New SIAC Commissioner Dr. William Lide kicked off the 2003-2004
SIAC basketball season last Friday with the help of MBC Exec
and 14-year veteran of MLB Cecil Fielder.
Fielder recounted his days as a California high school “basketball” star
much to the disbelief of many in the crowd. “I could
take y’all to my momma’s house and show you how
much game I had, Fielder exclaimed. When the laughter subsided,
the ex-major leaguer introduced John Sadak of the SIAC who
delivered the preseason rankings.
Morehouse’s men’s and Fort Valley State’s
women’s basketball teams were ranked number 1 overall
in the preseason.
According to most of the coaches present everybody is in a
rebuilding year. That is of course if you believe them. Miles
College head coach Roosevelt Sanders isn’t one of them. “You
can’t believe a word any of these coaches up here have
said” Sanders remarked. The colorful Sanders had the
entire 200+ attendees in stitches with his funny recount of
last season’s SIAC tournament semi-final game. All of
this before po’mouthing his squad’s chances of
winning. “We’re so pitiful we’re going to
have a co-ed team,” joked Sanders. At which the crowd
doubled over in laughter.
The event was more than a presentation of the talent that
will be hitting the hardwood this season, but also the new
direction the conference is headed. Listed several major events
including the Pioneer Bowl Dec 20, 2003 at the Georgia Dome
and the SIAC Basketball Tournament March 3-6, 2004 in Albany,
Georgia. With the addition of Stillman College, the SIAC will
continue to grow. Stillman College is currently serving a probationary
period before entrance into the conference.
Dr. Lide announced the conference’s agreement with the
MBC Network to broadcast select games from the 2003-2004 basketball
season. “We are going to have to expand our programs,
not just on a regional level but on a national level. Our goal
is to compete against each other, and other D-I and D-II institutions
at a high level,” commented Dr. Lide. “But most
importantly our goal is to graduate our youngsters,” he
went on to say. Something most of the programs do fairly well.
Fort Valley State Women’s Coach Lonnie Bartley has a
near perfect record having graduated all but one in his 20-year
career. “And I’m looking for her now and when I
find her she’ll finish” Bartley affirmed.
One sure way of improving the conference is through improving
the quality of the officials. Poor officiating in HBCU sports
has been a dogged plague to its fans. Hiring quality officials
and ensuring games are called fairly and honestly is the task
of new head of basketball officials, Simmie Lavender. And shaping
up he will do. Lavender fined an official for showing up late
to the officials post press conference meeting. “No longer
are we hiring individuals that no other conference will hire.
We are only going to hire professionals because we are servicing
an educated and professional client,” said Lavender.
“
We are on our way to becoming one of the top ten conferences
in the country” Dr. William Lide
Fielder recounted his days as a California high school “basketball” star
much to the disbelief of many in the crowd. “I could
take y’all to my momma’s house and show you how
much game I had, Fielder exclaimed. When the laughter subsided,
the ex-major leaguer introduced John Sadak of the SIAC who
delivered the preseason rankings.