UNDER THE BANNER
What's Going On In and Around Black College Sports
ALBANY STATE SIAC'S BEST: The Albany State University Department of Athletics
was the recipient of the 2004 SIAC Commissioner's
All-Sports Trophy, awarded to the school with the "winningest"
program in the conference. The trophy was presented to
ASU Director of Athletics Dr. John I. Davis by SIAC
Commissioner Dr. William Lide at the recent SIAC Spring
Meeting in Atlanta. The trophy is given to the team that records
the best combined total of sports awards based on a
points system initiated by the Athletic Directors' Association.
Ten points are awarded for each SIAC championship, with
seven points for second-place finishes and four points for
third place finishes. Recognized as a program of "distinction"
by the commissioner, Albany State's teams won four
SIAC championships in volleyball, football, men's track and
field and baseball, and finished in second place in four sports
in men and women's cross country, women's track and field
and softball, for a total of 68 points to win the All-Sports Trophy.
"Our success at Albany State is our commitment to recruit, retain and empower student athletes and coaches," Dr. Davis said. "We live by our motto, All for One, One for All and All for Albany State. We think athletics is the front porch to a university." Benedict College placed second overall with a total of 34 points. Morehouse College finished in third place with 31 points.
SHELL TAKES TOP NFL POST: Maryland-Eastern Shore (then Maryland State) alumnus Art Shell was named the National Football League senior vice president for football operations and development last week. Shell will supervise all league football operations, N.F.L. Europe, the league's relationship with college football and youth football activities. He will serve as a nonvoting member of the competition committee. He replaces John Beake, who recently retired. Shell, 57, played offensive tackle for the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders from 1968 to 1982, was coach of the Raiders from 1989 to 1994 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989. He was the first African-American coach in pro football's modern era. He will report directly to Commissioner Paul Tagliabue. "In his playing and coaching career and in the past two years at league headquarters, Art Shell has demonstrated the ability to successfully manage a wide range of responsibilities," Tagliabue said in a statement. "We are pleased to have an executive with his expertise and talent in this key position." For the past two years, Shell worked in the league's appeals office for player discipline. The year before, he worked for the league office in handling college relations. "This is a job that covers a lot of areas," Shell said in a telephone interview from his N.F.L. office. "Most of my adult life has been spent working in the National Football League. I relish this opportunity. It says a lot for African-Americans, that if you put forth the effort you can get an opportunity like this. I will especially enjoy working with youth football, to give back to the youth in teaching the game not just to boys but also girls." Shell joins Harold Henderson, the league's executive vice president for labor relations and the chairman on the N.F.L. management council, as the highest ranking African-American executives in the N.F.L. Shell played in 207 regular-season games and in Super Bowls XI and XV, and he was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection. As Raiders coach, he was 56-41 and gained three playoff berths. At Maryland State, Shell was an all-conference lineman and played center on the basketball squad. Cyrus Mehri, counsel for the Fritz Pollard Alliance, a group promoting the hiring of minorities to coaching, scouting and management positions, applauded Shell's appointment. "Art Shell has been a great pioneer in N.F.L. history. His pioneering effort as an N.F.L. head coach and the understated way he handled himself before and after his head-coaching job is commendable. "
© 2004 Azeez Communications, Inc.