Albany State, ESPN agreement top SIAC news
The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference has signed a partnership agreement with ESPNU that includes a minimum of seven televised games per year over the next seven years.
Commissioner William Lide and ESPNU Strategic Program Planner Ilan Ben-Hanan participated in a signing ceremony during the luncheon at the SIAC General Assembly Meetings. Ben-Hanan stood in for ESPNU vice president and general manager Burke Magnus.
The agreement calls for either three or four football games, two regular season basketball games and the men's and women's basketball tournament championship games to be televised on the newest ESPN cable network. In addition, the SIAC will have a weekly TV show beginning in the fall. The first televised football game will be Benedict vs. Morehouse on August 25 in Atlanta.
Also at the meetings, Albany State was awarded both the men's and women's Commissioner's All-Sports Trophies. Rather than a combined award present in previous years, this year featured two trophies, one for men and one for women. ASU outpointed Morehouse, 34-28, to win the men's trophy. The Lady Rams program outscored Paine, 47-17, to take the women's title.
In addition to the ESPNU signing ceremony, the luncheon featured the introduction of a new partner for the SIAC.
N Erjyzed N Ertainment founder and CEO Jacqueline Beauchamp announced a $140,000 commitment to the conference in conjunction with her company's new video game featuring Black College Football. N Erjuzed is a Dallas-based 3-D animation and video gaming company devoted to developing Xbox and PS2 compatible games targeted to urban consumers.
Beauchamp, a Southern University alum, presented a check for $5,000 to Commissioner Lide as the first installment in the company's commitment to the first HBCU conference to sign a licensing agreement. The video game is scheduled to launch in August, 2006.
The Connor Elite 12 Scholar/Athlete Program presented awards to SIAC student-athletes at the luncheon. Sponsored by Connor Sports Flooring International, the scholarship is based on athletic achievements, academic achievements, non-athletic extra-curricular activities, and the student's character.
The two winners of $2,000 scholarships were Cameron Dayne of Morehouse and Stephanie Johnican of Kentucky State. Nominations came from all SIAC schools and each student-athlete received a $100 scholarship from Connor.
© 2005 Azeez Communications, Inc.