By Lut Williams and Eric Moore
Orlando -- The Black College Sports Information Directors Association (BCSIDA) has concluded its annual meeting with record attendance, a new slate of officers, relevant commitments from two black-owned firms and a better relationship with its affiliate organization.
The men and women who serve as vital links to alumni, fans, and the media covering black college sports gathered near Disney World as part of the 43rd Annual College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Workshop at the Marriott Orlando World Center. BCSIDA was founded in 1984 at the 28th CoSIDA workshop in St. Louis.
A record 37 black college SIDs were on hand for the four-day workshop whose theme was "Preparing for the Next Century." Workshop panels focused on websites and the internet, improving the image and respect of SIDs in the athletic department, promoting women's athletics and the relationship between sportswriters and the SID. CoSIDA also set an all-time attendance record with nearly 1,200 registered participants.
Heading the new slate of BCSIDA officers is Morgan State SID Joe McIver, a 15-year veteran of the profession, who was elected president. He succeeds Mississippi Valley State Athletic Director and SID Charles "Chuck" Prophet who had served as president for the past seven years. Also newly elected to the BCSIDA Board of Directors were Vice President Kevin Manns (Alabama State University), Treasurer Romanda Noble (University of Maryland-Eastern Shore) and Parliamentarian Patricia Harvey (Johnson C. Smith University). Assistant Secretary Taleasha Reavis (Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association) was re-elected to her post.
 |
| SID Basketball Champions:(L-R) Kyle Serba, Paul Williams, Adrian Ferguson and Leonard Haynes |
Spirit Awards/Paul "Tank" Younger Award founder and president Reggie Rutherford hosted a scrumptuous reception Sunday (July 4) for the BCSIDA attendees. Rutherford, whose awards recognize the best players in black college football, detailed the five-year history of the award and encouraged the SIDs to get more involved in the voting and selection process. Rutherford also brought in Nabisco Director of Minority Affairs and Business Development Ron LeGrand as a co-sponsor of the event.
A sponsorship commitment from Dreams Advertising Agency to BCSIDA for the next three years valued at $1,500 was the highlight of the group's annual business meeting. In his presentation, Dreams President Floyd Robinson talked of developing a significant portfolio of black college products to bring corporate dollars to the table.
CoSIDA President-elect Max Corbet (Boise State) and First Vice-President-elect John Humenik (Florida) also addressed the BCSIDA business meeting. Both men urged closer cooperation between the two organizations and requested increased input from the organization regarding CoSIDA activities.
Other highlights of the workshop included the announcement of a $10,000 CoSIDA graduate internship to Walter Bishop of Alabama A&M and a $2,500 undergraduate internship to Renee Batchelor of Fayetteville State University.
BCSIDA members also enjoyed success in the Workshop's basketball competition. A team composed of CIAA SIDs captured this year's basketball championship conducted at Disney's Wild World of Sports. Members of the winning team were Adrian Ferguson (Winston-Salem State), Kyle Serba (N.C. Central), Leonard Haynes (Livingstone) and Paul Williams (Virginia Union).
