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Showing posts with label Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Show all posts
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.
Dedicated To African-American Universities, Sports Channel Looks To Summer 2011 Bow
Historically Black Colleges and Universities will have a cable channel to call their own next summer with the proposed launch of the independently-owned and sports-themed HBCU Network.
The basic-cable service, targeting African-American and multicultural high school and college- aged students will be anchored by live Division I and II college sports programming from the major HBCU sports conferences, as well as HBCU-produced educational and entertainment programming, according to network CEO and former BET executive Curtis Symonds.
"This is an opportunity to talk about the 143-year history of HBCUs and provide opportunities for their growth and future prosperity and target a demographic that advertisers want to reach," Symonds told Multichannel News.
Independent holding company C3 Media LLC, comprising veteran cable executives Symonds, Clint Evans and Candace Walker, hold a majority financial stake in HBCU Network, which will be based in Atlanta. Symonds noted that the group is talking to other potential investors, but would not reveal specifics.
Hampton, VA – Last weekend produced mixed results for the CIAA as it enjoyed exhilarating victories as well as disappointing defeats. This weekend, ten CIAA schools will be in action and eight of them will be meeting nonconference opponents. The lone contest featuring CIAA teams, Bowie State – Fayetteville State, is a rematch of the 2009 Championship Game. However, several nonconference tilts will be important as the league continues to raise its football reputation.
GAME OF THE WEEK: WINSTON-SALEM STATE AT NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL:The Rams have come out of the gate fast with an impressive 2-0 start. With victories over Virginia Union and its long-time rival, North Carolina A&T, WSSU has already earned one more win than it did in 2009 (1-10). Last weekend’s comeback win over the Aggies is one of the best wins the Rams have enjoyed in years. After last weekend’s handling of VUU, the mettle of WSSU was put to the test. The Rams came through with flying colors. Two quarterbacks were necessary to orchestrate the win over the Aggies. This strategy might be necessary to knock off North Carolina Central. RB Nic Cooper has also provided a consistent running threat. Defensively, the Rams are giving up only 13.5 points per contest and will need to play solid against an NCCU team that won 59-0 last weekend. The Eagles knocked off WSSU 18-10 last season and the Rams once again seek revenge against its one-time CIAA divisional rival (6:00 p.m. at Durham). Players to watch: (Winston-Salem State: LB Carl Fields; DB Alton Keaton; RB Nic Cooper).
Charlotte tourism leaders are ready for some more roundball.
The Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority has begun formal negotiations to keep the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association’s annual men’s and women’s basketball tournaments here for several more years. Tim Newman, the visitors authority’s chief executive, told board members this week the CRVA submitted a bid last month to the conference of historically black colleges and universities to extend the partnership.
“They’re evaluating that,” Newman says. “We think we’ve got a great shot based on the great relationship we’ve had.” The current three-year deal expires in 2011. Charlotte has hosted the CIAA since 2006 at Time Warner Cable Arena. Economic impact from the tournament in 2010 was $37.1 million, dipping from $38.2 million a year earlier.
Charleston, S.C. – The Citadel Football team will open the 2010 season against Chowan University on Saturday, Sept. 4 at Johnson Hagood Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
Saturday's matchup will be the first meeting between the Bulldogs and the Hawks. The game will be the Bulldogs’ season-opener, while the Hawks opened their season at Lenoir-Rhyne on Saturday, Aug. 28. The meeting marks the first time the Bulldogs will play a current opponent from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). The Citadel will be looking to break a three-game losing streak that includes a homecoming loss to Wofford at Johnson Hagood Stadium on Nov. 7, 2009.
The Bulldogs are led by seniors Cortez Allen and Alex Sellars. Allen was named to the All-SoCon preseason team for the second consecutive year. The senior defensive back was named to the first team in 2010 after starting all 11 games last season and finishing second on the team with 57 tackles. Sellars was named as the preseason second team tight end after finishing the 2009 season as a first team media selection and a second team coaches selection.
Morehouse 34, Benedict 27 O.T. Albany State (Ga.) 42, Kentucky State 12 Virginia State 30, Livingstone 6 Saint Paul's College 28, West Virginia Wesleyan 35 Bowie State 14, Seton Hill 20 Winston Salem State 47, Virginia Union 13 Clark Atlanta 20, Lane College 6 Elizabeth City State 45, Johnson C. Smith 27 Chowan 10, Lenoir-Rhyne 59 Fort Valley State 24, Miles College 3
Suprises of the Weekend: Bowie State falling to a cupcake -- Seton Hill and WSSU pounding VUU Panthers.
Much talent returns from team that lost in 2009 CIAA final
Bowie, Md. - On many fronts, the 2009 season was a success for the Bowie State University football team. First-year coach Damon Wilson took over the program in April 2009 and guided the team to a 6-5 record, including a 5-2 mark in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. The Bulldogs won five in a row at one point and made it to the CIAA championship game. But they ended the season on a three-game losing streak, including a 21-10 decision against Fayetteville State University in the CIAA final.
"We certainly don't want to pick up where we left off, losing three in a row," Wilson said. As a result, Wilson said the team's motto for this season is to "finish what we started."
The Bulldogs have a good chance of finishing with a CIAA crown this year, given their wealth of returning talent. Eight starters from 2009 return on offense, and the defense returns nine starters from a unit that led all 148 NCAA Division II teams in total defense, allowing an average of 217 yards per game.
WINSTON-SALEM, NC - The Winston-Salem State University C.E. "Big House" Gaines Hall of Fame will welcome its class of 2010 inductees when eight individuals along with the 2000 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Champion Rams football team will take their place among the WSSU greats.
The individual inductees will be inducted in a ceremony on Friday, Sept. 17 at the Grand Pavilion Ballroom located at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Winston-Salem, N.C. and will be honored at halftime of the Winston-Salem State versus Chowan University football game on Saturday, Sept. 18.
"To an athlete, being enshrined into your university's athletic hall of fame is reaching the mountaintop. There is no higher honor," WSSU Director of Athletics, William "Bill" Hayes said. "On behalf of the entire WSSU Department of Athletics, congratulations to all inductees for reaching this milestone."
The Clarence E. "Big House" Gaines Athletic Hall of Fame class of 2010 will include some of the top student-athletes in school history. The class will include two softball players (Kenisha WilliamsandSheila Vanhook McDonald), one tennis player (Darrell Edmund Galloway), four football players (Masha Paul, Kelley D. Goodman, Gary Raiford and Antonio Stevenson), and one member of the Rams track & field team (George Dillard Macklin).
The NCAA has granted Winston-Salem State its re-admittance to Division II. WSSU, which spent four years in transition to Division I, decided to halt that process last September. WSSU was also granted re-admittance into the CIAA.
Jimmy Jenkins, the president of Livingstone College and the chairman of the CIAA board of directors, said: "I speak on behalf of my colleagues as I express our excitement about the fact that Winston-Salem State University has returned." The Rams spent 61 years in the CIAA before leaving following the 2004-05 academic year.
No offense to the CIAA North Division, but the best preseason buzz is in the South. There’s Fayetteville State, the 2009 champion looking to break the league’s sorry postseason record of playoff futility. Shaw, the resident bully, is always in the title hunt. Winston-Salem State is back after a failed engagement with Division I, with its sights set on establishing dominance with a first-year head coach.
Fayetteville went 8-4 in 2009, including 8-1 against league competition, but struggled outside the CIAA. The Broncos lost close decisions to South Atlantic power Catawba and independent UNC Pembroke early in the season, and took a 42-13 beatdown by California (Pa.) in the first round of the Division II playoffs. Can FSU improve on last year’s magic, especially after losing offensive coordinator Connell Maynor to Winston-Salem?
Shaw (8-2) had championship aspirations before a 29-28 at Fayetteville left the Bears in second place – a spot they weren’t accustomed to in recent seasons. The Bears have the offense (42.1 points per game last season) to move up a step, however, with preseason honorable mention all-CIAA running back Raymond Williams and a line anchored by Lindy’s all-America Markus McElveen.
COLUMBUS, GA – The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) and the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) have entered into a three-year deal to host the Pioneer Bowl in Columbus, Georgia.
The agreement, made in conjunction with the city of Columbus and the Columbus Sports Council, will begin with this year's contest marked for Saturday, December 4, 2010. All games will be played at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium, a 17,000-seat facility in the city of Columbus.
"Columbus is a bustling city and a perfect fit for the Pioneer Bowl," says CIAA Commissioner Leon G. Kerry. "The Pioneer Bowl is an important game for the HBCU and Division II football communities and we're glad that the city of Columbus is excited to partner in this tradition with us."
"I am extremely delighted about the opportunity to bring the Pioneer Bowl to a terrific host city. We will work hard to ensure that Pioneer XII offers our students, alumni and fans a rich and exciting bowl game experience," said SIAC Commissioner Greg Moore.
The Pioneer Bowl is the only NCAA sanctioned bowl game involving HBCU athletic conferences and one of only three sanctioned bowl games in Division II. Started in 1997, the game features teams from the CIAA and the SIAC. Last year's nail-biter saw Tuskegee University (SIAC) defeat Elizabeth City State University (CIAA), 21-7.
This year will mark the 12th installment of the bowl game and its first appearance in Columbus. Atlanta, GA, Mobile, AL, Charlotte, NC, and Columbia, SC, (2009) have all served as host cities to this historic game.
Austin Hochman, Annapolis HS, Annapolis, MD (OL, 6-4, 265) � Team Captain, 1st Team All-Anne Arundel County, Honorable Mention MD/ESPN Rise Big School All-State Football team, NCU Baltimore/Washington Combine Co-MVP Offensive Lineman and Two Star on Rivals.
Rodney Johnson, North County HS, Glen Burnie, MD (OL, 6-5, 290) � 1st Team All-County, 2nd Team All -State, Honorable Mention, All-County, 1st Team All-Metro, BTC Super 22 and BTC All Star Team.
Anthony Kees, Woodlawn HS, Baltimore, MD (LB, 6-2, 210) Baltimore All-County Honorable Mention, Team Captain, 11 game starter (89 tackles, 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery).
Trevon Bennett, Riverdale Baptist HS, Upper Marlboro, MD (QB, 6-2. 200) 3-year starter, threw for over 1,000 yards and averaged 4.0 yards per carry.
Brandon Miller, Forestville Military Academy, Forestville, MD (LB, 6-1, 215).
Sean Garland, Westlake HS, Waldorf, MD (DL, 6-3, 245) PG/ SMAC All Star game participant
Delante White, Crossland HS, Temple Hills, MD (DB, 6-0, 180) 4-year varsity player, Team Captain junior and senior seasons, PG Gazette 1st Team DB, All-State Honorable Mention, Attended the All-American Camp for ASA Prep Star in Santa Ana, California
David Brockenberry, Potomac HS, Temple Hills, MD (TE, 6-4, 220) All-Met and All County Tight End
Greg Koepping, South River, Crofton, MD (K/P, 6-0, 160) 4-year HS K/P, averaged 38 yards per punt and over 80% in FG/XPA.
Keith Brown, Suitland HS, Forestville, MD (RB, 5-11 190) Jr year All-League DB, All PG County DB Honorable Mention, All Met DB Honorable Mention and All Gazette Honorable Mention, senior season All-League RB, All PG County RB Honorable Mention, All Met RB Honorable Mention. Rushed for over 700 yards, accounted for 200 receiving yards and scored 12 TD�s during senior season. Also participated in the PG/SMAC All-Star game.
2010 Bowie State University Bulldogs Football Schedule
DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME 8/28/2010 Seton Hill University Greensburg, PA 3 p.m. 9/4/2010 Morgan State University Baltimore, MD 6 p.m. 9/11/2010 Fayetteville State University Fayeteville, NC 6 p.m. 9/18/2010 Livingstone College Salisbury, NC 6 p.m. 9/25/2010 Virginia Union University Bowie, MD 1 p.m. 10/2/2010 Virginia State University Bowie, MD 1 p.m. Western Virginia Education Classic (William Fleming H.S.) 10/9/2010 Saint Paul's College Roanoke, VA 1 p.m. Details 10/16/2010 Lincoln University of Pennsylvania (HOMECOMING) Bowie, MD 1 p.m. 10/23/2010 Elizabeth City State University Bowie, MD 1 p.m. 11/6/2010 Chowan University Murfreesboro, NC 12 noon
Saint Augustine's College athletic director George Williams.
RALEIGH, N.C. - Saint Augustine’s College capped an outstanding athletic year by winning the C.H. Williams All-Sports Trophy on Tuesday at the 2010 CIAA Coaches of the Year Award Program at the Crabtree Valley Marriott. The award is given to the season’s best men’s athletic program in the CIAA.
“It is another significant achievement by an institution which believes in academics first, athletics second and then a controlled social life,” said George Williams, athletic director and acclaimed head track and field coach at Saint Augustine’s College.
The Falcons earned the honor by winning CIAA titles in baseball, men’s basketball, and men’s indoor and outdoor track and field. In addition to their four league crowns, the Falcons finished second in men’s cross country, third in the Western Division in football, fourth in men’s golf and tied for third in men’s tennis. The winner of the Williams Trophy is based on the championship place finishes for each sponsored sport.
Three coaches and one student-athlete from Saint Augustine’s College also were recognized during the banquet. Williams was honored for winning four CIAA coach of the year awards – men’s indoor and outdoor track and field, women’s outdoor track and field and women’s cross country. Head coaches Lonnie Blow, Jr. received the CIAA coach of the year plaque for men’s basketball and Charles Whitaker accepted his plaque for CIAA baseball coach of the year. Blow is in his second year of coaching and Whitaker is a first-year head coach at Saint Augustine’s College.
The Falcons' Orolando Duffus was the winner of the CIAA male scholar-athlete of the year award. Duffus, a junior from St. Catherine, Jamaica, is an NCAA Division II All-American jumper in track and field and has a cumulative grade-point average of 3.96 in business administration.
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
Emerson Boozer, a University of Maryland Eastern Shore star half-back will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in July. Boozer was a star in Super Bowl III with the World Champions New York Jets (1968).
Long before there was a University of Maryland Eastern Shore, there was a black college football powerhouse in Princess Anne playing under the banner of "Maryland State College" coached by a nearly forgotten legendary coach, Vernon "Skip" McCain.
On Tuesday, the National Football Foundation's College Football Hall of Fame announced the induction of "Maryland State College" half-back Emerson Boozer, who will join two other Hawks presently in the Hall--Detroit Lions/Los Angeles Rams "Fearsome Foursome" massive tackleRoger Brown (inducted in 2009) and Coach "Skip" McCain (inducted in 2006).
Prior to coming North to play for the Hawks, Boozer was a 5-11/190 star half-back at Lucy Laney High School in Augusta, Georgia. Boozer, who was a running back for UMES between 1962-65, was a four-year letterman, compiling 2,537 yards and 22 touchdowns during his Hawks career. He averaged a robust 6.78 yards per carry playing for Coach McCain and later, Coach R. "Sandy" Gilliam.
Skip McCain compiled a career record of 102 wins, 17 defeats and 4 ties (82.9%) with four perfect undefeated seasons and four Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Championships. More importantly, Coach McCain and the powerhouse Hawks defeated Grambling State and the legendary Eddie Robinson in all four games played between the Hawks and Tigers, outscoring Grambling 87-20. This was achieved while McCain served as the head football coach, head basketball coach and athletic director.
During the period of 1946-1960, Maryland State College produced five undefeated football teams and a combined won-loss record of 139 wins, 36 losses and 7 ties.
Boozer graduated and went on to star for the New York Jets for 10 seasons as both a feature running back with speed and tremendous power, and later in his career, as a powerful blocking half-back. The University of Maryland Eastern Shore holds the distinction with Florida State for producing the most alumni (five each) appearing in a single Super Bowl game (Super Bowl III, 1968). Boozer, along with Hawks Earl Christy, Johnny Sample, Charlie Stukes and James Duncan holds this record that may never be broken. UMES discontinued their football program in 1979 due to the rising costs of Division I football.
Boozer was drafted by both the NFL and upstart AFL in 1966. He was selected in the Round 7/Pick 98 by the Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) and Round 6/Pick 46 by the AFL's New York Jets. Emerson became a Jets starter in 1967 and displayed talents that drew comparison to the Chicago Bears star running back Gale Sayers. Boozer was noted for his work ethic and his blocking and past catching abilities soon became legendary around the league. With quarterback Joe Namath, full back Matt Snell, and numerous support players like future college football hall of famer, Coach William "Billy Joe" (Cheney State, Florida A&M, Miles College), the Jets won Super Bowl III by an improbable 16-7 over the Johnny Unitas led Baltimore Colts.
Boozer scored 52 touchdowns and gained 5,135 yards in his 10 year NFL career. Emerson Boozer will forever be in the NFL record books for scoring the first regular-season over-time ("sudden death") touchdown in NFL history on a short pass from Joe Namath in 1974 to beat the cross-town rival New York Giants.
The UMES Hawks are not done yet--with former NFL stars and notable alumni -- NFL Coach Art Shell, Johnny Sample, Sherman Plunkett, Carl Hairston, Billy Thompson, Charlie Stukes, Earl Christy, Mack Alston Jr., and James Duncan are awaiting their names to be called for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. Not bad for a Hawks program that fielded it last football team 31 years ago.
Chowan will join the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association as a football-only member, becoming the first non-historically black college or university to affiliate with the conference.
The Hawks, who are in the process of moving from Division III to Division II, will join CIAA play next fall.
The move verifies the CIAA’s interest in becoming more diverse, and confirms the door is open for other non-HBCUs — including UNC-Pembroke.
“Our vision for the CIAA is to grow all aspects of the conference including educational synergies, athletic competition and to create a dynamic mixture of culture, history and geographic relevance,” CIAA Commissioner Leon Kerry said in a release. “We feel that Chowan University joining our football program is a great step on that path.”
Chowan has struggled in football recently, earning its first win since 2005 by beating Methodist two weeks ago.
About six years ago, Chowan attempted to join the Division III USA South Athletic Conference, which includes Methodist. But after a provisional period, the USA South voted not to extend an invitation to be a full-fledged member.
Fayetteville State Athletic Director Ed McLean said Monday he was excited about the new addition. But, he said, Chowan must prove itself worthy.
“I have my doubts,” McLean said. “It’ll be interesting to see.”
Lincoln University in Pennsylvania is scheduled to join the CIAA in 2009. It is starting a football program the same year. That would give the conference 12 football members.
But McLean said he is still waiting to complete Fayetteville State’s schedule for next year, because he anticipates another entry.
Chowan actually plays UNC-Pembroke this weekend. The CIAA has issued an invitation to UNC-Pembroke, which started its football program this year.
UNC-Pembroke Athletic Director Dan Kenney was out of the office and unavailable for comment Monday.
The predominantly white N.C. school to join the historically black CIAA in football.
Chowan University will join the Division II CIAA as a member in football for the 2008 season, the league announced on Tuesday.
The arrangement is believed to be ground-breaking.
Leon Kerry, commissioner of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, said he knows of no other instance of a predominantly white institution joining an historically black athletic conference.
Chowan, in Murfreesboro, N.C., not far from the Virginia border, is close to CIAA member Elizabeth City State and a short distance from the Hampton Roads, long a hotbed for CIAA fans and alumni. Other CIAA schools in Virginia include Virginia State in Petersburg and Virginia Union in Richmond. Former CIAA members include Hampton University and Norfolk State.
"We have a plan where we can help each other, and we're working on a great sports relationship," Kerry said. "We want to be out of the box in our thinking. That's how we maintain our success."
He said Chowan might eventually join the CIAA in other sports.
Chowan currently is a Division I member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), and a Division II member of the NCAA where the CIAA and its school also are members.
"Chowan University is thrilled at the opportunity to become a part of the CIAA football culture," Chowan president M. Christopher White said. "We look forward to developing a relationship with the conference and its athletic programs."
Kerry said CIAA league officials began talking with Chowan officials over the summer, put together a plan and presented it to the CIAA board of directors.
"The CIAA member institutions are excited to have Chowan University and the Hawks join the conference's football member teams, said Dr. Dianne B. Suber, Chair, CIAA Board of Directors. "Chowan University's membership affirms the CIAA's commitment to building a diverse and competitive Conference and represents a new chapter in the CIAA's history of blazing new trails and raising the bar in NCAA Division II sports."
The CIAA has a rich history stemming from the days of segregation and continues to have one of the nation's most successful college basketball postseason tournaments, which continues to draw alumni even from the former CIAA schools.
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.
