the league today as a provisional member. NCCU is rejoining the MEAC as a part of its continued effort to become a full-fledged Division I athletic program. NCCU was accepted into the conference on Sept. 10, 2009, but actually becomes a MEAC member today.

"It occurred in September, but for the actual day to be here, it's even more exciting," NCCU athletic director Dr. Ingrid Wicker-McCree said. "Finally, we maybe can all take in a big breath of fresh air." The Eagles certainly can use some fresh air, having bounced around for three years as an independent, looking for games anywhere and everywhere. With the move to the MEAC, they join a conference with the likes of North Carolina A T, Winston-Salem State, Hampton and Norfolk State.



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U.S. House of Representatives passes North Carolina Central University Resolution

Washington, D.C. - Today, the United States House of Representatives passed H.Res. 1361, Recognizing North Carolina Central University (NCCU) on its 100th Anniversary by a vote of 408-1.

NCCU is one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The resolution was sponsored by Representatives David Price (NC-04) and G.K. Butterfield (NC-01). Rep. Price’s district includes NCCU and Rep. Butterfield earned an undergraduate and juris doctorate from the university.

Yesterday, Rep. Price addressed the House of Representatives to recognize the institution’s impact on North Carolina and urge swift passage of the resolution. The text of Rep. Price’s remarks is below.

CONGRESSMAN DAVID PRICE
FLOOR STATEMENT ON H. RES. 1361
Recognizing North Carolina Central University on its 100th Anniversary
May 19, 2010

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.Res.1361, which commemorates the centennial anniversary of North Carolina Central University and honors its founder, Dr. James E. Shepard. I’ve introduced this resolution as the member of this body privileged to represent North Carolina Central, but I’m proud to say it has the support of the entire North Carolina delegation as well as a number of other members who recognize the university’s significance.

People frequently talk about the “Big 3” universities in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina – referring to Duke University, North Carolina State University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – but I like to remind them that it is actually the “Big 4”. North Carolina Central is fully as integral to the historical fabric of our state as its three peer institutions; it is one of the oldest and most prestigious Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the nation; and it has rapidly assumed an important role as a research institution.

Established by Dr. James E. Shepard in 1909 in Durham, North Carolina, the University first opened its doors to students a year later as the National Religious Training School and Chautauqua. Dr. Shepard was a visionary leader guided by the conviction that individual self-improvement and collective self-advancement were inextricably intertwined. “There is no economy in ignorance,” he declared. “Education is a vastly expensive resource, but ignorance is incomparably more so. Ignorance and poverty are cures for nothing.”

Dr. Shepard led the University until his death in 1947, guiding the institution through several name changes; watching the University grow in size and mission; and helping the school to gain the support of the North Carolina state legislature. In 1925, thanks to Dr. Shepard’s leadership, the school became the nation’s first state-supported liberal arts college for African-American students.



Now an integral part of the University of North Carolina system, NC Central offers bachelor’s degrees in more than 100 fields of study and graduate degrees in about 40 disciplines to a student body of about 8,500. U.S. News and World Report recently ranked NC Central the top public HBCU in the nation and one of the top ten HBCUs overall. The NC Central School of Law has been named the “Best Value Law School” in the nation by National Jurist magazine for two consecutive years.

NC Central is also renowned for its contributions to the cultural and performing arts. The University is home to the “Marching Sound Machine,” an award-winning marching band that will be performing on New Year’s Day 2011 in the Rose Parade, and the NC Central Jazz Ensemble, which recently performed in the Newport Jazz Festival.

NC Central also has a strong history of athletic prowess: its sports teams have won 41 conference championships, three NCAA regional titles, and two national championships. More than 50 of its student-athletes have won individual NCAA and NAIA national championships; and student-athletes representing NCCU competed in every Olympic Games from 1956 to 1976 in track and field, capturing eight Olympic medals, including five gold medals, during that span.

As a co-chair of the congressional National Service Caucus, I must also note that NC Central was the first state university in North Carolina to establish community service as a requirement for graduation and has been recognized by the Carnegie Foundation as a “community-engaged university”. It should therefore come as no surprise that the University has enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship with its home city of Durham throughout its 100-year history.

Thousands of NC Central graduates have served Durham as community leaders, educators, professionals, entrepreneurs and volunteers. However, the reach of NC Central extends far beyond the borders of the Triangle region of North Carolina. In the century since its founding, the University has graduated approximately 40,000 students and proudly boasts many distinguished alumni, including civil rights lawyer and educator Julius L. Chambers, basketball Hall of Famer Sam Jones, two-time Olympic track gold medalist Lee Calhoun, NC Superior Court Judge Toby Fitch, state Senator and former Speaker Dan Blue, and state Rep. Mickey Michaux, not to mention my friend and lead cosponsor of this legislation, Congressman G.K. Butterfield.

In the words of NC Central’s current Chancellor, Dr. Charlie Nelms: "It's no small accomplishment that an institution of higher education - and in this case founded by African-Americans at a time when African-Americans were barred from most colleges - survived and thrived for 100 years." I could not agree more. Under the visionary leadership of Dr. Shepard, Dr. Nelms, and all who served the institution in between, the University has flourished and has touched countless lives in North Carolina and throughout the country and the world.

With that, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this resolution and yield back the remainder of my time.

Main Street Expands With CIAA and SIAC Sports

After 4,189 postings on black college sports, I believe we have learned a few things about the main stream press coverage of our Division I historical black colleges and universities.

First, the coverage is not equal, especially for institutions located in the States of Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas, Georgia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. Secondly, HBCUs can help themselves by updating their own athletic websites (daily) with future events, breaking news stories and press releases on the sport news on their campus. Finally, for changeovers in coaching personnel, HBCUs should release the story first on their school websites, so that their Administration's perspective gets out on the Internet before the facts get twisted by the local press corps.

For sometime now, I have been attempting to stop blogging and posting at "MEAC/SWAC Sports Main Street" due to a need to devote time to other interests. But, I have a burning passion for HBCU sports and bands and can never find enough real-time information on either topic at one site--the very basis of this blog.

It is very difficult to argue with the facts--the data shows that this blog serves a very useful purpose and generates a considerable following around the globe. Here is what today's Google Analytic metrics says about the MEAC/SWAC Sports Main Street blog:

• Over 253,623 visits have been made to the site this year, using 82 languages. There has been 429,355 page views and over 20,000 visitors have visited the site over 201+ times. The 253,623 visits came from 164 countries/territories; and approximately 239,904 from the United States, 3199 from Canada, 1217 from the United Kingdom, 946 from Germany, 477 from France and 69 from Iraq, just to name a few.

• Within the U.S., the top States with visitors to this blog are: Florida (39,394), Georgia (19,433), North Carolina (18,976), Texas (18,050), Virginia (14,172), Maryland (13,024), New York (10,817), Alabama (9,304), and California (9,218). Visitors came from all states with a high number from states with no HBCU or HBCU Division I institutions -- like California, New Jersey (4497), Michigan (3536), Pennsylvania (4338) and Illinois (5509). One could conclude that these states have a high concentration of HBCU graduates or fans/followers of black college Division I sports.

• In examining the data from Florida and the 39,394 visits via 562 cities, Tallahassee lead the pack with over 8,903 visits, followed by Orlando (2,652), Hialeah (2155), Miami (2000), Jacksonville (1723) and Lakeland (944). The greater number of visitors to the site in Florida are located in the big cities and urban areas. But more importantly, the fans in small towns and communities, visit the site just as often as fans in urban areas, according to the data.

Effective today, we are going to broaden our content to include the Division II, Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) and the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). There is no reason not to give the CIAA and the SIAC the same level of exposure that the MEAC and SWAC have enjoyed from this ONE MAN-- three year effort. Our goal is simply to provide greater global exposure and expand interests in our Historical Black Colleges and Universities athletic programs and their exceptional student-athletes.

We have a wonderful story to tell and it should be told from both a black perspective that accentuate the positives of HBCU culture and athletic accomplishments.

Recently, we did a blog on the football accomplishments of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. The school was formally know as Maryland State College and played football in the CIAA, prior to ending the football program in 1980. The school's football coach, Vernon "Skip" McCain was legendary, but has been generally forgotten by main street America.

We are talking about a school--UMES-- that produced over 25 NFL players, including Pro Football Hall of Famer and the first African American NFL head coach of the modern era in Art Shell ( Oakland Raiders); College Football Hall of Famer and Super Bowl III star half-back Emerson Boozer of the New York Jets; and Roger Brown, an anchor of the Fearsome Foursome of the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams. Both Brown and Coach Skip McCain have been enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.

Few articles are written on trailblazing pioneers of HBCU sports like Skip McCain (UMES), Jake Gaither (FAMU), John Merritt (TSU) , Clarence Big House Gaines (WSSU), Willie Jefferies (SCSU), Davey L. Whitney (Alcorn St.) and many other black icons of the modern era.

Few know that five UMES Hawks played in Super Bowl III, tying an NFL record with Florida State University for the most players in a single Super Bowl game from the same college.

How many know of Rudy Hubbard, Marino Casem, William "Billy Joe" or Arnett Mumford accomplishments. How many of you grasshoppers know that the second African American coach to win an NBA championship is none other than Alvin Attles from North Carolina A&T State University.

Attles is in the CIAA Hall of Fame, played 11 seasons in the NBA as a guard and ended his NBA coaching career with 588-548 overall in 14 seasons with 6 playoff appearances. His #16 was retired by the Golden State Warriors.

If you are interested in blogging and/or providing e-press clippings of your HBCU press releases, or local articles, please send me a message as I can use the help. The pay is zero but the greater reward is that your postings will get exposure annually to over 500,000 fans and readers in 164 countries and territories. Talk to me at email: oneproposal@yahoo.com.

Thank you readers for providing your feedback on this project and for your continued loyalty in reading the articles posted at MEAC/SWAC Sports Main Street. To my alma mater, Florida A&M University, thank you for giving me the gift of sharing. On gridiron, diamond, track and field, Thy sons thy victory never yield, And while they tread a broader life, Thy love shall stay them in the strife. Hubba, Rattlers!

Welcome fans of the CIAA and SIAC. Let's talk HBCU Division I and II sports!!

CIAA - "Established in 1912"

Northern Division

Bowie State University

Chowan University

Elizabeth City State University

Lincoln University (Pennsylvania)

Saint Paul's College

Virginia State University

Virginia Union University

Southern Division

Fayetteville State University

Johnson C. Smith University

Livingstone College

Saint Augustine's College

Shaw University

Winston Salem State University

SIAC - "Established in 1913"
School: Location: Year Joined SIAC:
Albany State University, Albany, GA 1969
Benedict College, Columbia, SC 1932
Claflin University, Orangeburg, SC 2008
Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA * 1913
Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, GA 1941
Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY 1997
Lane College, Jackson, TN 1929
LeMoyne-Owen College, Memphis, TN 1932
Miles College, Fairfield, AL 1927
Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA * 1913
Paine College, Augusta, GA 1985
Stillman College, Tuscaloosa, AL 1978
Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL * 1913

*Founding Member Institution of the SIAC

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RECRUITMENT: Director, Intercollegiate Athletics

Our Alma Mater needs help... please pass this vacancy announcement on to any "top shelf" qualified candidates that you may know in the profession that is looking for a fresh career start.

Director, Intercollegiate Athletics

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) is one of eleven state-supported universities in Florida. The University is governed by a 13-member Board of Trustees and is a member of the State University System governed by the Florida Board of Governors. FAMU is an 1890 land-grant Comprehensive/Doctoral University, which was established by the Legislature in 1887 in the capital city of Tallahassee. The University currently has an enrollment of approximately 12,000 high achieving students and over 700 faculty members who provide instruction, research, and service through six colleges, seven schools, and an Environmental Science Institute. In addition to 62 outstanding baccalaureate programs, FAMU offers 42 master's level programs, several professional programs, including a College of Law, and 11 Ph.D. programs. The University has been an historic leader in recruiting National Achievement Scholars and has been number one in the production of African American baccalaureate graduates.

The University is seeking applications of individuals with a strong academic, and/or administrative background for the position of Director, Intercollegiate Athletics.

QUALIFICATIONS: A master's degree or professional degree from an accredited university in an appropriate area of specialization and six (6) years of appropriate experience; or a bachelor's degree from an accredited university in an appropriate area of specialization and eight (8) years of appropriate experience. Preference will be given to applicants with evidence of significant senior leadership in athletic administration and/or coaching, preferably at the NCAA Division I collegiate level, a comprehensive understanding and extensive knowledge of NCAA bylaws, rules and regulations, successful fund-raising efforts and absolute commitment to the philosophy of the student athlete including academic excellence and sportsmanship.

The deadline to apply is May 31, 2010. Applicants should submit a completed FAMU employment application to:

Office of Human Resources
Florida A&M University
211 Foote-Hilyer Administration Center
Tallahassee, Florida 32307-3200
Telephone: (850) 599-3611
Fax: (850) 561-2080

Salary: Salary is based on educational requirements, experience and knowledge, skills, and abilities.

NOTE: Successful completion of a background investigation is a condition of employment.

Stadium Renovations Impact Savannah State 2010 Football Schedule

Savannah State University Tigers athletics department has announced its tentative 2010 football schedule. Major renovations to Theodore A. Wright Stadium have forced SSU to schedule less home games. In 2010, the Tigers will play nine road games and two home contests with teams from six conferences--Southern, Southern Intercollegiate, Mid-Eastern, Big South, Colonial and Southwestern.

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference announced on March 10, 2010, that Savannah State University has been extended provisional membership to the MEAC beginning July 1, 2010.

“Scheduling was a difficult task for us this season,” said interim athletics director Marilynn Suggs. “We wanted to play our usual complement of home games, but with the stadium renovations we will not be able to do so.” “We have scheduled six games in the state of Georgia in order to give our students, alumni, boosters, fans and supporters the best opportunity to see us play. We are extremely excited about the renovations to the stadium and look forward to playing on our campus in 2011,” added Suggs.

When completed in the summer of 2011, the new Theodore A. Wright Stadium will accommodate 8,000 patrons – 4,500 on the home side and 3,500 on the visitor side – in a combination of bleachers and seats. The existing concrete bleachers will be ground up and used during construction.

Nearly all stadium structures will be demolished as part of the upgrade, but the skybox, built in 2008, and track and field will remain intact. An elevator and restrooms will be added to the skybox and team locker rooms, concession areas and restrooms for the home and visitor sides of the stadium will be constructed. A 500-seat student section will be located below the President’s Club section, and the SSU Student Government Association will have its own skybox for use during football games.

SSU students voted last year to begin paying in the fall an extra $150 semester fee to help fund both the stadium renovations and student center construction, expected to cost a combined $17 million. The expected cost for stadium renovations are $4.5 million. Students were involved in the design process for both projects and will be able to use the stadium for other events at no additional cost.

The stadium renovations – and construction of a new student complex, also slated to begin in July – will be financed by the Georgia Higher Education Facilities Authority (GHEFA), which enables pooled financing of multiple projects under a single bond issue to help fund capital projects for the University System of Georgia and Department of Technical and Adult Education.

The Tigers will kick off the season on the road against local rival Georgia Southern in Statesboro on September 4. Savannah State will end the year with back-to-back home games on Nov. 13 and Nov. 20. North Carolina Central will come to Savannah on Nov. 13 and Norfolk State will be SSU’s Homecoming opponent on Nov. 20. SSU will announce the site of its home games at a later date.

DATE OPPONENT EVENT LOCATION TIME

9/4/2010 Georgia Southern University Statesboro, Ga. - Paulson Stadium
9/10/2010 Fort Valley State University TBA
9/18/2010 Bethune Cookman University Daytona Beach, Fla. - Municipal Stadium
9/25/2010 Albany State University TBA
10/2/2010 Liberty University Lynchburg, Va. - Williams Stadium TBA
10/9/2010 Georgia State University Atlanta, Ga. - Georgia Dome TBA
10/16/2010 Florida A&M University Tallahassee, Fla. - Bragg Stadium TBA
10/23/2010 Alabama State University Montgomery, Ala. - Cramton Bowl 1:00 p.m.
10/30/2010 OPEN
11/6/2010 Old Dominion University Norfolk, Va. - Foreman Field 2:00 p.m.
11/13/2010 North Carolina Central University Savannah, Ga. H TBA
11/20/2010 Norfolk State University "Homecoming" Savannah, GA H TBA

WELCOME TO THE MEAC SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF, ALUMNI AND BOOSTERS.

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Savannah State University granted provisional MEAC membership

Commissioner, Dr. Dennis E. Thomas welcomed the 13th member to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference -- the Savannah State University Tigers.

March 10, 2010 - The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) announced today that Savannah State University has been extended provisional membership to the MEAC beginning July 1, 2010, as voted on by the conference's Council of Chief Executive Officers (CCEO's). A press conference is set for 5 p.m. on Friday, March 12, in the post game interview room of the Joel Coliseum. An additional press conference will take place on Wednesday, March 24 in Savannah, Georgia.

"We are pleased to extend membership and welcome Savannah State University to the MEAC family," said MEAC Commissioner Dennis E. Thomas. "The addition of SSU keeps us in compliance with our long range and strategic plan of adding up to 14 members. Adding SSU to the membership completes the geographical footprint that bridges our South Carolina and Florida institutions." Commissioner Thomas added, "I would like to commend Dr. Yarbrough, President, Dr. Flythe, and the entire SSU family for all their hard work as we welcome this outstanding academic institution into the conference."

As a provisional member, SSU must be in compliance with three (3) stipulations by September 1, 2011 before full membership status into the MEAC is granted. The stipulations include (1) student-athlete scholarships, (2) athletic budget, and (3) staffing.

"We are very proud to be admitted to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The MEAC affiliation will enhance our status in terms of athletic competitions while building valuable relationships that will go well beyond the playing fields and courts," said Earl G. Yarbrough Sr., Ph.D., president of Savannah State. "On behalf of the students, faculty, staff, alumni and boosters, we extend appreciation to MEAC Commissioner Dennis Thomas, MEAC presidents/chancellors and others for this vote of confidence."

"MEAC membership means a lot for our student-athletes because they'll spend less time on the road and more time in class," said Claud Flythe, vice president for Administration, which includes athletics. "This gives our students the opportunity to interact with their peers from other HBCUs, and for the first time in a long time, they can look forward to post-season play.

Savannah State originally applied for membership into the MEAC in 2006 but faced an NCAA probationary period soon after. The membership application was deferred until the completion of the probation in May 2009. Savannah State resubmitted the application again in 2009. The Tigers will become the only MEAC institution to compete from the state of Georgia.

The addition of SSU marks the second expansion for the MEAC this academic year. North Carolina Central University was announced as a new conference member to the conference in September, 2009. Prior to NCCU, Winston-Salem State became the 12th member but will return to Division II following the 2009-10 academic/athletic season. The MEAC expanded in the 90's with the inclusion of Norfolk State in 1997 and Hampton in 1995.

About Savannah State University
Established in 1890, Savannah State University is the oldest public HBCU in Georgia and the oldest institution of higher education in Savannah, Ga. As a senior coeducational unit of the University System of Georgia, Savannah State provides a comprehensive college experience that adds value to the academic, personal, social and cultural growth of its student body. The 196-acre residential campus is located on a picturesque bluff that is minutes away from the renowned historic district of Savannah and the Atlantic Ocean beaches. Approximately 3,800 students are enrolled in 23 undergraduate and degree majors and five graduate programs in three colleges: Business Administration, Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, and Sciences and Technology.

Press Release: March 10, 2010, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.