By Bonitta Best
RALEIGH,NC - Although tournament organizers have announced a shortage of $65 thousand in its fundraising efforts, CIAA commissioner Leon Kerry isn't worried.That amount still needs to be raised to run the week-long event and provide scholarships to the 12 CIAA schools. Organizers have three weeks to raise the full $539,250 or have the remaining balance paid by the City of Raleigh, Wake County and the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Kerry was in Raleigh as part of a three-day media blitz ofinterviews and appearances to promote the upcoming tournament."While $65,000 may sound like a lot of money, it's not," Kerry said."That's two sponsors' checks. Things are moving along, it's not going tobe a problem."
Forum:
Weather has forced a cancellation of a CIAA forum in Durham. Originally scheduled for Jan. 28 at theN.C. Mutual Life Insurance building, the reception, which was open to the public, would have included celebrity appearances, entertainment, heavy hors d'oeuvres, tournament ticket give-a-ways, and a question and answer session regarding the event. No word yet on when the event will be rescheduled.
No Champs Yet:
The CIAA football championship game is not a donedeal just yet. The Board of Directors has yet to vote on the matter andthat won't happen until April. If the vote is yes, as expected, the gameis scheduled for Nov. 11, 2000.
A recent boost to the football fortunes of the conference, which critics have assailed for its dwindling quality in recent years, was Winston-Salem State's emergence as Pioneer Bowl champions over SIAC foe, Tuskegee.
"Prior to Winston winning it, the SIAC thought they were the Division IIpowerhouse but they're not," Kerry said. "We think that (win) and thefootball championship will put us back where we need to be. We do playfootball and we play outstanding football."
Expansion:
The push for expansion is still on. While BenedictCollege pops up first on most lips, the independent school recentlyapplied to the SIAC, too. Is it first come, first served?
"The Board is in the process of reviewing and discussing it (Benedict)but we have not voted," Kerry said. "Benedict can go wherever they wantto go. There are some parameters they have to meet, and if they cannotmeet them it probably won't happen."
Kerry said officials would like to bring in two additions but stressedthat proximity of the schools will play a major role in thedecision-making process.
Millennium Outlook:
The agenda is full for the conference:expansion to 14 schools, a football championship game and a marketingpush for the Pioneer Bowl. In addition, Kerry says youth will continueto be served along with women's basketball.
"Look for us to try to do some things that are going to be for ourstudents and for our young people," Kerry said. "The same goes for women's sports. My goal is to get a women's TV game on. Right now it's hard to get men on there."
Additionally, the CIAA staff is working on a proposal to present to theBoard concerning a two-tier conference of Division II and Division I-AAschools. No other details were provided.
Decision-makers:
The CIAA Board of Directors is always gettingpublicity but does the average fan know who they are? Well, here isthe eight-member Board to which the Commish answers:
- Thomas Law, St. Paul - Chairman
- Edward McLean, Elizabeth City State - President
- James Battle, Virginia Union - First V.P.
- David Thomas, Bowie State - Eastern Division V.P.
- Clifton Huff, Livingstone College - Western Division V.P.
- Les Brinson, N.C. Central - Parliamentarian
- Sunday Adesuyi, St. Paul - Secretary
- Ingrid Wicker, NCCU - Women's V.P.
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