UNDER THE BANNER
What's Going On In and Around Black College Sports
CIAA GRIDIRON PICKS: The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association announced its 2005 Preseason All-Conference Team and the Predicted Order of Finish during the 2005 Football Press Conference and Luncheon on the campus of Virginia State University last week. The 2004 CIAA and Pioneer Bowl champions, the Shaw Bears (5-3, 10-2), are predicted to repeat as Eastern Divisional Champions. Shaw also had three players selected for the preseason team: senior DL David Coleman, junior DBs Torrance Nunnally and Shawn Woodward. Fayetteville State (6-1, 8-4), the 2004 CIAA runner-up, has been predicted to repeat in the West this season. FSU had two players selected for the preseason team: senior OL Ellard Steen and junior Jermaine Harper. The Preseason All-CIAA Team and Predicted Order of Finish are determined by the CIAA Football Coaches Association. The team and order are listed below.
| Eastern Division | CIAA | Overall |
| 1. Shaw | 5-3 | 10-2 |
| 2. Bowie State | 4-3 | 5-5 |
| 3. Virginia State | 3-4 | 6-4 |
| 4. Elizabeth City State | 2-5 | 3-7 |
| 5. Virginia Union | 2-5 | 2-8 |
| St. Paul's | N/A |
|
| Western Division | ||
| 1. Fayetteville State | 6-1 | 8-4 |
| 2. North Carolina Central | 6-1 | 8-2 |
| 3. Winston-Salem State | 4-3 | 4-6 |
| 4. St. Augustine's | 3-4 | 4-6 |
| 5. Johnson C. Smith | 0-7 | 0-10 |
| 6. Livingstone | 2-5 | 2-8 |
All-CIAA Team
| OFFENSE | ||
| TE | ED ROSS, VSU | So., Hampton, VA |
| OL | JAMAL BERRY, BSU | Sr., Largo, MD |
| OL | WILLIAM RIDDICK, ECSU | Sr., Elizabeth City, NC |
| OL | SAM FUNCHESS, NCCU | Jr., Landside, NJ |
| OL | MICHAEL CHAMPAIGN, WSSU | Sr., Columbia, SC |
| OL | ELLARD STEEN, FSU | Sr., Lumberton, NC |
| WR | CHRIS JETER, LC | Sr., Jonseville, SC |
| WR | TOREY ROSS, NCCU | Sr., Jackson, MS |
| QB | ADRIAN WARREN, NCCU | Sr., Raleigh, NC |
| RB | MARTIN HICKS, WSSU | Sr., Oxford, NC |
| RB | GREG PRUITT JR, NCCU | Jr., Cleveland, OH |
| KR | EDDIE MONTGOMERY, SAC | Sr., Gaffney, SC |
| PK | BRANDON GILBERT, NCCU | So., Graham, NC |
| DEFENSE | ||
| DL | TYREVE SMITH, BSU | Sr., Suitland, MD |
| DL | GREG MOORE, ECSU | So., Wallace, NC |
| DL | DAVID COLEMAN, SHAW | Sr., Miami, FL |
| DL | RASHAAD PITT, VSU | Sr., Nyack, NY |
| LB | ROBERT GREEN, BSU | Sr., Largo, MD |
| LB | JERMAINE HARPER, FSU | Jr., Fayetteville, NC |
| LB | TYRONE PETTAWAY, SAC | Sr., Newport News, VA |
| DB | TORRANCE NUNNALLY, SHAW | Jr., Danville, VA |
| DB | SHAWN WOODARD, SHAW | Jr., Rock Hill, SC |
| DB | PIERRE LEE, VSU | Sr., Col. Hgts., VA |
| DB | ALONZO CORBETT, BSU | Sr., Largo, MD |
| P | KEVIN DODSON, ECSU | Jr., Camden, NJ |
| PR | PJ BERRY, VSU | Sr., Hopewell, VA |
GAINES TROPHY IN CIAA: The Central Intercollegiate Athletic
Association will name the men's basketball tournament
championship award the CIAA Clarence "Bighouse"
Gaines Trophy in memory of the legendary
coaching figure who died this year. Gaines was affectionately known as
"Bighouse" for his six-foot-five, 265 pound frame; however his
accomplishment in collegiate athletics eclipsed his size. Gaines won
nine CIAA tournament championships and one national title with
former NBA all star Earl "the Pearl"
Monroe under his tutelage while coaching at
Winston-Salem State University. His 828 wins
rank him fifth in collegiate athletics behind Adolph Rupp,
Dean Smith, Bobby Knight and Jim Phelan. Gaines was
inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 1982.
"Coach Gaines embodied the qualities of leadership," stated Leon G. Kerry, Commissioner of the CIAA. "His students and colleagues respected him for his wisdom, dedication and compassion. He inspired others to be the best they could be without compromising their integrity. Coach (Gaines) was a friend to many and a mentor to everyone. He was a champion on the court and in life. The Clarence "Bighouse" Gaines Trophy will symbolize the dedication it takes to be a champion." The CIAA Clarence "Bighouse" Gaines Trophy, sponsored by Coca Cola North America, will be presented to the winner of the men's basketball championship game during the 2006 CIAA tournament in Charlotte, NC.
© 2005 Azeez Communications, Inc.