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ESPN's Stephen A. Smith and Eric Collins
to keynote and emcee Ford MEAC/SWAC Challenge
Kick-off Luncheon
August 17, 2006
ESPN’s Quite Frankly host and NBA studio
analyst Stephen A. Smith will be the keynote
speaker at the 2006 Ford MEAC•SWAC Challenge
Kick-off Luncheon Friday, September 1 at 12
p.m. CT at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel (Birmingham
Ballroom). Serving as the emcee of the luncheon
will be ESPN college football play-by-play
commentator Eric Collins.
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ESPN Photos
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Stephen A. Smith |
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Eric Collins |
The luncheon will
be the first of several events leading up to
the annual Ford MEAC•SWAC Challenge game,
an ESPN Regional Television (ERT) owned-and-operated
event, which will feature Hampton University,
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) against
Grambling State University, Southwestern Athletic
Conference (SWAC). The game will be played
on Saturday, Sept. 2 at 11 a.m. at Legion Field
and televised nationally on ESPN2.
The luncheon will also feature the participating
school’s student-athletes, athletic directors,
head coaches, and conference officials. The
cost of the luncheon is $35 and tickets can
be ordered by calling (205) 733-3776.
About Stephen A. Smith
Stephen A. Smith of the Philadelphia Inquirer
joined the ESPN team in the fall of 2003 as
an NBA analyst. His 60-minute daily dose of
sports news, opinions, issues, and headlines,
Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith, premiered
August 1, 2005 and is currently televised each
weeknight at 10 p.m. CT on ESPN2.
Since April, Smith has also hosted The Stephen
A. Smith Show weekdays on ESPN Radio 1050 in
New York City. In addition, Smith serves as
an analyst on NBA Shootaround, NBA Nation and
NBA Fastbreak as well as SportsCenter and ESPN
Radio.
Smith has been a sports writer at the Philadelphia
Inquirer since 1994. Previously, he covered
news and sports at the New York Daily News
(1993-1994) and worked at the Greensboro News
and Record (1992-1993) and the Winston-Salem
Journal (1991-1992). He is a graduate of Winston-Salem
State University.
About Eric Collins
Eric Collins joined the ESPN team in 2004
as a play-by-play commentator primarily working
college football and other select sports. He
has also called College World Series telecasts
and USA women’s softball games.
Collins came to ESPN from ABC where he also
worked as a college football play-by-play commentator
(2002-03). Prior to ABC, Collins worked for
Fox Sports, calling NFL Europe games (2002)
and DePaul and Horizon League basketball games
(2000-04), while also serving as an anchor
and reporter (1996-02). Collins was also the
radio voice of the Schaumburg Flyers (Ill.)
of the Northern League Baseball (1999-2001).
Ford MEAC·SWAC Challenge
In addition to the kick-off luncheon, the
following events will take place during the
2006 Ford MEAC·SWAC Challenge Labor Day festivities
(Aug 31 – Sept. 2): VIP Welcome Reception,
ESPN Career Expo, High School Career Panel
101 presented by Team ESPN and Bright House
Networks and the Ford MEAC·SWAC Step
Correct Step Show Challenge.
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